We’re not even halfway through 2024, the world has already been confronted with a barrage of extreme weather events spanning every corner of the globe. From relentless wildfires to catastrophic floods and blistering heatwaves, the toll of climate change is felt ominously.
Scorching Heatwaves
Across South and Southeast Asia, Philippines, Thailand, Bangladesh, and India have grappled with scorching temperatures that pose grave risks to public health. Exacerbated by the El Niño event against the backdrop of our rapidly warming planet, this year’s temperatures have soared to unprecedented levels. In New Delhi, the Indian Meteorological Department recorded a staggering 52.9 degrees Celsius (127.22 Fahrenheit), marking a historic high that underscores the intensifying heatwave.
Stronger and Frequent Cyclone
Brazil’s state of Rio Grande do Sul suffered its worst climate-related catastrophe in history, exceeding half of its annual rainfall within a mere 10 days. In the United Arab Emirates, extreme downpours inundated areas like Al Ain and Dubai with 254.8 mm in less than 24 hours, shattering rainfall records dating back 75 years.
The devastation continued in Kenya, where floods and heavy rainfall displaced over 200,000. And in the Bay of Bengal, Cyclone Remal wreaked havoc, forcing hundreds of thousands to evacuate and leaving a trail of destruction in Bangladesh and India.
Raging Wildfires
Western Canada faced an unusually early start to its fire season, following last year’s record-breaking “Black Summer” and have consumed more than 8,000 hectares as of May 15. The state of Uttarakhand, India, grappled with intensified forest fires, signaling a troubling trend exacerbated by climate change. Frequency of forest fires during 01-February to 24-April, 2024 has seen a notable increase of more than two-fold as compared to the same time period in 2023. District-wise analysis of forest fire frequency states that Nainital district has recorded the maximum forest fire incidences during 01-February to 24-April, 2024 which is approximately five times more than the previous year’s count.
Climate hazards are natural events in weather cycles. We’ve always had cyclones, droughts and wildfires, flooding and high winds. However, we are currently witnessing a scale of destruction and devastation that is unprecedented. People in poorer countries are at least four times more vulnerable to be displaced by extreme weather than people in rich countries despite being the least responsible for the climate crisis, making it an issue of Social Justice.
This World Environment Day, we call upon everyone to join the global movement to restore our planet. By replenishing ecosystems, we can mitigate the triple crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Though we cannot reverse time, we can foster the growth of forests, revive water sources, and rejuvenate soils.
We are the generation that can make peace with nature and environment.
Amrut’s expertise is poised to play a pivotal role in implementing nature restoration initiatives, addressing urgent environmental challenges while uplifting local communities and safeguarding biodiversity. Through collaboration and concerted efforts, we can pave the way toward a more sustainable and resilient future for generations to come.