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New Delhi: India's fossil fuel emissions are projected to rise by 4.6 per cent in 2024, while China could see a marginal rise of 0.2 per cent, according to new research by a group of international scientists. As the UN climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, discussed raising trillions of dollars to tackle <keyword id="19907392" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Climate-change" source="keywords">climate change</keyword>, the group of scientists known as the "Global Carbon Project" warned that emissions from fossil fuels -- the main driver of warming -- could hit a record 37.4 billion tonnes in 2024, up 0.8 percent from 2023 levels. This comes despite rapid growth in renewable energy and a landmark agreement at COP28 in Dubai last year to move away from fossil fuels. The "<keyword id="23948569" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Global-carbon-budget-2024" source="keywords">Global Carbon Budget 2024</keyword>" report said total global CO2 emissions are set to go up from 40.6 billion tons in 2023 to 41.6 billion metric tons in 2024, which is on course to become the warmest year on record. "The impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly dramatic, yet we still see no sign that burning of fossil fuels has peaked," Professor Pierre Friedlingstein of Exeter's Global Systems Institute, who led the study, said. The 'Global Carbon Project' team said India, the world's most populous country and fastest-growing major economy, may see its fossil fuel emissions rise by 4.6 percent. According to a UN report released last month, India's greenhouse gas emissions surged by 6.1 per cent in 2023, contributing to 8 per cent of the global total. However, the country's historical contribution to global CO2 emissions stands at only 3 per cent. India's per capita emissions remain low at 2.9 tons of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e), far below the global average of 6.6 tCO2e. India, the world's third-largest greenhouse gas emitter, has pledged to reach net zero emissions (balancing emissions with removals) by 2070 and aims to achieve 500 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030. China's emissions, which make up 32 per cent of the global total, are likely to increase slightly by 0.2 per cent, though there is a chance they could decline, according to the data released on Wednesday. Emissions from the United States and the European Union, which contribute 13 per cent and 7 per cent of the global total, are both set to decline, with drops of 0.6 per cent for the US and 3.8 per cent for the EU. Emissions from the rest of the world, which together account for 38 per cent of global emissions, could see a rise of 1.1 per cent. The researchers said that in 2024, coal emissions will likely increase by 0.2 per cent, oil by 0.9 per cent, and gas by 2.4 per cent, globally. Coal, oil, and gas contribute 41 per cent, 32 per cent, and 21 per cent of global fossil CO2 emissions, respectively. However, given the uncertainty in projections, it remains possible that coal emissions could decline in 2024, they said. The report also pointed out that emissions from international aviation and shipping, which account for 3 per cent of global emissions and are tracked separately from national or regional totals, are expected to rise by 7.8 per cent in 2024. However, these emissions will still be 3.5 per cent below the 2019 pre-pandemic levels. Globally, emissions from land-use changes, like deforestation, have dropped by 20 per cent over the past decade but are expected to rise in 2024. Permanent CO2 removal through reforestation and new forest planting now offsets about half of the emissions from permanent deforestation, they added. Technology-based CO2 removal accounts for only a tiny fraction -- around one-millionth -- of CO2 emissions from fossil fuels. The report said that emissions from fires in 2024 have been above the average since the beginning of the satellite record in 2003, particularly due to the extreme 2023 wildfire season in Canada (which continued into 2024) and severe drought in Brazil. Land and ocean carbon sinks continued to absorb around half of the total carbon emissions, despite being negatively affected by climate change.

Global fossil emissions to reach record high in 2024; India's share to rise by 4.6 pc: Report

