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CSE Launches "State of India's Environment in Figures 2024" Ahead of World Environment Day

As World Environment Day (June 5) approaches, and with India poised for the declaration of its national election results, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) along with Down To Earth magazine has released the 2024 edition of "State of India’s Environment in Figures." This annual publication offers a comprehensive snapshot of India's environmental status through a collation of critical statistics, providing an agenda for development grounded in factual data for the forthcoming government. Sunita Narain, Director General of CSE, introduced the report during a webinar, highlighting its significance. Narain explained that the numbers revealed by the report paint a grim picture, but also present an opportunity. By outlining the priorities for the new regime, the report identifies the sectors where development plans must be crafted with the climate crisis in mind. The report reveals some alarming truths about India’s progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with the country ranking 112th out of 166 nations and scoring just over 63 out of 100, indicating poor preparedness to meet these goals. Renewable energy generation, including hydro, has declined by 1.5% between 2022-23 and 2023-24, with 23 states and Union territories (UTs) experiencing a drop. Per capita health expenditure is also falling, with 12 states below the national average, and coverage under the national crop insurance scheme decreased by 12% in 2022-23 compared to its inception. Richard Mahapatra, Managing Editor of Down To Earth, highlighted the challenges faced by states and UTs, including low health expenditure, high non-communicable diseases, declining renewable energy, inadequate crop insurance, and deteriorating soil health. In 26 states/UTs, non-communicable diseases account for 50% of total deaths, including in Delhi, Goa, and Kerala. Furthermore, 23 states/UTs, including West Bengal, have not achieved 100% tap water connections in rural households. Nine states/UTs have dangerously high PM2.5 levels, with Delhi residents potentially gaining up to 11 years of life expectancy if levels were reduced to WHO standards. The report underscores the escalating climate crisis, noting that 2023 was India’s second hottest year on record, with record-breaking temperatures in 102 weather stations across 26 states/UTs. It was also a very wet year, with 69 weather stations across 23 states/UTs registering record-breaking rainfall. India experienced extreme weather on 318 days in 2023, resulting in 3,287 deaths and 2.2 million hectares of crop damage. Additionally, 90% of new internal displacements were due to climate-related events, ranking India as the 20th most disaster-affected country globally. India's greenhouse gas emissions surged by 115% from 1994 to 2019, with the energy industry contributing 76% of the total emissions. The land use, land use change, and forestry sector mitigated 20% of these emissions in 2019. Narain emphasized the urgent need for strategic planning to tackle water scarcity, pollution, and declining public transport amidst the climate crisis. She called for innovative solutions that promote growth, livelihoods, and well-being while addressing climate change. She stressed that even as the report is being released, India is going through an intense heat wave, underscoring the urgency of understanding the crisis of a changing climate.

Climate change has been at work, says The State of India’s Environment in Figures

