Lok Sabha Question No. 5531 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-06
Subject: Rising Temperature
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Sougata Ray

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5531

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 6 TH  APRIL, 2022

## RISING TEMPERATURE

## 5531.   PROF. SOUGATA RAY:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of rising temperature in almost all parts of the country since the last three years and the current year;
- (b) whether the Government has ascertained the reasons behind the rising temperature;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to check the rising temperature globally?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a) Details  of  rising  temperature  over  the  entire  country  during  the  last  three  years  are  given below:

2019

Average  temperature  over  India  during  the  year  2019  was  above  normal.  During  the  year, annual mean surface air temperature, averaged over the country, was +0.36 °C above (19812010period) average. The year 2019 was the seventh warmest year on record since nation-wide records commenced in 1901. However, the warming during 2019 was substantially lower than the  highest  warming  observed  over  India  during  2016  (+0.71°C).  The  pre-monsoon  and monsoon seasons with anomaly of +0.39°C and +0.58°C, respectively have mainly contributed to this warming.

The Global mean surface temperature anomaly during 2019 (January to October) was +1.1°C as per WMO provisional statement on the state of global climate. (source: https://public.wmo.int/en/resources/library/wmo-provisional-statement-state-of-global-climate2019).

2020

The  annual  mean  land  surface  air  temperature  averaged  over  India  during  2020  was  above normal. During the year, annual mean land surface air temperature averaged over the country was +0.29°C above normal (based on the data of 1981-2010). The year 2020 was the eighth warmest  year  on  record  since  nation-wide  records  commenced  in  1901.  However,  this  is substantially lower than the highest warming observed over India during 2016 (+0.71°C). The monsoon and post-monsoon seasons with  mean temperature  anomalies  (Actual  temperatureNormal  temperature)  of  +0.43°C  and  +0.53°C  respectively  have  mainly  contributed  to  this warming.  Mean  temperature  during  the  winter  was  also  above  normal  with  anomaly  of +0.14°C. However, during the pre-monsoon season temperature was below normal (-0.03°C).

The Global mean surface temperature anomaly during 2020 (January to October as per WMO state of the global climate) is +1.2°C (source: https://public.wmo.int/en/ourmandate/climate/wmo-statement-state-of-global-climate).

## 2021

The  annual  mean  land  surface  air  temperature  averaged  over  India  during  2021  was0.440C above the long period average (LPA) based on 1981-2010 period. The year 2021 was the fifth warmest year since nationwide records commenced in 1901. However, this is lower than the highest  warming  observed  over  India  during  2016  when  it  was  0.71°C  above  the  LPA.The winter(January  to  February)  and  post-monsoon  (October  to  December)  seasons  with  all Indiamean temperature anomalies(Actual-LPA Temperature) of +0.78°C and +0.42°C respectively  mainly  contributed to this  warming.  The  all  India  mean  temperatures  during  the other two seasons; pre-monsoon (March to May) and monsoon (June to September) seasons, were also above normal withanomalies of +0.35°Cand +0.34°C, respectively.

The Global mean surface temperature anomaly during 2021 (January to September as per State of  the  Global  Climate  2021  WMO  provisional  statement)  wasabout  1.08  ±0.13°C  above  the 1850-1900 pre-industrial average and the global annual temperature is also likely to be between the 5 th and 7 th warmest year on record. (source: https://library.wmo.int/doc\_num.php?explnum\_id=10859)

## 2022

Above normal (by about 4-6°C) maximum temperatures are being experienced over many parts of the country and heat wave conditions also prevailed from 3 rd week of March onwards.