As the global urgency to combat <keyword id="19907392" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="climate-change" source="keywords">climate change</keyword> intensifies, all eyes are on India's <keyword id="19955368" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Budget-2024" source="keywords">Budget 2024</keyword>, as there’s no better way to walk the talk than allocating funds. Speculation is rife about the potential measures the government may introduce to accelerate the transition to a sustainable energy future — a move that is supremely necessary after the slew of deadly climate catastrophes that we saw last year. India’s Union Budget 2024 will be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in a couple of days, and is expected to reflect the nation’s commitment to achieving <keyword id="21280854" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="net-zero-carbon-emissions" source="keywords">net-zero carbon emissions</keyword> by 2070. Here are some of the key initiatives from the interim budget that was presented in February earlier this year, along with their anticipated impacts! <h2>Rooftop Solarisation</h2>One of the most talked-about initiatives is the ambitious rooftop solar programme, which aims to provide free electricity up to 300 units per month to one crore households. If implemented, this move will help in not only cutting down energy bills — a godsend for the middle- and lower-income folks — but will also give households a chance to generate and even sell their surplus power. <h2>Electric Vehicle (EV) Ecosystem</h2>Charging up the electric vehicle movement, the interim budget included measures to expand EV manufacturing and infrastructure in the country. The move aimed to accelerate the adoption of <keyword id="19895203" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="electric-vehicles" source="keywords">electric vehicles</keyword>, reducing emissions from the transport sector and making your commute cleaner and greener. Additionally, the government seemed keen on encouraging the adoption of electric buses to make urban travel more eco-friendly. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111855546" title="Budget 2024: How will budget affect India’s position in the global space race?" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> <h2><keyword id="20495045" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="offshore-wind-energy" source="keywords">Offshore Wind Energy</keyword></h2>Riding the winds of change, the interim budget introduced a viability gap funding for 1 GW of offshore wind energy. As per the Finance Ministry, this initiative aims to harness the power of India’s vast coastline, pushing the envelope on <keyword id="19895602" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="renewable-energy" source="keywords">renewable energy</keyword> and reducing our fossil fuel dependency. <h2><keyword id="22499996" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="national-green-hydrogen" source="keywords">National Green Hydrogen</keyword> Mission</h2>The interim budget also supercharged the National Green Hydrogen Mission with a massive boost to Rs 600 crore from last year’s Rs 297 crore. The government has continually insisted that Green Hydrogen is set to become the fuel of the future, and this announcement supports its development and adoption, paving the way for cleaner industrial processes. <h2>Coal Gasification and Liquefaction</h2>Switching up the coal game, the interim budget plans to set up coal gasification and liquefaction projects that will be able to process 100 metric tonnes by 2030. These projects aim to make the most out of coal in a cleaner way, especially by reducing our reliance on imported natural gas and slashing emissions. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111827903" title="Union Budget 2024 for Railways: Expectations focused on improving passenger safety, experience, infrastructure" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> <h2>Bioenergy and Biomass Aggregation</h2>Turning waste into wealth, the interim budget has also promised additional financial assistance for biomass aggregation. This, they explain, will help in creating a sustainable model for managing agricultural waste, promoting bioenergy production and giving farmers a new revenue stream. <h2>Research and Development (R&amp;D)</h2>In a nod to innovation, the interim budget allocated a whopping Rs 1 lakh crore for interest-free financing in “sunrise” R&amp;D for emerging <keyword id="19931192" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="green-technologies" source="keywords">green technologies</keyword>. If the government follows through on this promise, the funding could catapult a wave of innovation, supporting the transition to a sustainable energy future. By focusing on renewable energy, reducing carbon emissions, and supporting green technologies, India’s initial budget allocations seem to be taking significant strides towards its net-zero goal. Whether this will ultimately pan out to become a greener and more resilient future for its citizens remains to be seen.

Budget 2024: Key sustainability and energy initiatives that Indian government plans to implement this year

In a massive move for the country’s growing climate woes, India is aiming to control weather phenomena like rainfall, lightning, and hail within five years. Dubbed "<keyword id="23131560" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mission-Mausam" source="keywords">Mission Mausam</keyword>," this government-backed initiative includes the development of <keyword id="23148975" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mausam-GPT" source="keywords">Mausam GPT</keyword>, a weather AI model designed to enhance prediction accuracy and even manipulate the weather. This would make India one of the first countries to experiment with <keyword id="21369368" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="weather-modification" source="keywords">weather modification</keyword> on a significant scale. <h2>Mission Mausam</h2>India’s "Mission Mausam" aims to reshape the future of weather management by using technology to control rain. Over the next 18 months, the government will start with lab simulations to either enhance or suppress rainfall. The ultimate goal, as outlined by Earth Sciences Secretary M. Ravichandran, is to roll out full-scale weather modification within five years. He stated that the initiative could even target events like Independence Day, where “one can think about suppressing rain.” By deploying <keyword id="20644540" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cloud-seeding" source="keywords">cloud seeding</keyword> techniques alongside AI-driven weather prediction tools like "Mausam GPT," the mission seeks to significantly improve India’s ability to manage extreme weather conditions. A key aspect of the plan involves building a robust system of advanced radars, supercomputers, satellites with high-performance sensors, and GIS-based decision support systems. This cutting-edge tech is expected to boost India’s short- and medium-range weather forecasting accuracy by 5-10%, ensuring no event — such as cloudbursts — goes undetected. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113251187" title="India braces for an intensely harsh winter as La Niña takes hold" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>India is not new to weather manipulation efforts. The government has been running pilot projects, such as the Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement Experiment (CAIPEEX) in Maharashtra, to study cloud properties and enhance rainfall. <h2>Why is weather manipulation necessary and is it safe?</h2>Extreme weather events in India, like deadly floods, droughts, and hailstorms, have noticeably increased in frequency due to <keyword id="19907392" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="climate-change" source="keywords">climate change</keyword>. Mission Mausam could potentially give India an edge in combating these disasters. For example, imagine preventing a flood by suppressing rain or creating artificial rain during a drought. India’s investment of Rs 2,000 crore over two years certainly reflects the seriousness of the mission, which is expected to expand further as research progresses. However, weather modification, including cloud seeding, is not without controversy. Globally, cloud seeding has had limited success, with countries like the US, Russia, and China also experimenting with these methods but facing inconsistent results. Even former MoES Secretary Madhavan Rajeevan has noted that “the technology is complex” and still in its developmental stages. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112825937" title="Shivaji Maharaj Statue collapse: Identifying 5 reasons behind the accident" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Further, the potential downsides can't be ignored. While controlling the weather could save lives, meddling with natural processes is risky. Weather manipulation might have unintended ecological consequences, like shifting rainfall patterns that could harm ecosystems and agriculture. It may also pose geopolitical risks, as neighbouring countries could accuse India of altering weather systems that affect their own climates. Ultimately, while the idea of managing the weather may seem appealing, it opens up a Pandora’s box of environmental and ethical challenges that need careful consideration.