“As the World Environment Day (June 5) draws near, India awaits the end of its national elections and declaration of their results. The State of India’s Environment in Figures – an annual publication by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down To Earth magazine – is a unique collation of statistics which provides a snapshot of the state of affairs in the country using numbers. What it also provides is an agenda for development, based on hard facts and data, to the new-old government that will emerge to take hold of the reins of the country,” said Sunita Narain, director general of CSE, here today. She was speaking at a webinar organised by CSE to release the 2024 edition of the State of India’s Environment in Figures. Narain added: “The numbers revealed by this report do paint a grim picture. But therein hides an opportunity. In painting its picture, the report outlines the priorities for the new regime – the sectors where we must craft our development plans, keeping in mind the climate crisis that we face today.” SOE in Figures, as the report is referred to, reveals some alarming truths indeed. Take the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With a score of a little over 63 out of 100, India ranks a dismal 112th among 166 nations with respect to its preparedness to meet the Goals. India’s renewable energy generation (including hydro) has actually gone down by 1.5 per cent between 2022-23 and 2023-24 – 23 states and Union territories (UTs) have witnessed a drop. Per capita health expenditure is dipping as well: 12 states rank below the national average. The area insured under the national crop insurance scheme decreased by 12 per cent in 2022-23 compared to when the scheme was initiated. State of the states Says Richard Mahapatra, managing editor of Down To Earth: “The SOE in Figures tells us that many states and UTs are grappling with low per capita health expenditure, high incidence of non-communicable diseases, declining renewable energy generation, inadequate crop insurance coverage and deteriorating soil health.” In 26 states/UTs, non-communicable diseases account for 50 per cent of the total deaths. These states/UTs include Delhi, Goa, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Telangana and most states in the northeastern parts of the country, among others. Twenty-three of the states/UTs have not achieved 100 per cent tap water connections in rural households, with West Bengal emerging as one of the states lagging behind. Nine of the states/UTs have air pollution levels so high that reducing their PM2.5 levels to the recommended standards of the World Health Organization (WHO) can extend the average lifespan of their residents by five years and three months. Among those which indicate a high potential gain in life expectancy are Delhi (11 years and 10 months), Uttar Pradesh (8 years and 10 months), Haryana (8 years and 4 months) and Bihar (7 years and 11 months), among others. In terms of per capita power availability, 16 states/UTs had a lower than national average – big states such as Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Kerala, Jharkhand, Assam and Bihar feature in the list. State of climate Climate change has been at work; SOE in Figures says 2023 was India’s second hottest year on record — 102 weather stations across 26 out of 36 states/UTs witnessed record-breaking temperatures. It was also a very wet year, with 69 weather stations across 23 states/UTs registering record-breaking rainfall. Between January 1 and December 31, 2023, India experienced extreme weather events on 318 of the 365 days, says the report. These events claimed 3,287 lives and devastated 2.2 million hectare of crop area. In the first three months of 2023, lightning and storms were the most frequent extreme weather events. Says Rajit Sengupta, one of the lead researchers behind the CSE report: “Hailstorms (classified under lightning and storms) were geographically the most widespread event, with 25 states/UTs reporting them.” Adds Kiran Pandey, the other lead researcher: “In terms of the human costs, we have found that close to 90 per cent of new internal displacements in India have been due to climate-related events. India ranks as the 20th most disaster-affected country in the world.” In terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, India’s share jumped up 115 per cent between 1994 and 2019: in 2019, the country emitted 2,647 million tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent of GHGs. The energy industry was the biggest emitter: accounting for 76 per cent of the total national carbon dioxide emissions in 2019. The SOE in Figures also points out that the land use, land use change and forests sector removed/absorbed 20 per cent of India’s emissions in 2019. Said Narain: “Even as we are releasing this report, India is going through an intense heat wave. This is a time when we cannot but understand the crisis of a changing climate. This is borne out by the data in this report — there is clear evidence that heat is rising and extreme weather events are breaking the backs of the poorest in our world.” Narain reiterated: “In such a scenario, our report points to priorities for planning — water scarcity, water pollution, air pollution in cities, declining public transport, etc. This is where our focus has to be. This is a world where plans have to be crafted keeping in mind the crisis of climate change; but this is also a world where we would have the opportunity to address this crisis. We need clever solutions that will work for us – growth, livelihoods and wellbeing for all — and also address climate change.”

