Days with high heat in April are up 122 percent from the previous year in Delhi.

  • June 11, 2022, 12:26 p.m.

NEW DELHI: A report by Greenpeace India on heatwaves has said days with extreme heat in April 2022 increased in Delhi by 122% compared with April 2021. The report has claimed that the ongoing heatwaves and other extreme weather events show that the proclaimed "safe limit" of climate change has already been crossed and it is already a "climate crisis".
Greenpeace India has analysed data acquired from Accuweather to study the average increase in temperatures over April in 10 capital cities in India. Cities located in both plains and hilly regions have shown a drastic increase in the intensity of heatwaves, while coastal cities have fared relatively better. Delhi, Lucknow, Jaipur, Bhopal, and Shimla have registered the maximum number of hottest days above 43 degrees Celsius. 
According to the report, Delhi recorded the highest maximum temperature range of 40-44 degrees Celsius in April 2022 compared with 40-42 degrees Celsius in April 2021. It recorded temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius after April 6, while the same was observed after April 12 last year. In 2022, such temperatures were experienced for 20 days, as opposed to nine days in 2021. 
Bhopal and Shimla witnessed a 183% rise in days with extreme heat over April 2021, while Lucknow, Jaipur, and Patna saw 145%, 136%, and 27% rises, respectively. "All the cities are capital cities, which are growing in terms of population and are undergoing increased industrialisation." This results in a hike in emissions of greenhouse gases, ultimately contributing to global warming and resulting in large variations in temperature, "the report stated.

It highlighted various impacts of heatwaves on human health, such as heat exhaustion, heatstroke, life-threatening complications, and worsening of pre-existing conditions. The rising temperatures have an economic cost, too, resulting from crop failures, food insecurity, and a loss in total working hours. It said the rising temperatures on the Earth, accompanied by weather changes, had an adverse effect on biodiversity. 
Avinash Kumar Chanchal, campaign manager of Greenpeace India, said, "We are now living amid a deteriorating climate crisis, and we need just and equitable responses." Apart from governments and corporations focusing on adaptation and mitigation measures required to deal with climate change, we will require measures specifically to increase the adaptability of the population during extreme events like heatwaves in India. " 
He added, "These responses need to include effective communication, efficient warning systems, special response for vulnerable populations, an increase in green cover and conservation of waterbodies in our cities." We need practical solutions, and we need them now."

Author : Rajdhani Delhi Representative

Rajdhani delhi representative

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