Srinagar: World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) in a new report has said that India’s agriculture could come under further pressure with the world likely to witness record-high temperatures that will be above the 1991-2020 reference period until 2028.
“The global mean near-surface temperature for each year between 2024 and 2028 is predicted to be between 1.1°C and 1.9°C higher than the average over the years 1850-1900,” said the WMO in its Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update 2024-2028.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) report has several key findings related to the rise in temperature and its impact on agriculture in India:
Record-breaking Climate Indicators: In 2023, the WMO reported record-breaking greenhouse gas levels, temperatures, ice cover loss, and climate challenges.
The global average near-surface temperature was at 1.45 °Celsius above the pre-industrial baseline, making it the warmest year on record.
Heatwaves and Crop Yields: Heatwaves in the pre-monsoon season in India caused a decline in crop yields. Despite India reporting its overall food-grains output at a record level of 315 million tonnes, the country suffered a nearly 3% decline in wheat production due to heat conditions.
Oceanic Changes: On an average day in 2023, nearly one third of the global ocean was gripped by a marine heatwave, harming vital ecosystems and food systems. Over 90% of the ocean had experienced heatwave conditions at some point during the year.
Glacier Retreat and Sea Ice Loss: The global set of reference glaciers suffered the largest loss of ice on record, driven by extreme melt in both western North America and Europe. Antarctic sea ice extent was the lowest on record.
Socio-economic Impacts: The climate crisis is closely intertwined with the inequality crisis, as witnessed by growing food insecurity and population displacement.
The WMO report suggests that India, being dependent on rain-fed agriculture and with its long coastline, will be severely tested due to changes in the global climate.