15 extreme weather events in three months: Delhi's rough start to 2024

The report revealed that Delhi recorded 15 extreme weather events from January to March 2024, primarily cold days or cold waves. This marks an increase from the 12 events recorded during the same period in both 2023 and 2022. The Centre for Science and Environment's (CSE) State of Environment report for 2024 revealed that Delhi was among 12 states and Union territories (UTs) that experienced the highest number of extreme weather events in the first three months of 2024. The report revealed that Delhi recorded 15 extreme weather events from January to March 2024, primarily cold days or cold waves. This marks an increase from the 12 events recorded during the same period in both 2023 and 2022. "From January to March 2024, at least 12 states/UTs, including Delhi, recorded their highest number of days with extreme weather events in the past three years," the report said. Between January 1 and December 31, 2023, India faced extreme weather on 318 of the 365 days, resulting in 3,287 deaths and damaging 2.2 million hectares of crop area. The report sourced its data from the disaster management division of the Union Home Ministry, the India Meteorological Department, and media reports. In Delhi, 14 of the 15 extreme weather events in 2024 were cold waves or cold days in January, with one incident of lightning and storm occurring on March 3. "As Delhi experiences blistering heat in May, the number of extreme events is expected to rise this year," a researcher noted. Sunita Narain, Director General of CSE, commented, "Even as we are releasing this report, India is going through an intense heatwave. This is a time when we must understand the crisis of a changing climate. The data in this report provides clear evidence that heat is rising and extreme weather events are breaking the backs of the poorest in our world." The report also highlighted that 2023 was India's second hottest year on record, with 102 weather stations across 26 of 36 states/UTs registering record-breaking temperatures. It was also a notably wet year, with 69 weather stations across 23 states/UTs recording unprecedented rainfall. In the first three months of 2023, lightning and storms were the most common extreme weather events in India. However, in 2024, cold waves or cold days have become the most frequent occurrences during this period. Despite this shift, hailstorms, often occurring alongside lightning and storms, continued to have a widespread impact across 25 states/UTs, while cold waves/cold days were reported in 13 states/UTs.

New Data-Driven Ebook Examines India's Environmental Challenges

As a prelude to World Environment Day, the release of "State of India's Environment 2024 in Figures" offers an in-depth, data-centric analysis of the country's environmental performance. This 9th ebook in the special dataset series takes an innovative approach, diving into a wealth of government and credible source data on India's environment and development. Utilising cutting-edge tools, the report processes vast amounts of raw data into insightful infographics that tell a comprehensive story for each subject area. From climate change and extreme weather events to health, food security, migration, agriculture, energy, waste, water, and biodiversity – no stone is left unturned. "With each dataset, we have tried to provide the complete picture with deep data wisdom," stated the publishers. "Every data point you encounter represents 12 months of meticulous tracking to make sense of the complex information and present credible statements." In addition to the national perspective, the report analyses and ranks the performance of India's states on key environmental parameters, making sense of regional environmental affairs through data that might otherwise remain obscure statistics. "'State of India's Environment 2024: In Figures' harnesses the best available data to narrate India's environmental journey – its successes, failures, and gaps," the publishers added. The eBook is available for purchase, offering readers a complementary resource to the previously released "State of India's Environment 2024" annual report. For a limited time, it is offered at a special price.

Delhi Recorded 15 Extreme Weather Events, Including 14 Cold Waves, in Just Three Months: CSE Report

Delhi was among the 12 states and Union territories (UTs) that experienced the highest number of days with extreme weather events in the first quarter of this year, according to the Centre for Science and Environment’s State of Environment report 2024. The report indicated that Delhi witnessed 15 extreme weather events from January to March 2024, predominantly cold days or cold waves. This compares to 12 such events in the same period of 2023 and 2022. "From January to March 2024, at least 12 states/UTs, including Delhi, recorded their highest number of days with extreme weather events in the past three years," it stated. In 2023, India faced extreme weather events on 318 out of 365 days, resulting in 3,287 deaths and affecting 2.2 million hectares of crops, as per data sourced from the disaster management division of the Union Home Ministry, India Meteorological Department, and media reports. Of Delhi's 15 extreme weather events in early 2024, 14 were cold waves or cold days in January, and one was a lightning and storm incident on March 3. Researchers noted that with the current intense heat in May, the number of extreme events in Delhi is expected to rise. Sunita Narain, director general of CSE, emphasised the urgency of addressing climate change, stating, "Even as we release this report, India is experiencing an intense heatwave. The data clearly shows that heat is rising and extreme weather events are severely impacting the poorest in our world." The report highlighted that 2023 was India's second hottest year on record, with record-breaking temperatures at 102 weather stations across 26 of 36 states/UTs. It was also a notably wet year, with record-breaking rainfall at 69 weather stations across 23 states/UTs. In the first three months of 2023, lightning and storms were the most common extreme weather events in the country. However, in 2024, cold waves or cold days became the most frequent. Despite this change, hailstorms, categorised with lightning and storms, remained widespread across 25 states/UTs, while cold waves/cold days were reported in 13 states/UTs. Rajit Sengupta, a lead researcher, noted, "Hailstorms (classified under lightning and storms) were the most geographically widespread event, affecting 25 states/UTs." From January to March 2024, extreme weather events resulted in 71 human deaths and damaged 0.1 million hectares of crop land nationwide.

