PANAJI
Climate change will affect food, health, and the environment, says Dr M R Ramesh Kumar, a former chief scientist at the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Dona Paula. He warns that Goa is already feeling the effects of climate change in various ways. Unusual rains occur throughout the year, damaging crops. Recently, parts of the State experienced hailstorms, impacting crops like cashew, mango, and jackfruit due to unpredictable rainfall and extreme temperatures.
UNUSUAL WEATHER
Dr Kumar explains that extreme weather events such as intense rainfall, droughts, floods, and cyclones have increased after triple La Nina conditions from 2020 to 2022. In 2023, the El Nino phenomenon affected the Indian Monsoon and Goa’s weather, resulting in significant rainfall in July but unusually dry conditions in August.
Predicting the weather for 2024, Dr Kumar anticipates normal to excess rainfall in Goa as El Nino weakens by May 2024, followed by La Nina conditions from July to September, leading to good rainfall. He attributes this to strong low-level jet streams and cross-equatorial flow.
RISING TEMPERATURE
Dr Kumar highlights that temperatures from 2014 to 2023 were the warmest of the century, nearing the critical threshold of 1.5 degree Celsius. He notes the global temperature is projected to rise by 1.8 degree Celsius to 4.0 degree Celsius by the end of the century, leading to more extreme weather events, floods, droughts, and glacier recession.
“This would lead to more frequent hot extremes, floods, droughts, cyclones and recession of glaciers. The present temperature data thus shows a rapid rise in temperatures over the globe and the Indian subcontinent and our own State of Goa,” says the scientist, adding, “This in turn, can affect agriculture, water table, environment, flora and fauna and overall health of the living beings on the planet.”
IMPACT
Climate change impacts every sector, especially food production. Global food demand is expected to double by 2050, while natural resources shrink due to urbanization and industrialization. Agricultural activities contribute 30% of global emissions, leading to climate change and affecting millions who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.
Rising temperatures, floods, cyclones, and sea-level rise pose significant threats, particularly to coastal areas like Goa. Urban flooding is also a concern due to mismanagement and haphazard construction.
“Rising temperatures, floods and cyclones are results of climate change along with the rising sea levels which is a cause of concern for those living on the coastline, many of which are low-lying islands in Goa. The urban cities also are flooding, due to mismanagement and land use and land change pattern, haphazard constructions converting paddy fields into residential complexes,” said Dr Kumar.
Dr Kumar urged collective action to address climate change and its impacts on food security, health, and the environment.
