New Delhi:
The year 2024 will be remembered as a watershed moment in the climate crisis, particularly for countries in the Global South like India, which have been devastated by an unprecedented surge in extreme weather events. From scorching heatwaves to catastrophic floods, the impact of climate change has been stark and deadly.
A Year of Climate Disasters and Inadequate Action
The climate finance deal finalized at COP29 has been a significant letdown for developing nations. Despite the escalating climate emergency, the agreement fell short of expectations, with a pledged $300 billion by 2035 being deemed insufficient by many. India and other Global South countries, which contribute minimally to global emissions but bear the maximum brunt of climate change, have vehemently opposed this deal. They argue that it is an “optical illusion” and lacks the equity and justice needed to address the growing loss and damage from climate-related disasters.
Human and Economic Toll
India has been at the epicenter of these disasters. The first nine months of 2024 saw over 3,238 lives lost to extreme weather events, with 3.2 million hectares of crops affected, 235,862 houses destroyed, and 9,457 livestock killed. The country endured relentless heatwaves from April to June, with temperatures in Odisha and West Bengal soaring for over 15 days. June 2024 was the hottest month since 1901, and the monsoon season brought torrential rains that triggered floods in several states, including Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Assam.
International Response and Future Action
The disappointment with the COP29 outcome is compounded by the lack of ambitious climate action plans from developed nations. The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) emphasizes the need for a 43% reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 to limit warming to 1.5°C. However, current commitments are far from achieving this target. As 2025 approaches, all eyes are on developed nations to submit their updated national climate action plans. The UK has pledged to cut emissions by 81% by 2035, but the US, despite announcing a revised target to reduce emissions by 61-66% below 2005 levels, faces uncertainty with the incoming administration’s stance on the Paris Agreement.