In just three months of year, Delhi faced 15 extreme weather events

NEW DELHI: Delhi was among the 12 states and Union territories (UT) that recorded the highest number of days with extreme weather events in the first three months of this year, reveals Centre for Science and Environment’s State of Environment report 2024. The report said Delhi saw 15 extreme weather events from Jan to March 2024, mostly cold days or cold waves, against 12 each recorded during the same period in 2023 and 2022. “From Jan to March 2024, at least 12 states/UTs, including Delhi, recorded their highest number of days with extreme weather events in the past three years,” it added. Between Jan 1 and Dec 31, 2023, India experienced extreme weather events on 318 of the 365 days. These events claimed 3,287 lives and devastated 2.2 million hectare crop area, revealed the report, which had sourced data from the disaster management division of Union home ministry, India Meteorological Department and media reports. Of the 15 extreme weather events in Delhi in 2024, 14 were cold waves or cold days in Jan, while one incident of lightning and storm took place on March 3. “However, as Delhi has been witnessing blistering heat in May, the number of extreme events is expected to rise this year,” said one of the researchers. Sunita Narain, director general of CSE, said, “Even as we are releasing this report, India is going through an intense heatwave. This is a time when we cannot but understand the crisis of a changing climate. This is borne out by the data in this report — there is clear evidence that heat is rising and extreme weather events are breaking the backs of the poorest in our world.” The report stated that 2023 was India’s second hottest year on record, with 102 weather stations across 26 of 36 states/UTs witnessing record-breaking temperatures. It was also a very wet year, with 69 weather stations across 23 states/UTs registering record-breaking rainfall. According to the report, in the first three months of 2023, lightning and storms dominated as the most common extreme weather events in the country. However, in 2024, cold wave or cold days were the most frequent occurrence during this period. Despite this shift, hailstorms, categorised with lightning and storms, maintained their widespread impact across 25 states/UTs. In contrast, cold wave/cold days were reported in 13 states/UTs. Rajit Sengupta, one of the lead researchers, said, “Hailstorms (classified under lightning and storms) were geographically the most widespread event, with 25 states/UTs reporting them.” Between Jan and March 2024, extreme weather events claimed 71 human lives and damaged 0.1 million hectares of crop land across the country.