The Indian government is taking steps to control rainfall and weather within five years — is it too risky of a move?

<keyword id="20025308" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="groundwater" source="keywords">Groundwater</keyword> is projected to warm by 2-3.5 degrees Celsius before the turn of this century, potentially risking <keyword id="15300" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="water" source="Orion">water</keyword> quality and safety, apart from threatening <keyword id="19969898" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ecosystems" source="keywords">ecosystems</keyword> depending on the resource, a new research has found. The "world's first global groundwater temperature model" predicted the highest warming rates in Central Russia, Northern China and parts of North America, and the Amazon rainforest in South America. A team of researchers, led by those from the <keyword id="21946640" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Karlsruhe-Institute-of-Technology" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Karlsruhe Institute of Technology" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="Karlsruhe Institute of Technology">Karlsruhe Institute of Technology</keyword>, Germany, said while a lot of focus on <keyword id="19907392" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="climate-change" source="keywords">climate change</keyword> concerns weather events and water availability, we also need to think about how it impacts groundwater, critical to life on the planet. Warming of groundwater can adversely impact ecosystems relying on them, they said. "Rivers rely on groundwater to keep flowing during dry times. Warm waters hold less dissolved oxygen," explained study co-author Gabriel Rau from the University of Newcastle, UK. The model also estimated that by 2100, 60-600 million people globally could be living in areas where groundwater exceeds the highest threshold for <keyword id="19905383" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="drinking-water" source="keywords">drinking water</keyword> temperature guidelines set by any country. According to the World Health Organisation, currently only 18 out of 125 countries have temperature guidelines for drinking water. Warmer groundwater raises the risk of disease-causing microbial growth, thereby, affecting drinking water quality and potentially the lives of people, said Rau. "This is especially concerning in areas where access to clean drinking water is already limited, and in areas where groundwater is consumed without treatment," he added. Based on how heat spreads in water, the researchers modelled current groundwater temperatures and also projected changes between 2000-2100 around the world. Groundwater is present beneath the Earth's surface in pore spaces in rocks and soils. "We show that groundwater at the depth of the water table (excluding permafrost regions) is conservatively projected to warm on average by 2.1 degrees Celsius between 2000 and 2100 under a medium emissions (scenario)," the authors wrote in the study published in the journal Nature Geoscience. Under this scenario, emissions trends do not markedly change from historical patterns. The model, however, showed that under a high-emissions scenario, or fossil fuel-driven development, the groundwater temperature could rise by 3.5 degrees Celsius. The warming of groundwater can be a cause for concern, although it depends on whether the climate change issue can be mitigated by cutting down greenhouse gas emissions, the researchers said. Warmer groundwater can also impact water quality by affecting its chemistry and microbiology, they said. "If temperatures increase, we may see significant impacts to our local aquatic animals, including their spawning processes which will impact industries and communities that are reliant on these ecosystems," said co-author Dylan Irvine, Charles Darwin University, Australia.

Groundwater to get over 3 degrees warmer by century's end, threatening water quality and safety: Study

