Introduction
Climate Change refers to long-term alterations in the Earth’s climate caused by both natural processes and, predominantly, human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs). The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has concluded that human influence has unequivocally warmed the atmosphere, oceans, and land, making climate change one of the greatest challenges to sustainable development.
Major Causes of Climate Change
Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Burning of fossil fuels for electricity, industry, and transport increases atmospheric concentrations of CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O.
Example: The energy sector is the largest contributor to global GHG emissions.
Deforestation and Land Use Change: Loss of forests reduces carbon sinks while increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Example: Diversion of forest land for infrastructure and mining projects.
Industrialization and Urbanization: Rapid industrial growth, construction, and waste generation intensify emissions and environmental degradation.
Example: Expansion of cement and steel industries with high carbon footprints.
Unsustainable Agriculture: Livestock, rice cultivation, and excessive fertilizer use emit methane and nitrous oxide.
Example: Paddy cultivation contributes significantly to methane emissions.
Impacts on India’s Environment and Economy
Increase in Extreme Weather Events: More frequent heatwaves, floods, cyclones, and droughts.
Example: Increasing frequency of extreme rainfall events and severe cyclones in the Bay of Bengal.
Threat to Agriculture and Food Security: Declining crop productivity due to erratic rainfall and rising temperatures.
Example: Heat stress affects wheat yields in northwestern India.
Loss of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services: Climate change accelerates habitat degradation and species extinction.
Example: Coral bleaching in the Gulf of Mannar and Lakshadweep.
Economic Losses: Damages infrastructure, reduces labour productivity, and increases disaster-related expenditure.
Example: The Economic Survey 2024–25 highlights climate risks to agriculture, infrastructure, and long-term economic growth.
Conclusion
Climate change is both an environmental and developmental challenge requiring coordinated global and national action. India’s initiatives such as the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, the International Solar Alliance (ISA), and the target of achieving Net Zero emissions by 2070 reflect its commitment to climate-resilient and sustainable development.