Experts warn of heat risks as India's temperatures climb again

Extreme temperatures across India are having their worst impact in the country's teeming megacities, experts said Thursday, warning that the heat is fast becoming a public health crisis. India is enduring a crushing heatwave with temperatures in several cities sizzling well above 45 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Temperature readings in the capital New Delhi rose into the high 40s Celsius this week, with power usage in the city -- where the population is estimated at more than 30 million -- surging to a record high on Wednesday. "Cities are more vulnerable to the compounding effects of urbanisation and climate change," said Aarti Khosla, director at research institute Climate Trends. "Expect a greater number of hotter days, prolonged dry spells and less rainy days as weather patterns continue to change due to increased human emissions," she told AFP. - Heat ward and ice baths - In Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia hospital, a specialised unit is busy treating patients with heat-related illnesses. Equipped with immersion ice baths, the unit has treated eight heat-struck patients in the past week. One person died Wednesday, medics said, with a body temperature that had surged to a fatal 41.5C (106.7F). Among those admitted to the unit were manual labourers, most aged between 40 and 50, who work under the blazing sun. "Treatment depends upon very quick, very rapid intervention and very rapid cooling," hospital director Ajay Shukla said, warning that the mortality rate for severe cases is around "60-80 percent". The rising temperatures hit the vulnerable the hardest, including those on the economic margins, experts said. "When the individual is dehydrated, extreme heat exposure will thicken their blood and cause organs to shut down, resulting in death within hours, popularly called 'heat stroke’," said Vidhya Venugopal, director at Sri Ram Institute of Higher Education and Research in Chennai. "We urgently need... action to protect exposed populations." - 'About survivability' - India is no stranger to searing summer temperatures but years of scientific research have found climate change is causing heatwaves to become longer, more frequent and more intense. The highest confirmed temperature ever recorded in India was 51C (123.8F), in Phalodi on the edge of Rajasthan's Thar Desert in 2016. Khosla, from Climate Trends, described heatwaves as "the single largest threat to India's well-being today", adding that recent high temperatures were "proof that the issue is now about survivability". No relief comes at night. A study published by New Delhi's Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) this month said Indian cities were not cooling down after sunset as much as they had in the decade of 2001-2010. It found temperatures then had dropped after dusk nearly 2C more than today. "Hot nights are as dangerous as midday peak temperatures," it said. "People get little chance to recover from daytime heat... exerting prolonged stress on the body." - 'Caused by burning coal' - Researchers say human-induced climate change has driven the devastating heat impact in India and should be taken as a warning. "The suffering India is facing this week is worse because of climate change, caused by burning coal, oil and gas and deforestation," said Friederike Otto, a climatologist at the Imperial College London and director of World Weather Attribution. The world's most populous nation is the third-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases but has committed to achieve a net zero emissions economy by 2070 -- two decades after most of the industrialised West. For now, it is overwhelmingly reliant on coal for power generation. The government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is seeking a third term in ongoing elections, says the fossil fuel remains central to meeting India's rising energy needs and lifting millions out of poverty. "What we are seeing in India is exactly what scientists said would happen if we didn't stop heating the planet," Otto said. © Agence France-Presse

Alert : कंक्रीट के बढ़ते जंगल से गर्म हो रही हैं दिल्ली की रातें, अनियमित निर्माण और घनी बसावट भी बड़ा कारण

Alert : कंक्रीट के बढ़ते जंगल से गर्म हो रही हैं दिल्ली की रातें, अनियमित निर्माण और घनी बसावट भी बड़ा कारण आशीष सिंह, नई दिल्ली Published by: दुष्यंत शर्मा Updated Fri, 31 May 2024 06:26 AM IST सार 53854 Followers दिल्ली-एनसीआर दिलचस्प यह कि दिल्ली देहात व शहरी क्षेत्र की रातों के तापमान में बड़ा फर्क है। इसकी वजह दिल्ली की बहुमंजिला इमारतें और घनी बसावट है। बढ़ते कंक्रीट के जंगल ने ये संकट बढ़ाया है। Delhi: CSE study- Nights are getting hotter due to growing concrete jungle सांकेतिक तस्वीर। - फोटो : अमर उजाला Reactions 3 विस्तार राजधानी में दो दशकों में दिन और रात के तापमान के बीच का अंतर कम हो गया है। दिलचस्प यह कि दिल्ली देहात व शहरी क्षेत्र की रातों के तापमान में बड़ा फर्क है। इसकी वजह दिल्ली की बहुमंजिला इमारतें और घनी बसावट है। बढ़ते कंक्रीट के जंगल ने ये संकट बढ़ाया है। इसके अलावा बेतहाशा बढ़ते वाहनों व एसी ने भी गर्मी बढ़ा दी है। इससे रातें ज्यादा गर्म हो रही हैं। Trending Videos Play Video Close PlayerUnibots.com हाल ही में सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एन्वायरमेंट (सीएसई) ने 2001 से 2024 की गर्मियों का विस्तृत अध्ययन किया है। इसके मुताबिक, 2001-2010 के बीच दिन व रात के तापमान में औसतन 12.3 डिग्री का अंतर था। 2014 से 2023 यह आंकड़ा 11.2 डिग्री सेल्सियस रह गया। 2023-2024 में यह अंतर और भी कम हो गया। इसे 9.8 डिग्री सेल्सियस दर्ज किया गया। इस हिसाब से 20 सालों में दिन और रात के तापमान में औसतन 2.5 डिग्री सेल्सियस की कमी आई है। मसलन, अगर इस बीच दिन का औसत तापमान 40 डिग्री रिकॉर्ड किया गया तो रातें 37.7, 38.8 व 40.2 डिग्री सेल्सियस तक गर्म रहीं। वहीं, 2014 से 2023 के दौरान नमी 8% तक बढ़ी, तो गर्मी के इंडेक्स में 3.3% का इजाफा देखा गया।