The deadly landslides in Kerala's ecologically fragile Wayanad district were triggered by a heavy burst of rainfall, made 10 per cent heavier by <keyword id="19907392" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="climate-change" source="keywords">climate change</keyword>, according to a new rapid attribution study by a global team of scientists. Researchers from India, Sweden, the US and the UK warned that such events will become more common as the climate continues to warm. To measure the impact of human-caused climate change, the scientists from the <keyword id="12008149" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Weather-Attribution" source="Orion">World Weather Attribution</keyword> (WWA) group analysed climate models with high enough resolution to accurately reflect rainfall in the relatively small study area. The models indicated that the intensity of rainfall has increased by 10 per cent due to climate change, they said. The models also predict a further four per cent increase in rainfall intensity if the average <keyword id="21951013" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="global-temperature" source="keywords">global temperature</keyword> rises by two degrees Celsius compared to the 1850-1900 average. The scientists, however, said there is a "high level of uncertainty" in the model results as the study area is small and mountainous with complex rainfall-climate dynamics. Having said that, the increase in heavy one-day rainfall events aligns with a growing body of scientific evidence on extreme rainfall in a warming world, including in India, and the understanding that a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, leading to heavier downpours. According to scientists, the atmosphere's capacity to hold moisture increases by about 7 per cent for every one-degree Celsius rise in global temperature. The Earth's global surface temperature has already increased by around 1.3 degrees Celsius due to the rapidly rising concentration of greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide and methane. Scientists say this is the reason behind worsening <keyword id="19912530" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="extreme-weather-events" source="keywords">extreme weather events</keyword>, such as droughts, heat waves and floods worldwide. The WWA scientists said that while the relationship between land cover, land use changes and landslide risk in Wayanad is not fully clear from existing studies, factors, such as quarrying for building materials and a 62 per cent reduction in forest cover may have increased the slopes' susceptibility to landslides during heavy rainfall. Other researchers have also linked the <keyword id="22597176" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Wayanad-landslides" source="keywords">Wayanad landslides</keyword> to a combination of forest cover loss, mining in fragile terrain and prolonged rain followed by heavy precipitation. S Abhilash, the director of the Advanced Centre for Atmospheric Radar Research at Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), had earlier told PTI that the warming of the Arabian Sea is leading to the formation of deep cloud systems, resulting in extremely heavy rainfall in Kerala in a short period and increasing the risk of landslides. "Our research found that the southeast Arabian Sea is becoming warmer, causing the atmosphere above Kerala to become thermodynamically unstable. This instability is allowing the formation of deep clouds," he had said. According to the landslide atlas released by ISRO's National Remote Sensing Centre last year, 10 out of the top 30 landslide-prone districts in India are in Kerala, with Wayanad ranked at the 13th spot. A study published by Springer in 2021 said all landslide hotspots in Kerala are in the Western Ghats region and are concentrated in Idukki, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Wayanad, Kozhikode and Malappuram districts. It said about 59 per cent of total landslides in Kerala have occurred in plantation areas. A 2022 study on depleting forest cover in Wayanad showed that 62 per cent of forests in the district disappeared between 1950 and 2018, while plantation cover rose by around 1,800 per cent.

Wayanad landslides linked to 10% heavier rainfall due to climate change: Study

Today, it's undeniable that humanity holds a profound influence over Earth's climate and its biodiversity. However, contrary to modern media sensationalism, this relationship is not a recent revelation but a saga as ancient as time itself. Human impact on our planet's intricate web of life stretches back tens of thousands of years — possibly even since they first sauntered into the picture. Recent <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/cambridge-prisms-extinction/article/latequaternary-megafauna-extinctions-patterns-causes-ecological-consequences-and-implications-for-ecosystem-management-in-the-anthropocene/E885D8C5C90424254C1C75A61DE9D087">studies</a> have spotlighted the extinction or rapid decline of large mammals over the past 50,000 years. While <keyword id="19907392" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="climate-change" source="keywords">climate change</keyword> was once a convenient scapegoat, it has proven insufficient to explain these phenomena. Instead, mounting evidence implicates human activity as the primary driver. This phenomenon, known as the <keyword id="22261268" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="late-Quaternary-megafauna-extinction" source="Orion">late-Quaternary megafauna extinction</keyword>, marks a significant departure from previous extinction events in Earth's history, with distinct characteristics that set it apart. Unlike earlier extinction events that were often localised, the late-Quaternary extinctions were global in scope and severe in impact. They disproportionately affected larger-bodied species, with megaherbivores weighing over 1,000 kg particularly vulnerable. Shockingly, of the 57 known megaherbivore species from this period, only 11 survived beyond 1,000 AD, highlighting the scale of loss. <h2>Tale as old as time </h2>The narrative begins roughly 100,000 years ago, a time when mammoths roamed icy plains, sabre-toothed tigers prowled lush jungles, and giant ground sloths navigated primaeval forests. Despite the formidable odds, Homo sapiens, armed with finely crafted spears, ascended to the top of the food chain. However, their ascent left behind a trail of dwindling populations and silent extinctions. Previous periods of dramatic climate shifts, like ice ages, didn't cause such widespread extinction of large animals. New research highlights key points that point towards human intervention: <ul><li>Timing: Megafauna extinctions coincided with the arrival of modern humans in different regions around the globe.</li><li>Targeted hunting: Evidence from archaeological digs, like traps and spear points, suggests humans actively hunted these large animals. Isotope analysis even reveals that these giants were a major food source for our ancestors.</li><li>Vulnerability of megafauna: Large animals with slow reproduction rates were particularly susceptible to overhunting by humans.</li></ul>Yet, the impact wasn't limited to extinctions. Even species that survived, like elephants, bears, kangaroos, and antelopes, bore lasting scars from humanity's rise. A 2023 study analysing the DNA of 139 surviving megafauna species reveals a troubling decline in their populations over the last 50,000 years. Further, challenging prevailing theories that blame climate change for extinctions, study author Jens-Christian Svenning emphasised that many extinct megafauna inhabited temperate or tropical climates, undermining climate as the sole explanation. <h2>Looking ahead </h2>The loss of so many large animal species has had profound ecological consequences worldwide. These include disruptions to trophic processes, alterations in physical environmental engineering such as landscape modification, and changes in the transport of energy and matter within ecosystems. The repercussions of these extinctions continue to reverberate through modern ecosystems. In response to these ecological shifts, efforts in megafauna-based trophic rewilding have gained traction as a potential strategy for ecosystem restoration under current global change scenarios. By reintroducing large herbivores into landscapes, researchers and conservationists aim to re-establish ecological processes and enhance biodiversity. Furthermore, the interplay between megafauna and human-driven biotic globalisation underscores the complex relationships between species and ecosystems. Domesticated megafauna, such as livestock, present both ecological challenges and opportunities in managing modern landscapes. As debates continue among scholars — whether to blame climate change or human migration — the echoes of history resound clearly. Standing on the brink of a new era where our technological prowess imperils ecosystems and countless species, the story of these giants serves as a stark warning. What remains to be seen is if we heed the lessons from their decline and the enduring impact humanity has etched into the fabric of evolution, or if we will repeat the errors of our ancestors, leaving only silence in our wake?

