Climate Change and the Rising Frequency of Extreme Weather Event
Syllabus Mapping: GS3: Effects of Climate Change, Disaster Management & Climate Resilience, Disaster Risk Reduction
Recent attribution studies by the World Weather Attribution (WWA) have established that anthropogenic climate change significantly increased the likelihood and intensity of the unprecedented European heatwave.
Why are extreme weather events increasing?
- Anthropogenically Induced Climate Change: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change AR6 concludes that human influence has unequivocally warmed the atmosphere, oceans and land.
- Ocean-Atmosphere Coupling: Higher sea surface temperatures provide more energy for cyclones, cloudbursts and extreme precipitation events. Eg: India Meteorological Department reports rising temperatures in the Arabian Sea, contributing to more intense cyclones.
- Urban Heat Island: Concrete surfaces, reduced green cover and unplanned urban growth trap heat and intensify localized flooding due to inadequate drainage.
- Ecosystem Degradation: Loss of forests, wetlands and mangroves reduces natural climate regulation and increases vulnerability to floods, landslides and storm surges. Eg: Wetland encroachments have aggravated flooding in Chennai and Bengaluru.
- Monsoon Variability: Climate variability has made the Indian monsoon more erratic, characterised by fewer rainy days but more intense rainfall events.
- Adaptation Deficit: Infrastructure and urban planning have not kept pace with increasing climate risks, leading to greater economic losses and casualties.
Impacts of Extreme Weather Events
- Loss of Lives and Public Health: Heatwaves, floods, cyclones and landslides cause fatalities, injuries and disease outbreaks, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations. Eg: India recorded 3,472 deaths due to extreme weather events in 2024, with over 4 million hectares of cropland affected.
- Threat to Food and Nutritional Security: The Economic Survey 2024–25 identifies climate variability as a major risk to agricultural growth and food security.
- Macroeconomic and Fiscal Losses: Extreme events damage infrastructure, reduce productivity and increase government expenditure on relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction. Eg: India lost nearly 2% of GDP annually due to climate-related disasters.
- Infrastructure and Urban Resilience Challenges: Floods, cyclones and landslides damage transport networks, power grids and public infrastructure, disrupting economic activity.
- Biodiversity and Ecosystem Degradation: Marine heatwaves, forest fires, glacier retreat and habitat destruction weaken ecosystem services. India experienced its highest recorded number of forest fire hotspots in 2024
- Livelihood and Employment Losses: Climate extremes adversely affect agriculture, fisheries, tourism and the informal sector, increasing poverty and inequality. Eg: The ILO estimates that heat stress could result in the loss of 5.8% of working hours in India by 2030, equivalent to 34 million full-time jobs.
Short-Medium Term Measures and Strategies
- Strengthen Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems: Expand AI-enabled forecasting, Doppler Weather Radars and last-mile dissemination to minimize casualties. India has reduced cyclone mortality significantly through the India Meteorological Department’s improved forecasting and the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP).
- Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), launched by India, promotes resilient infrastructure globally.
- Nature-Based Solutions (NbS): Restore wetlands, mangroves, forests and river floodplains to reduce floods, storm surges and heat stress.
- Climate-Smart Agriculture: Promote drought-resistant crops, micro-irrigation, climate advisories and crop diversification.
- Strengthen Urban Climate Governance: Implement Heat Action Plans, sponge-city concepts, blue-green infrastructure and risk-sensitive urban planning. Eg: Ahmedabad’s Heat Action Plan is recognised globally as a best practice.
Long Term Strategies
- Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy: India aims for 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 and Net Zero by 2070.
- Mainstream Climate Adaptation into Development Planning: Integrate climate risk assessments into infrastructure, agriculture, water resources and urban planning.
- Climate Finance: Through international consensus. Eg: India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission and sovereign green bonds.
- Climate Leadership: Champion climate justice, adaptation finance and technology transfer through initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance (ISA), CDRI and the Global Biofuels Alliance.
India’s response must shift from disaster response to climate resilience by integrating adaptation, mitigation and risk-informed development.
PRELIMS BOOSTERS
White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis)
- A captive-bred, radio-tagged White-rumped Vulture was electrocuted after coming in contact with a power line near Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (Tamil Nadu).
- It was the first attempted reintroduction of a captive-bred White-rumped Vulture into the wild landscape of South India.
- Old World Vulture native to Indian Subcontinent & Southeast Asia
- One of India’s nine vulture species and among the three Critically Endangered (IUCN) Gyps vultures (White-rumped, Indian, Slender-billed).
- CITES: Appendix II + Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
- Population crashed by >95% mainly due to veterinary Diclofenac poisoning.
- Meloxicam is the recommended vulture-safe alternative to Diclofenac.
Konkan Petroglyphs
- Maharashtra Government to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) for scientific analysis, classification and digital documentation of Konkan petroglyphs.
- IIT Pravartak (IIT Madras) appointed for digital assessment and documentation.
- Strengthen India’s bid for UNESCO World Heritage Site
- In 2025, Konkan Petroglyphs were included in UNESCO’s Tentative List.
- Petroglyphs are rock carvings created by chiselling, pecking or engraving directly on natural rock surfaces.
- Different from Pictographs, which are paintings made using pigments on rock surfaces.
- Examples of petroglyphs in India:
- Konkan Petroglyphs – Maharashtra
- Edakkal Caves – Kerala
- Kupgallu Petroglyphs – Karnataka
- Rock engravings of Ladakh
- Maski region – Karnataka
UNLCOS and Strait of Hormuz
- Iran has proposed charging fees for ships using the Strait of Hormuz, citing navigation and environmental protection.
- Connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea.
- Lies between Iran (north) and Oman (Musandam Peninsula) & UAE (south).
| Zone | Distance from Baseline | Rights of Coastal State |
| Internal Waters | Landward of baseline | Complete sovereignty |
| Territorial Sea | Up to 12 NM | Full sovereignty; foreign ships enjoy Innocent Passage |
| Contiguous Zone | Up to 24 NM | Prevent customs, fiscal, immigration & sanitary violations |
| Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) | Up to 200 NM | Sovereign rights over living & non-living resources |
| Continental Shelf | Up to 200 NM (extendable to 350 NM) | Rights over seabed & subsoil resources only |
| High Seas | Beyond national jurisdiction | Freedom of navigation for all States |
- Bodies under UNCLOS: International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) + International Seabed Authority (ISA) + Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS)
- Article 17 → Right of Innocent Passage through the territorial sea.
- Article 26 → No charge can be levied merely for passage; charges are allowed only for specific services rendered.
- Article 37 → Applies Transit Passage regime to international straits.
- Article 38 → Ships and aircraft enjoy Right of Transit Passage.
- Article 44 → Transit Passage cannot be suspended by the coastal State.
