Global warming

The rice area in India has shown a mild shift, both temporally and spatially—from the rain-fed eastern belt to the drier north-west, served by controlled irrigation—despite a declining trend of rainfall observed in both the regions. The shift is part of the broader changes in land use.

The climate conference at Glasgow, COP26, has provided hopes for limiting global warming to 1.5°C. India’s commitments included achieving net-zero by 2070, alongside increasing the share of non-fossil in installed electricity generation to 50% and enhancing the emissions intensity reduction target to 45%, and working towards zero-emission vehicles. Realisation of targets requires resources and trust that the international processes will indeed fulfil expectations on finance, technical support, and capacity building. Embedding climate change within development calls for an inclusive approach for a developing country like India, where climate action aligns with the overall transition to sustainability and social, economic, and ecological resilience for its citizens.