Heatwaves and cyclones: India's tryst with climate change

As a study published by the Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) —titled Decoding The Urban Heat Stress Among Indian Cities—a few days ago shows, cities are becoming increasingly vulnerable to rising heat stress, especially deadly humid heat. The fact that cities are registering higher night temperatures adds to the deadliness. At the same time as these heatwaves, a major cyclone, Remal, made landfall in the Bengal coast on 26 May, causing extreme damage, and claimed a few lives. In fact, even as the cyclone lost its strength after landfall and became a major storm, it remained intense enough to cause heavy rains leading to major landslides in Northeast states like Manipur. For a depression to develop into a severe cyclone in so short a time, the reason was abnormally high sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the Bay of Bengal, another result of climate change.

As Heatwaves Scorch India, Where Do Political Parties Stand On Climate Change?

The State of India’s Environment Report 2023, jointly launched by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down to Earth (DTE) magazine, provides a comprehensive assessment of various environmental and developmental issues plaguing the country. One of the alarming findings of the report is the rampant encroachment on water bodies across the country, with over 30,000 water bodies being encroached upon. Additionally, India generates a staggering 150,000 tonnes of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) daily, with more than half of it ending up in landfills or remaining unattended, aggravating environmental pollution.

Climate crisis: Wet-bulb heat is a threat we cannot afford to ignore

On Wednesday, a weather station in Delhi reported a maximum temperature of 52.9° Celsius. This is the highest ever—not just for the capital, but for all of India. As anything above 50° is rare even during intense heat waves, the reading left observers agape. And since it was an outlier among other mercury readings across Delhi, a central minister said that the weather department has been asked to check if the thermometer was okay. Whether or not it has its notches correct, the scorching heat this year makes anything around the 50° mark seem believable. The oven-like conditions that have gripped large parts of our landmass are all too real, with people groaning that this summer is the hottest they have ever experienced. The tragic irony of such groans is that unlike a ‘once in a century’ event like the covid pandemic, it’s likely that the same attestation of misery will be made year after year as we go along. After all, the blazing sun is only the most visible cause. Air pollution that traps heat on the planet has put us on a path whose perils are only just starting to show. An analysis of data from India Meteorological Department by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) reveals that it’s not just regular heat, the hot season has gradually become more muggy too. In Delhi, the average relative humidity in summer months was 52.5% in the first decade of the millennium, but recent years have seen it go above 60%, pushing us into a sweltering zone.

Warmer nights, rising humidity: Why heatwaves are becoming more deadly

Large parts of the country are witnessing a searing and longer-than-usual heatwave, with record-breaking day temperatures. Over the past few days, the heat has claimed lives in multiple states including Delhi, Bihar, Odisha, and Gujarat. Studies have shown that cities, in particular, are getting warmer and more humid due to urbanisation and declining green cover. This, in addition to higher night time temperatures, makes heatwaves more intense and deadly, especially for the poor, who get little respite from heat fatigue. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group-II, which assesses impacts of, and vulnerabilities to climate change, has noted that the urban heat island effect leads to cities experiencing air temperatures that are several degrees warmer than surrounding areas, especially during the night, “reducing [their] adaptive capacity”. Another study, by Anumita Roychowdhury, Somvanshi and Sharanjeet Kaur for the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), found that the difference between day and night temperatures in urban areas has reduced over a period of time. Comparing the daytime and nighttime temperatures, the study found that nights were 6.2-13.2 degree Celsius cooler in the 2001-10 decade but only 6.2-11.5 degree Celsius cooler in the 2014-23 period. With the exception of Kolkata, all cities saw a decline in nighttime cooling.

