Climate change: Nature is warning... Are you listening?

• ABC MEDIUM
• ABC LARGE
• ABC EXTRA LARGE

The impact of climate change on India is increasing every year. If there are 334 days of drought from January to November, storms, floods, high temperatures and landslides occurred somewhere in the country for 331 days. A total of 4,419 people lost their lives and 4.3 crore acres of crops were destroyed. India along with the international community should take immediate action to prevent such calamities. Between April and June, daytime temperatures in many places in the country including Delhi crossed 45 degrees centigrade. During that time, Bhanu's earthquakes claimed 990 lives in 19 states, including Himachal Pradesh, which has a naturally cold climate. This is more than three times the number of deaths that occurred in 2024! 2,707 people died due to floods and landslides during the rainy season after the summer fires. Another 1,500 people were killed by thunderstorms across the country. Northwest India has been affected by natural disasters for 311 days straight. Himachal Pradesh recorded the highest number of deaths at 1,459. In South India, the highest number of deaths occurred in AP at 608, followed by 537 in Madhya Pradesh and 478 in Jharkhand. 8.4 lakh hectares of crops were damaged in Maharashtra due to natural disasters. Cyclones like Montha caused a loss of Rs.5,300 crore to Andhra Pradesh. Flash floods kill 90 in Uttarakhand 50 people are missing. A total of 1,81,459 houses were razed to the ground and 77,189 cattle were killed due to disasters.

Accidental Seasons

Due to the disasters, the livelihood of many people in Nirudu country has been damaged. Many families are devastated. This loss is priceless. 250 people died due to lightning and thunder in Bihar. 80 percent of the farming families who lost their crops due to flash floods had to migrate to Punjab and Delhi for livelihood. Along with these, drug abuse and human trafficking have also severely damaged the society. Contaminated flood water led to diseases and overcrowded hospitals. 54 lakh people were displaced. Most of them are women and children. It is estimated that 4.5 crore people will be displaced by natural disasters by 2050. From 1993 to 2022, India has suffered a loss of 18 billion dollars. India is the sixth most affected country due to climate change. Due to the warming of the sea waters, cyclones with 40 percent higher intensity have been born in the Arabian Sea. They have caused heavy crop damage. Governments should recognize that floods have left huge losses in cities where ponds have been buried for building construction. With climate change, the sun is burning and the severity of cold is increasing. Spring has disappeared in North West and Central Indian states. Untimely rains in April broke mud houses in Jammu and Kashmir and Sikkim. As the heat continues even in winter, the ground is getting wet. The seas are warming and the coast of the South Sea is being damaged. Oceans are warming by 0.12 centigrade per decade. Sea levels are rising at a rate of 3.3 millimeters per year. Between January and September, nature has been in a frenzy for 270 days. In 2024 there will be 255 such days and in 2022 they will be 241 days! US President Trump is ramping up oil and coal mining as climate change is a hoax. Due to this, weather disasters will become more severe. The problems faced by India are also plaguing other developing countries. Therefore, the developing countries should get the funds and technologies provided by the rich countries to cope with climate change. In order to avoid emissions - first we need to stop the use of fossil fuels like coal and oil and switch to completely renewable fuels. Carbon emissions should be reduced by at least 45 percent by 2030. Generating 50 percent of electricity through renewable energy sources and adopting technologies that remove carbon from the atmosphere should be mandatory. Deforestation and burying of ponds should be stopped. Especially the forests of North East India should be protected. We have to be careful not to melt the glaciers. In addition to promoting the cultivation of drought and drought tolerant crops, early warning technologies should be widely used to warn farmers about natural disasters. Governments should focus on the welfare of breadwinners, migrants and refugees. We need to get rid of the apathy that we have nothing to do but adapt to natural calamities. The 'COP-30' summit decided to set up a Green Climate Fund. Under it, every country should formulate and strictly implement climate change prevention policy. India should be a guide to other countries in this regard.