‘Global warming might change rain pattern’: Kolkata, Mumbai most vulnerable due to sea level rise, says World Bank At a time when unprecedented rain has resulted in havoc in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, the World Bank today came out with a report which states that another 2 to 4 degree celsius in the world average temperature may impact India’s rain pattern. This could leave some areas under water, others would struggle for enough water, it said. The report notifies Kolkata and Mumbai as the “hotspots” with threats of extreme floods, intense tropical cyclones, rising sea levels and high temperature. The report also suggests that an extreme wet monsoon that currently has a chance of occurring only once in 100 years in India is projected to occur every 10 years by the end of this century. The report, “Turn down the heat: Climate extremes, regional impacts and case of resilience”, looked into the likely impact of a 2 to 4 degree Celsius warming on agricultural production, water resources, coastal ecosystems and cities across South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia. It states that by 2040, India would see a significant reduction in crop yields because of extreme heat. The report adds that the scenario would be worse unless action is taken to limit carbon emissions, as South Asia is likely to suffer the most through extreme droughts, floods, rising sea levels, melting glaciers and decline in food production. The reports also calls for flood defenses, cultivation of drought and heat resistant crops, improved ground water management and better coastal infrastructure in order to reduce the impact. (Business Standard, 06/20/13)
Posted on: Sat, 29 Jun 2013 09:37:36 +0000