India's second-hottest year in 2023, marked by warm winters: CSE

India had its second-hottest year on record, according to the State of India's Environment In Figures: 2024 report by Down to Earth and the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The report cited unusually warm winters, monsoons, and post-monsoon periods. The analysis revealed alarming figures about extreme heat conditions across the country, based on India Meteorological Department (IMD) data. Record-breaking heat in 26 states 102 weather stations across 26 states and Union Territories broke their monthly highest 24-hour maximum temperature records in 122 years. Ten of these stations were in million-plus cities, including Bengaluru, Jamshedpur, Kochi, Kota, Kozhikode, Lucknow, Madurai, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, and Visakhapatnam. ADVERTISEMENT The analysis showed 27 weather stations with record-breaking temperatures in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, nine each. Additionally, 34 weather stations reported record-breaking 24-hour maximum temperatures in September. India recorded its hottest minimum temperature in 122 years. Temperature records were consistently broken in the last six months of the year. Minimum temperatures remained above normal in the other five months, with anomalies increasing from 0.57°C in July to 1.71°C in December, except for October. The country experienced its highest minimum temperature for December in 122 years, registering a notable anomaly of 1.71°C above normal. ADVERTISEMENT Climate change is evident; SOE in Figures states 2023 was India’s second hottest year on record. 102 weather stations across 26 out of 36 states/UTs witnessed record-breaking temperatures. It was also very wet, with 69 weather stations across 23 states/UTs registering record-breaking rainfall. In 2023, India faced extreme weather on 318 of 365 days. This resulted in 3,287 deaths and 2.2 million hectares of crop destruction. Lightning and storms were the most common extreme weather events in the first three months. Rajit Sengupta, a lead CSE researcher, said, “Hailstorms (under lightning and storms) were the most widespread event, reported in 25 states/UTs.” ADVERTISEMENT Kiran Pandey, the other lead researcher, adds: "Close to 90% of new internal displacements in India are due to climate-related events. India ranks as the 20th most disaster-affected country.” India's GHG emissions doubled since 1994 India's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reached 2,647 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2019, marking a 115% increase between 1994 and 2019. The energy industry accounted for 76% of the total national carbon dioxide emissions in 2019, while the land use, land use change, and forests sector absorbed 20% of India’s emissions in 2019. ADVERTISEMENT Narain said: "India is experiencing an intense heat wave as we release this report. It's a time to understand the crisis of a changing climate, supported by the data in this report -- there's clear evidence of rising heat and extreme weather events affecting the poorest in our world.” Narain reiterated: “Our report points to priorities for planning -- water scarcity, water and air pollution in cities, and declining public transport. This is where our focus should be. We need to craft plans with the climate change crisis in mind. We need clever solutions that work for growth, livelihoods, wellbeing, and address climate change.” 2024 temperatures above normal consistently ADVERTISEMENT The trend continued in the first four months of 2024, with average minimum temperatures remaining above normal in three months – January, February, and April – with anomalies of 0.97°C, 0.79°C, and 0.88°C, respectively. The southern peninsular region of India has experienced "above normal" average minimum temperatures throughout 2024. According to IMD's monthly climate summaries, the region had its second-highest minimum temperature in 122 years during these months consistently. The rising maximum and record-breaking temperatures in Delhi and other states are worrying. The trend for minimum temperatures in 2023 and 2024 suggests a new normal, indicating warmer nights. These figures highlight the urgent need to combat climate change and address rising temperatures. Experts warn that extreme heat can have severe consequences for human health, agriculture, and the nation's well-being.