Due to the severe effects of climate change, the weather is changing rapidly globally. Events such as strong winds, storms, and sudden rains are increasing in India, affecting agriculture, health, and the economy. According to scientists, this change is the result of Earth's long-term climate change, which is affecting food security and water resources.
It is true that weather patterns are changing rapidly at the global level today. The simultaneous change of weather all over the world creates anxiety. Its effect is also clearly visible in India. This change is affecting our economy along with agriculture and health. As a result of this climate change, Western Disturbances are formed especially in India, due to which strong winds, storms, rains start happening suddenly. In May this year, we have seen and experienced this impact in North India, especially Delhi. Major climate conferences at the international level have come to the conclusion that the consequences of tampering with nature on earth are turning out to be fatal under human development. Antarctica, which is frozen all year long, is melting prematurely. If you look at the map of the world, forests are being cut down. The results are there for all to see. In the US, forest fires continued for 20-20 days, due to which the temperature is increasing and the temperature of the whole world is increasing. The sea level is rising. The extraordinary change in the nature of the weather is indicating some anomaly. So it's an alert. We should be careful.
Scientists say climate change means significant changes in measurements of climate, such as temperature, precipitation or wind, that persist over long periods – decades or more. It is a term that describes a long-term change in the Earth's climate. Its climate has changed several times in Earth's history, ranging from ice ages to prolonged heat waves. The evidence in this episode shows that the current temperature rise is occurring almost ten times faster than the average temperature rise that occurred since the Ice Age. The effects of climate change on India and the world are multi-faceted, affecting many regions and regions. One of the major concerns associated with climate change is food security. Climate change affects food security in complex ways.
Climate change affects crop yields because crop yields depend on raw materials that are affected by climate change. For example, climate change affects the availability of water for irrigation, affecting crop growth and productivity. This can also increase the incidence of pest invasion. An increase of 2 degrees Celsius in global average temperature by the year 2100 will also severely affect current agricultural systems. The locust swarm in Rajasthan needs to be mentioned here.
Increasing uncertainty in rainfall has led to increased incidence of droughts and floods related to climate change. With the melting of polar ice due to global warming, arable coastlines will be submerged. Much of agriculture in India is said to be dependent on rainfall, which will become erratic due to climate change, leading to frequent droughts and floods. The amount of rainfall will decrease, which will lead to a huge increase in desertification in India. The states of Rajasthan, Punjab, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu will be the worst affected.
Melting glaciers due to rising temperatures in India will lead to loss of arable land due to floods. A prime example of this is the frequent floods that have hit Jammu and Kashmir in the recent decade. It is being said that Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh and the northeastern states will bear the brunt of this flood in Himalayan glaciers. Frequent floods due to climate change will destroy the upper fertile layers of soil. This will promote the use of fertilisers, which will not only reduce the nutritional value of food but also release greenhouse gases, which will fuel climate change.
It is also true that India has a long coastline which will be affected by rising sea levels and submerged coastal arable land. This will cause huge damage to India's seafood system. In the eyes of scientists, climate change increases the temperature of water, which increases the problem of water pollution and has a negative impact on aquatic habitats. As the temperature of the water increases, the biologically dissolved oxygen in it decreases, which affects the marine species living in it. With the increase in water temperature, there is an increase in pathogens and invasive species that destroy the marine ecosystem and biodiversity. It is found in abundance in the fading reefs of the Great Barrier Reef. Rising surface water temperatures lead to the growth of algae, which depend on the nutrients needed for the survival of marine species.
The effects are visible in India. The adverse effects of climate change on Indian water resources are beginning to appear. There has been a significant reduction in freshwater resources across the country. India continues to face severe droughts and floods. The states of Jammu and Kashmir have witnessed an abundance of floods in recent decades and the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra is facing severe water scarcity and drought. Due to the shrinking of the Himalayan glaciers, perennial rivers are changing their course, causing floods and damage to infrastructure. Melting glaciers have led to a significant reduction in hydropower generation, putting India's energy security at risk. Everyone knows that when the sea level rises rapidly, it destroys agriculture by destroying the upper fertile soil layer of the region.
Seawater also adds a layer of salinity to the soil, making it harder to farm. It is also true that rising sea levels due to melting polar ice will increase the risk of salinization of inland freshwater resources. Overall, the impacts of climate change on India and the world are deep and multi-faceted. To deal with these challenges, everyone has to consider mitigation strategies, adaptation measures and technological innovations to face this major threat.