Lok Sabha Question No. 273 (STARRED), answered on 2025-03-19
Subject: Changes in Weather Cycle
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Dr. Sambit Patra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. *273 TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 19 TH  MARCH, 2025

## CHANGES IN WEATHER CYCLE

## †*273.     DR. SAMBIT PATRA:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any study has been conducted by the Government on changes in weather cycle due to climate change;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted any assessment of the adverse effects of the global warming;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government has conducted any study on the rise in sea level and the adverse impact thereof on coastal States;
- (f) if so, the details thereof;
- (g) whether the Government has initiated any action plan to protect the country from the adverse effects of climate change and the rising sea level; and
- (h) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (h): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT LAID ON THE TABLE OF THE LOK SABHA IN REPLY TO (a) to (h) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. *273 REGARDING "CHANGES IN WEATHER CYCLE" TO BE ANSWERED ON MARCH 19, 2025

- (a) Yes. The Government has noted changes in the weather cycle due to climate change. It  is  documented comprehensively in the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) report titled "Assessment of Climate Change over the Indian Region". The report is available at https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-15-4327-2.
- (b) The  climate  change  assessment  report  by  the  MoES  has  assessed  the  impact  of climate  change  across  the  country,  covering  all  aspects  of  regional  climate  change, including the climatic extremes across India. Based on the available climate records, the report  documents that the surface air temperature over India has risen by about 0.7°C  during  1901-2018  which  is  accompanied  by  an  increase  in  atmospheric moisture content. The sea surface temperatures in the tropical Indian Ocean increased by  about  1°C  during  1951-2015.  Clear  signatures  of  human-induced  changes  in climate have emerged over the Indian region on account of anthropogenic greenhouse gases  (GHGs)  and  aerosol  forcing,  as  well  as  changes  in  land  use  and  land  cover, which  have  contributed  to  an  increase  in  the  climatic  extremes.  The  complex interactions between the earth system components amidst the warming environment and regional anthropogenic influences have therefore led to a rise in the frequency of localized heavy rainfall events, drought and flood occurrences, and an increase in the intensity  of  tropical  cyclones,  etc.  in  the  last  few  decades.  Future  projections  of regional  climate,  performed  under  different  climate  change  scenarios,  to  indicate robust  changes  in  the  mean,  variability,  and  extremes  of  several  key  climatic parameters over the Indian subcontinent and adjoining areas (e.g., land temperature and  precipitation,  monsoons,  Indian  Ocean  temperature  and  sea  level,  tropical cyclones, Himalayan cryosphere, etc.).
- (c) Yes.  The  climate  change  assessment  report  by  the  MoES  has  assessed  the  adverse effects of global warming.
- (d) The report documents that amidst global warming, the surface air temperature over India has risen by about 0.7°C during 1901-2018, and the sea surface temperatures in the tropical Indian Ocean have increased by about 1°C from 1951 to 2015. This has led  to  increased  monsoon  variability,  extremes,  etc.  Regions,  e.g.,  Central  India, northern Indian regions, and Western Himalayas have experienced a rise in extreme precipitation  events;  north  and  northwest  India  and  neighboring  Central  India  have experienced  moderate  droughts  and  expansion  in  semiarid  regions,  while  coastal regions are at increased risk of cyclone related disasters. In particular, the Himalayan region  has  shown  elevation-dependent  warming,  changes  in  western  disturbances, snowfall patterns, retreating glaciers, and a rise in short-lived precipitation extremes, etc.
- (e) Yes. The MoES report also includes the issue of the rise in  sea level  and provides some insights about its potential adverse impact on coastal States.
- (f) The MoES report noted that based on published scientific studies, the sea level in the Indian Ocean was observed to be rising at a rate of about 1.7 mm/year during the last century (1900-2000) and even more rapidly in the north Indian Ocean at the rate of about 3.3 mm/year since 1993-2015. Recent research suggests that the rise in sea level varies significantly across the Indian coasts. An assessment based on gridded satellite altimeter records (1993-2020) for a few selected locations along the Indian coast is given below:
- (g) Yes.  The  Government  has  taken  several  initiatives  to  protect  the  country  from  the adverse effects of climate change and rising sea levels.
- (h) The Government is undertaking several efforts to assess and minimize the impact of climate  change  and  rising  sea  levels.  The  multi-faceted  approach  is  aimed  at addressing the potential impacts of climate change on the country's weather patterns, focusing on adaptation, mitigation, and resilience-building. Key initiatives include:
-  National  Action  Plan  on  Climate  Change  (NAPCC):  Launched  in  2008,  it outlines eight national missions that focus on promoting sustainable development  while  addressing  climate  change.  These  include  solar  energy, energy  efficiency,  sustainable  agriculture,  and  water  conservation  missions. The NAPCC, prepared under the guidance of the Prime Minister's Council on Climate Change, also includes measures to assess and manage the impact of sea  level  rise  on  coastal  areas.  The  National  Adaptation  Fund  for  Climate Change (NAFCC) is aimed at climate adaptation, including coastal areas. The NAFCC finances the measures to protect vulnerable coastal communities and improve their resilience to sea level rise. Besides, the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notifications also aim to manage and regulate development in coastal areas.  The CRZ regulations help  protect coastal ecosystems and manage  the impact of human activities, thus reducing vulnerability to rising sea levels.
-  State Action Plans: States have also developed their own climate action plan in line  with  the  NAPCC,  addressing  region-specific  vulnerabilities  such  as extreme weather events (floods, droughts) and shifting monsoon patterns.
-  Disaster  Management  and  Early  Warning  Systems:  India  has  strengthened disaster  preparedness  through  its  National  Disaster  Management  Authority (NDMA),  which  works  closely  with  the  India  Meteorological  Department (IMD)  to  minimize  the  impacts  of  extreme  weather  events  (e.g.,  cyclones, heatwaves, floods).
-  Climate  -  Resilient  Agriculture:  The  Government  has  promoted  climateresilient agricultural practices, such as drought-resistant crops, improved water management, and changes in cropping patterns to adapt to shifting rainfall and temperature patterns.
-  Renewable Energy Development: India is aggressively expanding renewable energy  sources, particularly solar and  wind,  to  reduce  greenhouse  gas emissions  and  transition  to  a  low-carbon  economy.  The  country  aims  to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based energy capacity by 2030.
-  Water  Conservation:  With  increasing  concerns  over water  scarcity, the Government  has  initiated  various  programs  like  the  Jal  Jeevan  Mission  and National Water Mission to improve water management and ensure sustainable water use, especially in drought-prone regions.
-  Policy  and  Financial  Frameworks:  The  Government  has  also  integrated climate change considerations into national policies and budgets, aligning with international  climate  agreements  (e.g.,  the  Paris  Agreement).  This  includes setting  emission  reduction  targets  and  focusing  on  climate  financing  for vulnerable sectors.

| Location      | Trend (mm/yr)   |
|---------------|-----------------|
| Mumbai        | 4.59±0.19       |
| Mormugao      | 4.30±0.17       |
| Kochi         | 4.10±0.16       |
| Chennai       | 4.31±0.26       |
| Visakhapatnam | 4.27±0.33       |
| Paradip       | 4.43±0.36       |

These  efforts  are  aimed  at  reducing  vulnerabilities  and  preparing  the  country  for combating the diverse impacts of climate change, from altered monsoon patterns to more frequent extreme weather events.

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