Mean Temperature in India has Risen by Nearly Around 0.6 Degree Celsius in more than One Hundred Years: Javadekar

Mean Temperature in India has Risen by Nearly Around 0.6 Degree Celsius in more than One Hundred Years: Javadekar

Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published in 2014 highlights that mean surface temperature of the globe has risen by 0.85 degree Celsius over the period 1880 to 2012. In line with rising temperature across the globe, all India mean temperature has risen by nearly around 0.6 degree Celsius over the last 110 years. Further, a report entitled ‘Climate Change: A Risk Assessment’ released by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office states that the probability of exposed individuals experiencing such conditions in a given year starts to become significant for a global temperature rise of around 5 degree Celsius, and could exceed 50% for a global temperature rise of around 7 degree Celsius in hot areas such as northern India, southeastern China and south-eastern USA.

A scientific study to assess the impact of climate change has been undertaken and a report titled “Climate Change and India: 4X4 Assessment - A Sectoral and Regional Analysis for 2030s” was published in 2010 by the Government of India. The report has assessed impacts of climate change on four key sectors of Indian economy, namely Agriculture, Water, Natural Ecosystems & Biodiversity and Health in four climate sensitive regions of India, namely, the Himalayan region, the Western Ghats, the Coastal Area and the North-East Region. As per the Report, the annual mean surface air temperature is projected to rise by 1.7 degree Celsius and 2 degree Celsius in 2030s.

Government has released the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) which has eight national missions. National Water Mission, National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem, Green India Mission, National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture focus on adaptation measures for reducing and managing the risk of climate change, including rise in temperatures. State Governments have also prepared State Action Plans on Climate Change in line with the objectives of NAPCC and state specific issues.