Over 80% of prehistoric megaherbivores went extinct due to human activity and not climate change: Study

A recent study by the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (<keyword id="22661207" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CSTEP" source="keywords">CSTEP</keyword>) has sounded alarm bells about the escalating threat of <keyword id="21236365" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sea-level-rise" source="keywords">sea level rise</keyword> to India's <keyword id="20010174" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="coastal-cities" source="keywords">coastal cities</keyword>. The data is stark: <keyword id="19895282" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mumbai" source="keywords">Mumbai</keyword> has experienced the most significant rise in sea levels among 15 major coastal cities in recent decades, a worrying trend that is set to worsen. Mumbai saw a rise of 4.44 cm between 1987 and 2021. Following Mumbai, Haldia recorded a rise of 2.726 cm, Visakhapatnam 2.381 cm, Kochi 2.213 cm, Paradip 0.717 cm, and <keyword id="19895758" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chennai" source="keywords">Chennai</keyword> 0.679 cm. To make matters worse, the study forecasts that sea levels will continue to rise until the end of the century, with Mumbai expected to face the highest increase. By 2100, projections indicate that sea levels will rise by 76.2 cm in Mumbai, 75.5 cm in Panaji, 75.3 cm in Udupi, 75.2 cm in Mangalore, 75.1 cm in Kozhikode, 74.9 cm in Kochi, 74.7 cm in Thiruvananthapuram, and 74.7 cm in Kanyakumari, even under a medium-emission scenario. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="110502066" title="Feeling like nights are getting too uncomfortable? New report confirms that nighttime temperatures aren’t dipping enough" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> The study also explores potential inundation areas in these cities under the Intergovernmental Panel on <keyword id="19907392" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="climate-change" source="keywords">Climate Change</keyword>’s (IPCC’s) medium- and high-emission Shared Socio-economic Pathway (SSP) scenarios for 2040, 2060, 2080, and 2100. These scenarios consider how socio-economic factors such as population, education, and urbanisation might affect greenhouse gas emissions, impacting climate change. The report categorises the cities into Tier-I (Chennai and Mumbai), Tier-II (Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Mangaluru, Visakhapatnam, Kozhikode, and Haldia), and towns (Kanyakumari, Panaji, Puri, Udupi, Paradip, <keyword id="19898995" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="thoothukudi" source="keywords">Thoothukudi</keyword>, and Yanam). By 2040, more than 10% of the land in Mumbai, Yanam, and Thoothukudi, 5%-10% in Panaji and Chennai, and 1%-5% in Kochi, Mangalore, Visakhapatnam, Haldia, Udupi, Paradip, and Puri are predicted to be submerged due to <keyword id="21682268" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="rising-sea-levels" source="keywords">rising sea levels</keyword>. The percentage is expected to increase by 2100, with higher risks in Mangalore, Haldia, Paradip, Thoothukudi, and Yanam compared to Mumbai and Chennai under a high-emission scenario. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="107632251" title="Why is everyone concerned about the Earth being 1.5°C warmer for 12 months in a row?" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> Dr. Anushiya J, a Research Scientist at CSTEP and the lead author of the report, emphasised the far-reaching implications of rising sea levels. "Climate change brought on by fossil-fuel burning and greenhouse gas emissions has led to a steady increase in global temperatures. As a result, sea surface temperatures and glacier melting have increased, eventually rising sea levels and posing a major threat to coastal cities worldwide, including Indian coastal cities," she stated. She highlighted that many Indian coastal cities are major economic hubs with natural ports, cultural centres, biodiversity hotspots, and religious monuments. The continuing sea level rise necessitates immediate action to frame suitable adaptation and risk mitigation strategies. The report underscores the urgent need for comprehensive policies to address the challenges posed by rising sea levels. The sectors most vulnerable include water, agriculture, forest and biodiversity, and health. The beaches, backwaters, and mangrove forests, which are crucial for biodiversity and tourism, are particularly at risk.

