Droughts and Floods

The latest report of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), formally released on Monday, warns that global warming is occurring faster than anticipated and that it can have devastating impacts if steps are not taken to cut down emissions. 

India will be among the worst hit countries that may face calamities like floods and heatwaves and reduced GDP.  

World is losing the wetlands at a rate of 0.78 percent a year: Ramsar Convention

Every time there is a huge flood in India with massive loss of lives and extensive physical damage, there is a hue and cry. Especially, if this takes place in an area not normally prone to such floods. Assam and Bihar, for instance, are regularly laid waste by floods and so, there is not much agitation over that anymore.

Cyclone causes rain in 18 states; floods, landslides reported in North India

If the devastating floods were not enough, the state of Kerala is witnessing further signs of environmental neglect and greedy exploitation of natural resources. There has been a drop in the water level, particularly in those rivers which were flooded recently. It is also reflected in the drying and caving of wells in different parts of the state. The falling water levels have triggered speculation about a possible drought-like situation in the state, especially if the north-east monsoon, expected later this year, does not compensate the loss.

Polluted river stretches increases to 351, as against 302 in 2015

Every time an extreme weather event like the Kerala floods occurs, there is a great demand for information on its causes. The question uppermost in public discourse is if such events can be attributed to climate change and global warming.

More than 1000 people dead in three months in India due to heavy rains

Kerala blames Tamil Nadu for massive floods in the state