#TrendingNow: India Lost a Whopping $159 Billion Due to Extreme Heat in 2021, Says Report
India suffered an income loss of a whopping $159 billion or 5.4% of its gross domestic product (GDP), due to extreme heat in 2021, The Economic Times quoted the Climate Transparency Report 2022 Thursday. The worst-hit sectors were service, manufacturing, agriculture, and construction, as per the report.
Heat exposure in the country led to the loss of 167 billion potential labour hours, a 39% increase from 1990-1999, the report also mentioned.
“Labour Productivity to Decline by 5% if Global Temperatures Increase by 1.5°C”
Labour productivity in India is projected to decline by 5% from the 1986-2006 reference period if global temperatures increase by 1.5 degrees Celsius, the report stated, adding, this decline will be 2.1 times more if the global temperatures increase by 2.5 degrees Celsius, and 2.7 times at a 3 degree Celsius scenario.
“Annual Damage from River Flooding to Increase by 49% at 1.5°C Warming”
“Between 2016-2021, extreme events such as cyclones, flash floods, floods, and landslides caused damage to crops in over 36 million hectares, a $3.75 billion loss for farmers in the country”, the report also said.
“The annual damage from river flooding in the country is likely to increase by around 49% at 1.5 degree Celsius of warming. The damage from cyclones will increase by 5.7%,” the report also mentioned.
“Snowfall in India to Decrease by 13% at 1.5°C Warming”
“Precipitation is projected to increase by 6% from the reference period of 1986-2006, at 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming. Under a 3 degrees Celsius warming scenario, precipitation will increase by three times the precipitation anticipated at 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming,” the report said.
“The rainfall pattern in India has changed in the past 30 years, impacting many economic activities such as agriculture, forestry and fisheries,” the ET report also mentioned.
“Snowfall in India is expected to decrease under 1.5 degrees Celsius scenario by 13% when compared with the reference period’s snowfall levels. At 3 degrees Celsius of warming, the decrease is expected to be 2.4 times the 1.5 degrees Celsius scenario,” the report said.
Earth’s Global Surface Temperature has Increased by Around 1.1°C
Earth’s global surface temperature has increased by around 1.1 degrees Celsius compared with the average in 1850-1900, the report also highlighted.
“Extreme weather events in our regions have shown that the effects of climate change are increasing, and more and more people are being affected,” said Suruchi Bhadwal, director for earth science and climate change at The Energy and Resources Institute, as per the report. “The need to transform our energy systems is obvious, which will also require the support of rich countries whose per capita emissions are much higher than India’s,” she added.
Climate Transparency is a global partnership with a shared mission to stimulate a “race to the top” in climate action in G20 countries through enhanced transparency, as per its official website.
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This article is solely for educational purposes. Navi doesn't take any responsibility for the information or claims made in the blog.
