2023 will be remembered as a year of unprecedented climate extremes and growing urgency for action. From record-breaking heat waves and devastating floods to intensifying wildfires and rising sea levels, the consequences of climate change were felt across the globe, as well as in India, impacting millions of lives. At the same time, it marked a turning point in the fight against climate change, with increasing awareness and growing urgency for action.
Here are 10 events that caught everyone’s attention:
1. 2023 declared hottest year on record: Temperatures this year surpassed all previous benchmarks and set alarm bells ringing about the accelerating climate crisis. This scorching reality was confirmed by the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. “The extraordinary global November temperatures, including two days warmer than 2C above pre-industrial (levels), mean that 2023 is the warmest year in recorded history,” Samantha Burgess, deputy head of C3S, said in a statement.
2. India saw extreme weather events almost every day from January to September 2023: A report by the Centre for Science and Environment revealed that India experienced extreme weather events on nearly 86 percent of the days between January and September 2023. This translates to 235 out of 273 days marked by intense weather phenomena, ranging from heat waves and floods to cyclones and lightning.The report also estimated that 2,923 lives were lost, nearly 2 million hectares of crops were destroyed and over 80,000 homes were destroyed. It further emphasised that the frequency and intensity of these events are expected to increase in the coming years due to climate change.
3. Ocean surface hits highest-ever recorded temperature: The world’s oceans reached a boiling point. Global average daily sea surface temperatures hit a staggering 20.96 degree Celsius by August, breaking the previous record set in 2016 by 0.01 degrees. Scientists warn that this record-breaking temperature is not an anomaly but rather a harbinger of things to come. Climate models predict that ocean temperatures will continue to rise further. This warming trend poses a multitude of threats to both marine and human ecosystems.
4. India experienced its driest August since 1901: August 2023 marked a grim milestone for India: the driest August on record. With an average rainfall of only 162.7 mm compared to the normal 254.9 mm, India witnessed a staggering rainfall deficit of over 36 percent. This lack of rain was particularly severe in key agricultural states such as Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat. Many parts of the country also faced severe drought conditions and water shortages.
5. IMD states that the duration of heat waves in India has increased over the last 30 years: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) painted a grim picture of India: heat waves are intensifying and their duration is increasing. According to their report, the average duration of heat waves in India has increased by 2.5 days over the past 30 years due to global warming.
This trend is expected to continue, with projections indicating two additional heat waves and an increase in the duration by 12-18 days by 2060. Northwest India potentially could experience four heat waves per season, lasting for a total of 30 days.
6. Two million species facing extinction, new study says: A new analysis published in the open-access journal PLOS ONE revealed that up to two million plant and animal species worldwide are at risk of extinction, highlighting the severity of the biodiversity crisis. This estimate is double the number previously recognised by the United Nations in 2019.
7. Forest fires intensifying globally, India’s rainforests are affected too: Latest satellite data shows that forest fires are intensifying and spreading at an alarming rate, burning nearly twice as much tree cover globally compared to just 20 years ago. The Boreal forests, spread across Russia, Canada, the US, Finland, Norway, China, and Japan, are the most impacted, followed closely by biodiversity hotspots like the Amazon, and rainforests in Southeast Asia and India.
In India, which experiences its peak fire season between mid-February and mid-May, there were a staggering 14,689 VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) fire alerts between August 2022 and August 2023. This is unusually high compared to previous years going back to 2012, as per the data analysed by World Resources Institute.
8. India’s renewable energy capacity touched 172GW in March 2023: Installed renewable energy capacity in the country has increased from 115.94 GW in March 2018 to 172.00 GW in March 2023, Union minister for new and renewable energy RK Singh said in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha. It marks a 1.48-times increase from March 2018. India has set ambitious goals for the future, aiming to reach 500GW from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
9. High Seas Treaty adopted: In a step towards protecting the world’s oceans, several countries signed a major global ocean treaty at the United Nations. The treaty establishes procedures to create large-scale marine protected areas on the open seas, helps protect 30 percent of land and ocean by 2030, provides training and technology to help countries protect their oceans, and makes sure activities on the open seas are safe for the environment.
10. India backs the “historic” Global Stocktake outcome: The landmark “UAE Consensus” emerged from COP28, marking a pivotal moment in the global fight against climate change. This agreement calls for a transition away from fossil fuels, emphasising deep and rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. It sets ambitious targets, including tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency by 2030, while also encouraging countries to submit economy-wide climate plans to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. It is a clear roadmap for a sustainable future.
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