New Delhi: The average temperature in Shillong has increased by 1.3 degree Celsius in over a century-and-a-half. For the same period, the average temperature in the national capital increased by one degree Celsius, by 0.7 degree in Mumbai, 0.6 degree in Chennai and 1.2 degrees in Kolkata.
Shillong and its adjoining region are likely to experience a rise in the average temperature by 1.3 – 4.6 degrees Celsius by the end of this century.
Other states in the North East have also experienced similar rise in the average temperatures analysed since 1871.
These startling revelations by Britain-based CarbonBrief came when all eyes are on South Korea as scientists discuss stricter cuts on emissions. Its newly-developed web app calculates the average rise in your city and regional temperature since 1871.
The application comes in handy to understand the impact of increase in global temperatures caused by climate change. Heat stress is likely to become increasingly frequent and more intense with increased warming.
Climate experts say such analysis assumes significance when representatives of the 195 member-governments and authors are working long hours to approve the “life changing” report of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) scheduled to be published on October 8.
It’s believed to be the largest peer-review exercise in the world, as has been noted by an IPCC spokesperson.
Scientists and experts have been in meeting all through the week in Incheon city in South Korea to agree to the report that will offer pathways of keeping the world temperature at 1.5 degrees of warming.
The recommendations could offer scientific guidance to policymakers on how to reduce emissions from sectors like electricity, transport, buildings and agriculture to not exceed global temperature rise of more than 1.5 degrees from pre-industrial levels.
Climate change has already caused global temperatures to rise one degree on an average from pre-industrial levels.
The IPCC report is expected to demonstrate that the cost of action to limit global warming is far less than the massive cost of inaction the world will have to bear in future once runaway climate change sets in.
“India is very vulnerable to the impact of climate change with over 7,000 km of coastline and a huge reliance on our Himalayan glaciers and monsoon rains for the livelihood and well-being of our people,” New-Delhi based The Energy Research Institute Director General Ajay Mathur said.
“Supporting and implementing comprehensive and urgent climate action that is required to be taken by all stakeholders to limit temperature rise to well below two degrees Celsius is the need of the hour,” he said.
According to a report released by Britain-based Christian Aid, coastal cities like London, Houston, Jakarta and Shanghai are set to become extremely vulnerable to storm surges and flooding.
The rise in sea-level is expected to exceed 40 cm if global warming is not limited to 1.5 degree Celsius.
With the world’s urban population expected to grow to 59 per cent by 2030, city-dwellers will increasingly come under threat.
A recent study published in the Nature Climate Change journal reviewed economies of over 200 countries and concluded that India’s would be worst affected by climate change.
By signing the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement, India is committed to reducing its carbon emission intensity by 33-35 per cent by 2030 below 2005 levels, increase the share of non-fossil-based energy resources to 40 per cent of the installed electric capacity by 2030 and to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 gigatonnes of CO2e — carbon dioxide equivalent — through additional forest and tree cover by 2030.
According to ClimateTracker, India’s climate action plan would help limit global temperature rise to two degree Celsius provided other countries also take action.
According to scientists working on the IPCC report, extreme weather events will only increase if global temperatures are not limited within 1.5 degrees Celsius. Warming at present is well over one degree. At current trends, the world could see temperatures rise to well above two degrees by 2065.
Limiting temperature rise to two degrees means sharp reductions in global emissions and the rapid reversal of economic and population growth trends observed the last 50 years.
However, even at two degrees Celsius, extreme weather events such as heatwaves could kill many and cause severe damage to agriculture, cause water shortages, as well as completely melt Arctic sea ice for several months together. (With inputs from IANS)