Mumbai, Chennai to lose 10% and 7% of their land to rising sea levels in just 15 years, says study

<keyword id="20025308" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="groundwater" source="keywords">Groundwater</keyword>, the Earth's largest source of unfrozen freshwater, is under threat. As our planet heats up, so too does the water hidden beneath our feet. Researchers at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology predict that by 2100, <keyword id="22348281" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="groundwater-temperatures" source="Orion">groundwater temperatures</keyword> could rise significantly, exceeding safe <keyword id="19905383" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="drinking-water" source="keywords">drinking water</keyword> standards in many regions. The culprit? <keyword id="20649149" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="greenhouse-gases" source="keywords">Greenhouse gases</keyword>. Their build-up in the atmosphere traps heat, warming not just the air but also the ground and the water it holds. The study used two climate scenarios, one moderate and one extreme, to estimate the impact. In both cases, the results were concerning. Under the more moderate scenario, groundwater temperatures are projected to rise by 2.1°C by 2100. This may not seem like much, but it's enough to push millions over the edge. Currently, around 30 million people already live in areas where groundwater exceeds safe drinking limits. With rising temperatures, this number could balloon to 77 to 188 million by 2100. Extreme scenarios paint an even bleaker picture. Here, groundwater temperatures could soar by 3.5°C, potentially impacting a staggering 59 to 588 million people. The vast range reflects regional variations in <keyword id="19907392" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="climate-change" source="keywords">climate change</keyword> and population growth. The consequences of this hidden warming are far-reaching. Warmer groundwater can harbour harmful substances like arsenic and manganese, threatening human health. It can also disrupt delicate ecosystems and even impact geothermal energy potential. Fish, particularly those that rely on cool groundwater for spawning, could face reproductive issues. This isn't just an environmental concern; it's a public health crisis in the making. We need to act now to protect our precious groundwater resources. Sustainable practices, coupled with efforts to combat climate change, are crucial to ensure a future where clean drinking water remains a right, not a privilege. The findings of this study have been detailed in Nature Geoscience and can be accessed <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-024-01453-x">here</a>.

Groundwater temperatures could rise several notches by 2100, making it too hot to drink for millions!

<keyword id="19907392" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="climate-change" source="keywords">Climate change</keyword> is a prominent concern before the world today and <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword> is working towards achieving committed <keyword id="20158303" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="reduction" source="keywords">reduction</keyword> in emissions and building climate-resilient infrastructure, External Affairs Minister S <keyword id="19920247" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jaishankar" source="keywords">Jaishankar</keyword> said on Thursday. Jaishankar was delivering Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit here in the Kazakh capital. "Delivered India's statement at the Summit of SCO Council of Heads of States on behalf of PM Shri @narendramodi ji. Thank the leaders present for conveying their best wishes to Prime Minister @narendramodi on his re-election for a third successive term," Jaishankar posted on X along with photos. "We are working towards achieving a committed reduction in emissions, including transition to alternate fuels, adoption of electric vehicles, and building climate-resilient infrastructure," he said. "In this context, during India's SCO presidency, a Joint Statement on emerging fuels, and a Concept Paper on de-carbonization in the transportation sector were approved," Jaishankar added. During last year's annual climate conference, Prime Minister Modi said India has already declared to achieve Net Zero by 2070. It plans to reduce emissions intensity by 45 per cent by 2030 and increase the share of non-fossil fuel to 50 per cent. The remarks also pointed out how economic development requires robust connectivity. "That can also pave the way for cooperation and trust between our societies," Jaishankar said. "Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is essential for connectivity and infrastructure projects. So too are non-discriminatory trade rights and transit regimes," he said, and asserted: "The SCO needs to deliberate seriously on these aspects." Jaishankar also reminded the audience that the SCO needs to make "technology creative" and apply it to the welfare and progress of societies. "India is among the countries to formulate a National Strategy on Artificial Intelligence and the launch of an AI Mission. Our commitment to 'AI for All' is also reflected in working within the SCO framework on a Roadmap on AI cooperation," he added. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/webstories/virat-kohli-not-included-in-the-rohit-sharma-led-icc-team-of-the-tournament/slidelist/111398470.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/webstories/virat-kohli-not-included-in-the-rohit-sharma-led-icc-team-of-the-tournament/slidelist/111398470.cms" target="_blank">Virat Kohli not included in the Rohit Sharma-led ICC Team of the Tournament</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/upcoming-cars-launching-in-india-in-july-2024/slidelist/111341281.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/upcoming-cars-launching-in-india-in-july-2024/slidelist/111341281.cms" target="_blank">Upcoming cars launching in India in July 2024</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/reliance-jio-and-airtel-price-hike-new-plans-and-how-you-can-save-money/articleshow/111331794.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/reliance-jio-and-airtel-price-hike-new-plans-and-how-you-can-save-money/articleshow/111331794.cms" target="_blank">Reliance Jio and Airtel price hike – new plans and how you can save money</a>

Climate change a prominent concern, India working towards committed reduction: Jaishankar

