Lok Sabha Question No. 139 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-11-29
Subject: Global Warming
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Sanjay(Kaka) Ramchandra Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 139

TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.11.2021

## Global Warming

## 139. SHRIMATI RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE: SHRI SANJAY KAKA PATIL:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the crisis of global warming is getting worse day-by-day and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government envisages the ice melting effect due to global warming;
- (c) whether the sea level is rising due to the avalanche and if so, the details of studies and surveys in this regard;
- (d) whether the government has framed any Committee in this regard and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether there are any fears that many cities of the world will be submerged in floods by 2100 with the effect of all these?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) Climate change is a global collective action problem. As per the  Intergovernmental Panel  on  Climate  Change  (IPCC)  The  Working  Group  I  contribution  to  the  Sixth Assessment Report titled, 'Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis', global warming  of  approximately  1.07°C  has  already  occurred  in  the  decade  2010-2019 since 1850-1900.  Global surface temperature will continue to increase until at least the mid-century under all emissions scenarios considered. Global warming of 1.5°C and  2°C  will  be  exceeded  during  the  21 st century  unless  deep  reductions  in  carbon dioxide  and  other  greenhouse  gas  emissions  occur  in  the  coming  decades.  This assessment is based on improved observational datasets to assess historical warming, as well as progress in scientific understanding of the response of the climate system to human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.

According to the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the surface air temperature over India  has  risen  by  about  0.7°C  during  1901-2018.  Reports  from  various  sources, including IPCC highlight that the challenges faced due to global warming are mainly due to cumulative historical and current greenhouse gas emissions of the developed countries.  India  with  more  than  17%  of  the  global  population  has  contributed  only about 4% of the global cumulative greenhouse gas emissions between 1850 and 2017.

- (b) The  Government  is  seized  of  the  matter.  The  net  change  in  a  glaciated  area  varies from  one  region  to  another.  In  a  recent  study  by  the  Indian  Space  Research Organisation  (ISRO),  5,234  glaciers  were  monitored  between  the  years  2001  and 2018 across the Himalayan-Karakoram (H-K) region from Kashmir to Sikkim using satellite  data.  In  the  Karakoram  region  (north  of  the  Indus  river)  gain  in  the  area (0.056%) has been observed. The loss is observed in the rest of the Himalayan region which varies from 0.751% to 2.32%.
- (c) As per the information received from the Department of Science and Technology, a direct link of avalanche to the sea level rise has not been established.
- (d) Does not arise. The matters relating to snow avalanches are monitored by the Defence Geoinformatics  Research  Establishment  (DGRE),  a  constituent  laboratory  of  the Defence Research and Development  Organisation (DRDO).  Sea  level rise is monitored by the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
- (e) Global  warming  and  resultant  sea-level  rise  is  projected  to  increase  the  coastal inundation of low-lying areas. The frequency and intensity of extreme weather events like  cyclones,  heavy  rains,  storm  surges,  heatwaves,  etc.  are  likely  to  exacerbate owing to climate change. However, there are no conclusive studies that quantify the actual extent of coastal cities that may be affected by climate change in 2100.

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