3 January 2025 : Indian Express Editorial Analysis
1. The Hottest Year
(Source – Indian Express, Section – The Editorial Page – Page No. – 10)
| Topic: GS3 – Environment |
| Context |
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Analysis of the news:
Record-Breaking Heat and Global Climate Warnings
- The announcement by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) that 2024 marked the hottest year in India since 1901 underscores a grim global reality: the planet’s warming trend is accelerating.
- While the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has yet to officially declare 2024 as the hottest year globally, evidence suggests it likely is.
- Predictions for 2025 being another scorching year highlight the urgent need for comprehensive climate action.
- Despite India’s commendable progress toward its climate goals, much of the world, particularly Western countries, lags behind.
- Indian policymakers must intensify efforts to combat the escalating climate crisis by implementing heat action plans, fortifying infrastructure like seawalls and drainage systems, enhancing disaster-management protocols, and ensuring agriculture is climate-resilient.
Economic Vulnerabilities in a Warming World
- India’s economy is particularly vulnerable to climate change, with more than 30% of its GDP reliant on nature-dependent sectors such as agriculture, forestry, and water utilities.
- A World Economic Forum study predicts a 16% decline in agricultural output within five years, potentially reducing GDP by over 2.5%.
- Additionally, extreme weather events jeopardize nearly half of the country’s infrastructure, according to a CBRE report.
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) acknowledges the destabilizing effects of global warming on financial stability but notes a lack of robust climate risk quantification.
- The establishment of the Climate Risk Information System by the RBI is a significant step, focusing on localized climate scenarios to address the country’s varied vulnerabilities.
Political Apathy and Systemic Shortcomings
- Despite alarming climate trends and recommendations from academic and civic institutions, India’s political discourse rarely prioritizes environmental issues.
- Catastrophic events such as floods, landslides, and rising sea levels have not been central to policymaking or election campaigns.
- This neglect perpetuates vulnerabilities to extreme weather, as outdated drainage systems, poor planning, and ineffective civic agencies fail to address recurring disasters.
- The need for a long-term, integrated approach to managing floods, droughts, cyclones, and heatwaves is increasingly apparent.
- Relying on ad hoc responses to emergencies is no longer sufficient; a proactive and systemic shift in climate governance is imperative.
| What are India’s Initiatives to Tackle Climate Change? |
● Panchamrit: India has presented the following five nectar elements (Panchamrit) of India’s climate action:
● National Action Plan on Climate Change:
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| PYQ: ‘Climate Change’ is a global problem. How India will be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India will be affected by climate change? (250 words/15m) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-3 2017) |
| Practice Question: India has made significant strides in achieving its climate goals, yet the vulnerabilities posed by climate change to its economy and infrastructure remain substantial. Discuss the systemic and policy-level interventions required to address these challenges while ensuring sustainable development.(250 Words /15 marks) |
For more such UPSC related Current Affairs, Check Out: 2 January 2025 : Indian Express Editorial Analysis