<ul class="summary-list"><li>President-elect Donald Trump has questioned the reality of the climate crisis.</li><li>He's expected to withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement, which he also did in his first term.</li></ul>President-elect Donald Trump has long questioned the reality of the climate crisis, describing it as a "scam" and accusing policies to tackle the crisis of destroying US jobs.Many expect him to withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement to limit emissions upon taking power in January, as he did in his first term.But his hostility to green policies conflicts with another of his priorities — challenging the rise of China."A second US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement would present a significant opportunity for China to expand its leadership role in multilateral climate issues," Herbert Crowther, an analyst with the Eurasia Group in New York told Business Insider.Trump's victory is overshadowing this week's UN climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, where pledges from Biden administration officials are tempered by the fact they won't be around for long.And China is already positioning itself to fill the power vacuum and build its global influence."In the week since the election, we're already seeing China try to claim the mantle of global climate leadership and portray itself as the more "responsible" actor in this space," Lily McElwee, fellow in the Freeman Chair in China Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC, told Business Insider."Beijing is out in force at COP29 calling for the United States under Trump to engage in 'constructive dialogue' and highlighting China's contributions to decarbonization through major investments in electric vehicles and other greentech industries."<div type="image" title="Chinese solar power station" height="576" width="1024" msid="115335201" hostid="261" sizebytes="137800"></div><h2 id="f89b9ca3-aa4a-4bb2-a5bf-27324f610f4d">The green tech superpower</h2>China has a curious position as both the world's largest polluter, and a powerhouse of green technology.It tops the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://interactive.carbonbrief.org/the-carbon-brief-profile-china/index.html#">rankings for greenhouse emissions</a>, which helped power its huge economic growth in recent decades. In 2020, President Xi Jinping pledged that China would become <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://chinaeucn.com/carbon-neutrality-china/#:~:text=In%20September%202020%2C%20president%20Xi,carbon%20neutrality%20to%20the%20world.">carbon neutral by 2060,</a> and it's on track this year to record its first drop in greenhouse <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-meeting-us-climate-solar-panels-coal-power-energy-security-2024-5">emissions since 2016.</a>At the same time, China has pushed harder to produce its own green technology — and sell it to the rest of the world.It is the world's largest producer of electric vehicles and solar panels, and the percentage of its energy coming from renewable sources <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.iea.org/reports/renewables-2023/executive-summary#">is rapidly growing.</a>That work brings practical and economic benefits. Analysts also point to other motives for Beijing's green push: influence and power."Where the Trump administration sees renewable energy as a threat to jobs, China is leveraging clean energy as part of a long-term strategic gambit," wrote <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.brookings.edu/articles/chinas-belt-and-road-initiative-is-poised-to-transform-the-clean-energy-industry/">Daniel Araya of the Brookings Institute in Washington, DC, in 2018.</a>China, as part of its "Belt and Road" initiative to grow its global influence, has provided developing countries with renewable energy technologies, including wind farms."Green tech plays a critical role in Xi's economic vision. While China has spent a decade trying to catch up to the United States and other advanced economies in existing tech (like semiconductors), it is increasingly focused on securing leadership in emerging industries like cleantech," said McElwee.The strategy is paying off, with global demand for renewable energy production technologies predicted to surge, and China set to account for 60% of installed global renewable energy capacity by 2030, according to an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.iea.org/news/massive-global-growth-of-renewables-to-2030-is-set-to-match-entire-power-capacity-of-major-economies-today-moving-world-closer-to-tripling-goal">October report by the International Energy Agency.</a>The US lags China as a clean tech economic power.Trump has been explicit about his plans to repeal and otherwise roll back climate policies from the Biden administration.That included <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/09/05/trump-inflation-reduction-act-00177493">a pledge</a> just before the election to "rescind all unspent funds" from President Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, which provided billions in funding for clean tech.<h2 id="d064aeb1-2497-4d9c-b893-7e2c1b98241d">Will China step up? </h2>There are also doubts over how much China is willing to take an international leadership role on climate issues.It's been wary of international agreements to tackle climate change in the past, and last year was accused by European officials of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/china-denies-reports-it-obstructed-g20-climate-discussions-2023-08-02/#:~:text=China%20denies%20reports%20it%20obstructed%20G20%20climate%20discussions%20%7C%20Reuters">obstructing G20 efforts </a>to tackle the climate crisis, Reuters reported. Assuming a leadership role would likely require China to send money to other countries, said Crowther. "The key question for officials in Beijing will now turn to whether China wants to deepen its financial commitments to helping other countries—particularly emerging markets—accelerate their own energy transitions," he said.Crowther said the run up to next year's COP30 summit in Brazil would provide clues of China's intentions. Ultimately, Xi may be more interested in cementing China's economic advantages than in concrete diplomatic pledges. "Although Beijing will try to boost its image as a global leader on climate change, I don't know how much substance will follow," said McElwee.

Trump called the climate crisis a scam. It could prove a gift to China.

