Climate Crisis Escalates: Monsoon Disasters Surge in India with Urgent Call for Renewable Energy Shift
August 14, 2024Experts warn that the intensity and frequency of monsoon-related disasters in India are escalating due to climate change, making regions like Kerala increasingly vulnerable.
Recent severe weather has resulted in at least 171 deaths in Nepal and numerous fatalities across India, highlighting the urgent need for disaster preparedness.
Heavy rains in southern India last month led to landslides that killed nearly 200 people, with over 130 still missing in Kerala, underscoring the devastating impact of climate change.
Kerala has a history of extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change, including catastrophic floods in 2018 and a cyclonic storm in 2017 that resulted in significant fatalities.
Experts emphasize the urgent need to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy to mitigate the increasing intensity of monsoon rains and related disasters.
The Indian Meteorological Department has issued warnings for heavy rainfall across southern and northeastern states, indicating ongoing weather challenges.
The annual report by Climake highlights a significant under-representation of climate adaptation in policy and finance, emphasizing the need for increased investment.
India requires an estimated $108 billion annually in climate finance through 2030 to effectively address the impacts of climate change.
A notable gap in funding exists, particularly for emerging companies transitioning from initial capital to strong growth, which is critical for climate adaptation efforts.
Climate scientists have found that the recent heavy rains, which caused significant destruction, were exacerbated by human-caused climate change.
The findings of recent studies underline the urgent need for preparations against future extreme weather events and the importance of minimizing deforestation in vulnerable areas.
Summary based on 8 sources
Get a daily email with more World News stories
Sources
The Washington Post • Aug 13, 2024
Study finds rains that led to deadly Indian landslides were made worse by climate changeYahoo News • Aug 13, 2024
Study finds rains that led to deadly Indian landslides were made worse by climate changeABC News • Aug 13, 2024
Study finds rains that led to deadly Indian landslides were made worse by climate changeABC News • Aug 13, 2024
Study finds rains that led to deadly Indian landslides were made worse by climate change