Amid blistering heat waves, July is "virtually certain" to be the world's warmest month on record, say scientists. Because of climate change, India has witnessed extreme weather events in 2023 some of which are discussed below.
PM Modi's climate vision for India on 77th Independence day
"The entire world is grappling with climate change. India has shown the way to combat it."- PM said on his address to the nation from Red fort on 77th Independence Day celebrated in 15th August, 2023. On India's efforts to ensure energy security & a green future, PM said India achieved it's renewable energy target 9 years ahead of schedule. "As the world grapples with climate crisis, we have shown the way and launched the LiFEStyle For Environment- MISSION LiFE initiative", he said. This mass movement aims towards an environmentally conscious lifestyle.
India faces surge in 2023 natural disasters amidst global climate crisis
UN chief Antonio Guterres said that the planet is entering an "era of global boiling". Scientists agree that the extra heat is mainly linked to fossil fuel use. North India floods, cyclone Biparjoy, cyclone Mocha, etc affected India extremely badly this year leading to huge loss of life and property.
Himalayan floods- Floods and landslides on August 14 in the Indian Himalayan region killed atleast 72 people. Losses were estimated at 1.2 billion dollars, and several hundred roads were closed. Portions of Himachal Pradesh received rainfall of more than 300mm.
In Assam, nearly 1.2 lakh people in 20 districts were affected because of flood.
Heat wave- Starting in April 2023, a record-breaking heat wave has affected many Asian countries, including India. The heat wave has caused many deaths due to heat stroke and has prompted health warnings and power outages across multiple countries.
Cyclone Biparjoy- Extremely severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy was a long lived, powerful tropical cyclone that formed over the east-central Arabian sea. At least 23 people were injured as well as 4,600 villages were affected by power outages in India. A total of 12 people were confirmed to have been killed.
North India floods- Heavy rainfall during the 2023 monsoon season resulted in severe flooding and landslides across Northern India, primarily affecting residents in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Chandigarh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi. A monsoon surge, coupled with a western disturbance has led to the highest rainfall in decades in some parts of the region, causing nearby rivers to overflow, with flooding and landslides washing away vehicles, destroying bridges and roads, and disrupting power and electricity. In July, at least 105 individuals across Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi, were killed over a two-week period of intense rain and flooding, with thousands of others evacuated to relief camps.
Conclusion
Despite taking steps towards cleaner and more secure sustainable energy future, and developing initiatives for increasing awareness about climate change, it's still a task of great difficulty to reverse the damage that has been caused over the years because of our harmful activities. Our thoughtlessness has resulted in us being denied the freedom of enjoying a healthy climate. Do you have ideas about how we can collectively work towards a healthier planet? Share your thoughts in the comments below- let's spark a conversation for positive change!
Sources: NDTV | PIB | BBC
Comments
Post a Comment