Climate Action 15: 2024's top global innovators powering green solutions

Anyone following the rhetoric around <keyword id="107950" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Artificial-Intelligence" source="Orion">artificial intelligence</keyword> in recent years has heard one version or another of the cl<keyword id="6355999" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AI" source="Orion">ai</keyword>m that AI is inevitable. Common themes are that AI is already here and indispensable, and people who are bearish on it harm themselves. In the business world, AI advocates tell companies and workers that they will fall behind if they fail to integrate generative AI into their operations. In the sciences, AI advocates promise that AI will aid in curing hitherto intractable diseases. In higher education, AI promoters admonish teachers that students must learn how to use AI or risk becoming uncompetitive when it comes time to find a job. In national security, AI's champions say that either the nation invests heavily in AI weaponry, or it will be at a disadvantage against the Chinese and Russians, who are already doing so. The argument across these different domains is essentially the same: The time for AI skepticism has come and gone. The <keyword id="6355118" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="technology" source="Orion">technology</keyword> will shape the future, whether you like it or not. You have the choice to learn how to use it or be left out of that future. Anyone trying to stand in the technology's way is as hopeless as the manual weavers who resisted the mechanical looms in the early 19th century. In the past few years, my colleagues and I (Nir Eisikovits, Professor of Philosophy and Director, Applied Ethics Center, UMass Boston) have been studying the ethical questions raised by the widespread adoption of AI, and I believe the inevitability argument is misleading. <h2>History and hindsight</h2> This claim is the most recent version of a deterministic view of technological development. It's the belief that innovations are unstoppable once people start working on them. In other words, some genies don't go back in their bottles. The best you can do is harness them for your good purposes. This deterministic approach to tech has a long history. It's been applied to the influence of the printing press as well as to the rise of automobiles and the infrastructure they require, among other developments. But I believe that when it comes to AI, the technological determinism argument is both exaggerated and oversimplified. <h2>AI in the field(s)</h2> Consider the contention that businesses can't afford to stay out of the AI game. The case has yet to be made that AI is delivering significant productivity gains to the firms that use it. A report in The <keyword id="20856675" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="economist" source="keywords">Economist</keyword> in July 2024 suggests that so far, the technology has had almost no economic impact. AI's role in higher education is also still very much an open question. Though universities have, in the past two years, invested heavily in AI-related initiatives, evidence suggests they may have jumped the gun. The technology can serve as an interesting pedagogical tool. For example, creating a Plato chatbot that lets students have a text conversation with a bot posing as Plato is a cool gimmick. However, AI is already starting to displace some of the best tools teachers have for assessment and for developing critical thinking, such as writing assignments. The college essay is going the way of the dinosaurs as more teachers give up on the ability to tell whether their students are writing their papers themselves. What's the cost-benefit argument for giving up on writing, an important and useful traditional skill? In the sciences and medicine, the use of AI seems promising. Its role in understanding the structure of proteins, for example, will likely be significant for curing diseases. The technology is also transforming medical imaging and has been helpful in accelerating the drug discovery process. But the excitement can become exaggerated. AI-based predictions about which cases of COVID-19 would become severe have roundly failed, and doctors rely excessively on the technology's diagnostic ability, often against their own better clinical judgment. And so, even in this area, where the potential is great, AI's ultimate impact is unclear. In national security, the argument for investing in AI development is compelling. Since the stakes can be high, the argument that if the Chinese and the Russians are developing AI-driven autonomous weapons, the United States can't afford to fall behind has real purchase. But a complete surrender to this form of reasoning, though tempting, is likely to lead the <keyword id="19899807" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="u-s-" source="keywords">U.S.</keyword> to overlook the disproportionate impact of these systems on nations that are too poor to participate in the AI arms race. The major powers could deploy the technology in conflicts in these nations. And, just as significantly, this argument de-emphasizes the possibility of collaborating with adversaries on limiting military AI systems, favoring arms race over arms control.<h2> One step at a time</h2> Surveying the potential significance and risks of AI in these different domains merits some skepticism about the technology. I believe that AI should be adopted piecemeal and with a nuanced approach rather than subject to sweeping claims of inevitability. In developing this careful take, there are two things to keep in mind: -First, companies and entrepreneurs working on artificial intelligence have an obvious interest in the technology being perceived as inevitable and necessary, since they make a living from its adoption. It's important to pay attention to who is making claims of inevitability, and why. -Second, it's worth taking a lesson from recent history. Over the past 15 years, smartphones and the social media apps that run on them have come to be seen as a fact of life - a technology as transformative as it is inevitable. Then data started emerging about the <keyword id="6354774" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mental-health" source="Orion">mental health</keyword> harms they cause teens, especially young girls. School districts across the United States started to ban phones to protect the attention spans and mental health of their students. And some people have reverted to using flip phones as a quality of life change to avoid smartphones. After a long experiment with the mental health of kids, facilitated by claims of technological determinism, Americans changed course. What seemed fixed turned out to be alterable. There is still time to avoid repeating the same mistake with artificial intelligence, which potentially could have larger consequences for society.

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