Express View on new climate change report: It should lead to a review of Paris Climate Pact targets

Source: The post is based on the article “Express View on new climate change report: It should lead to a review of Paris Climate Pact targets” published in the Indian Express on 20th May 2023.

Syllabus: GS – 3: Environment and Bio-diversity: Conservation.

Relevance: About Global Climate 2022 report

News: Recently, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) released a report titled ‘State of the Global Climate 2022’. The report has warned that at least one of the next four years could be 1.5 degrees hotter than the pre-industrial average.

About the State of the Global Climate 2022 report

The WMO report pointed out that the global mean temperature last year was 1.15 degrees above pre-industrial levels.

What is the status of the temperature increase in India?

The India Meteorological Organisation recorded 2022 as the fifth-warmest year on record since 2021, and the last decade as the hottest 10 years in the country’s history.

How are global countries impacted by climate change?

a) Floods in Pakistan claimed more than 1,500 lives and affected more than 30 million people, b)  Heatwaves led to record temperatures in several parts of Europe last year, leading to droughts and reduced river flows, and c) North America had its warmest August and forest fires raged in several parts of the US and Australia.

What should be done to mitigate the impact of climate change?

Need for greater investments: This is essential especially to build people’s resilience. Such as investments in a) risk-proof agriculture, b) building food security, c) developing flood and cyclone warning systems, and d) strengthening the defences of coasts and other vulnerable areas.

Increase adaptation funds to developing countries: A UN report last year noted that the international “adaptation finance flows to developing countries are 5-10 times below estimated needs and the gap is widening”. The upcoming COP-28 summit in Dubai must address this gap.