India faces extreme Climate Crisis: unprecedented weather extremes in 2023

With the nation facing extreme weather conditions on 318 out of 365 days in 2023, impacting every state and Union territory at least once, India is now reeling under an extreme climate crisis. A recent report states that these severe weather occurrences led to the deaths of thousands of people across the country last year.

The comprehensive analysis conducted by the independent research organization, Centre for Science and Environment, in its report titled “State of Environment 2024” uncovered the impact of severe weather events on both humans and ecosystems. Official statistics indicate that these calamities resulted in 3,287 fatalities directly attributed to them, along with a significant loss of wildlife, accounting for over 1,24,000 animal deaths. The agricultural sector, crucial for India’s economy and livelihoods, suffered greatly, with 2.21 million hectares of cropland devastated. This further compounded the challenges faced by farmers and intensified economic hardships, highlighting the escalating crisis of global climate change.

The extreme weather events varied widely, from devastating rains, floods, and landslides on 208 days, to severe storms and lightning on 202 days. The country also grappled with intense heat waves for 49 days and cold waves for 29 days, alongside nine days of sudden, heavy cloudbursts.

An in-depth look at the report reveals that regions such as Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh were among the hardest hit, with 149 and 141 days of extreme weather, respectively. Kerala and Uttar Pradesh also faced severe challenges, each enduring 119 days of adverse conditions.

A closer look at the state-wise impact shows Bihar as the most affected in terms of human fatalities, with 642 deaths. Haryana reported the largest area of crop damage, while Gujarat saw the highest number of damaged homes. Punjab suffered the most significant animal loss, and Himachal Pradesh recorded the most property damage due to weather extremes.

In the south, Kerala experienced the highest number of extreme weather days at 67 and 60 fatalities. Telangana faced the greatest impact on crops, with over 62,000 hectares affected, and also reported 645 animal casualties. Karnataka saw over 11,000 houses destroyed.

Alarmingly, India faced a continuous 123-day stretch of extreme weather from June to September 2023, highlighting the critical need for enhanced infrastructure, livelihood protection, and ecosystem resilience.

Despite international agreements targeting a temperature rise limit, recent data indicates the world is veering off course, with global warming surpassing 1.5°C in the year leading up to January 2024, exacerbating extreme weather conditions. 

References: 

https://thewire.in/environment/2023-year-of-extremes-state-of-environment-report

https://csestore.cse.org.in/default/books/state-of-india-s-environment-2024.html

Image: Canva