The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) this week and set alarm bells ringing across the globe. The report, Climate Change 2021: the Physical Science Basis', has evaluated the state of Earth's climate and its far-reaching impact on biodiversity, ecological balance and the future of human existence. The report has not only warned that the global temperature has already risen by about 1.1 degrees Celsius, but it also adds that we are likely to breach the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold earlier than expected.
In India’s context, the report states that the Indian Ocean has warmed faster than the global average, warning that the global warming of 2°C above 1850–1900 (pre-industrial) levels would cause numerous hazard thresholds for pathogens, seagrasses, mangroves, kelp forests, rocky shores, coral reefs and other marine ecosystems.
The report also predicts that India will suffer more frequent and intense heatwaves and increased annual and summer monsoon precipitation during the 21st century. It also predicts that in the whole Asian region, marine heatwaves and the regional-mean sea level will also continue to rise.
Supriya Patil, an environmentalist, working with Grow-Trees.com believes that the most unfortunate aspect of this report is that these calamities are caused by irresponsible human activities.
She says, "The easiest way to mitigate global warming is by reducing greenhouse gas and carbon emissions and planting more trees. Apart from finding solutions at the global level, we can all do our bit by planting a tree today. At Grow-Trees.com, we don’t just address the damage done to the environment by heedless industrialisation and consumption patterns via afforestation activities, but we also encourage communities, business houses and individuals to become a part of the afforestation projects. "
She concludes, "We are the custodians of this planet and we must do what is possible to protect it before it is too late to reverse the climate change clock. If we don't act now, India may see more heatwaves, floods, droughts and cyclones in the near future.”
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