- (b)-(c) Latest studies show an increase in temperatures as well as occurrence of heat waves in many parts of country during the recent years in line with other conutries. One of the reasons for the rise in temperatures and increase in heat waves is global warming associated with the increase in  greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. The global average temperature has risen by around 1°C  since  pre-industrial  times.  This  magnitude  and  rate  of  warming  cannot  be  explained  by natural  variations  alone  and  must  necessarily  take  into  account  changes  due  to  human activities. Emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs), aerosols and changes in Land Use and Land Cover  (LULC)  during  the  industrial period have substantially altered the atmospheric composition, and consequently the planetary energy balance, and are thus primarily responsible for the present-day climate change.
- (d) As  an adaptive measure, India Meteorological Department (IMD) in collaboration with local health departments have started heat action plan in many parts of the country to forewarn about the heat waves and also advising action to be taken during such occasions.  Heat action plan became operational since 2013.

The  Heat  Action  Plan  is  a  comprehensive  early  warning  system  and  preparedness  plan  for extreme heat events. The Plan presents immediate as well as  longer-term actions to increase preparedness, information-sharing, and response coordination to reduce the health impacts of extreme heat on vulnerable populations.

The main aims of the Heat Action Plan are:

-  Establish  Early  Warning  System  and  Inter-Agency  Coordination  to  alert  residents  on predicted  high  and  extreme  temperatures.  Who  will  do  what,  when,  and  how  is  made clear to individuals and units of key departments, especially health department.
-  Capacity  building  /  training  programme  for  health  care  professionals  at  local  level  to recognize and respond to heat-related illnesses, particularly during extreme heat events. These  training  programmes  should  focus  on  medical  officers,  paramedical  staff  and community  health  staff  so  that  they  can  effectively  prevent  and  manage  heat-related medical issues to reduce mortality and morbidity.
-  Public Awareness and community outreach Disseminating public awareness messages on how to protect against the extreme heat-wave through print, electronic and social media and  Information,  Education  and  Communication  (IEC)  materials  such  as  pamphlets, posters  and  advertisements  and  Television  Commercials  (TVCs)  on  Do  and  Don't  and treatment measures for heat related illnesses.
-  Collaboration with non government and civil society: Collaboration with nongovernmental  organizations  and  civil  society  organizations  to  improve  bus  stands, building  temporary  shelters,  wherever  necessary,  improved  water  delivery  systems  in public areas and other innovative measures to tackle Heat wave conditions.
-  Identifying vulnerable populations and the health risks specific to each group.
-  Developing effective strategies, agency coordination and response planning that addresses heat-health risks.
-  Heat Health Information Surveillance System (HHISS) to monitor and assess the impact of heat waves on human health.
-  Reducing  Heat  Exposure  and  Promoting  Adaptive  Measures  by  launching  new  efforts including mapping of high-risk areas, access to potable drinking water and cooling spaces during extreme heat days.
-  Evaluating and updating the Heat Action Plan regularly.

NDMA and IMD are working with 23 states prone to high temperatures leading to heat-wave conditions to develop heat action plans. Till May 2019 following States are already under Heat Action Plan:

1. Andhra Pradesh
2. Arunachal Pradesh
3. Bihar
4. Chhattisgarh
5. Delhi
6. Gujarat
7. Goa
8. Haryana
9. Himachal Pradesh
10. Jharkhand
11. Jammu and Kashmir
12. Karnataka
13. Kerala
14. Maharashtra
15. Madhya  Pradesh
16. Odisha
17. Punjab
18. Rajasthan
19. Tamil Nadu
20. Telangana
21. Uttarakhand
22. Uttar Pradesh
23. West Bengal

For  supporting  the  cause,  IMD  has  started  Forecast  Demonstration  Project  (FDP)  on  heat waves  from  April  2017  for  the  hot  weather  season  under  which  a  detailed  daily  report including  realized  data  of  heat  waves,  synoptic  situation  leading  to  the  occurrence  of  heat waves, diagnosis on the basis of Numerical Model outputs and forecast and warnings for five days is prepared. This bulletin is disseminated to all concerned including health departments. From  April  2018  onwards,  IMD  started  issuing  an  additional  bulletin  on  heat  wave  in  the morning (8 a.m.) valid for 24 hours for supporting the planning of activities for the day and this bulletin is also disseminated to all concerned. Both these bulletins are posted to IMD website also, on a special page created for heat waves.

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