The Unstoppable Role of Climate Change in India's Devastating Landslides

[Social Media]

 

The torrential rains that struck India last month have been directly linked to climate change, according to a group of scientists. These catastrophic downpours triggered deadly landslides, particularly in the southern coastal state of Kerala, resulting in the loss of at least 200 lives. The landslides, which occurred on July 30, buried homes and residents in the Wayanad district under immense amounts of rock and soil, leaving behind a trail of destruction and despair.

 

The scientists, part of the World Weather Attribution (WWA) network, have developed peer-reviewed methods to assess the possible role of climate change in specific extreme events. Their analysis revealed a clear connection between the intense rainfall and the warming planet. The group, comprising 24 scientists, stated unequivocally, "The landslides... were triggered by a burst of rainfall that was made about 10 percent heavier by human-caused climate change." The analysis pointed out that over 140mm (5.5 inches) of rain fell within a single day, a staggering amount that exacerbated the disaster.

 

Before the onset of climate change, such intense downpours in Kerala were extremely rare. The scientists explained that higher temperatures resulting from fossil fuel emissions allow the atmosphere to hold more moisture, which in turn leads to heavier rainfall. This shift in atmospheric dynamics has profound implications for regions like Kerala, where monsoon rains are both a blessing and a curse.

 

In addition to the increased rainfall, the WWA report highlighted a significant decrease in forest cover in the Wayanad region. Since 1950, the area has seen a staggering 62 percent reduction in its forests, which has further destabilized slopes and increased the risk of landslides. The loss of forest cover has removed a crucial buffer against such natural disasters, leaving the land more vulnerable to the forces of nature.

 

Mariam Zachariah, a member of the study from Imperial College London, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "The Wayanad landslides is another catastrophic example of climate change playing out in real time." Her words underscore the immediate and visible impact of climate change on vulnerable communities, where the consequences are both deadly and devastating.

 

Monsoon rains, which occur from June to September, are essential for India. They provide much-needed relief from the scorching summer heat, sustain agricultural activities, and replenish water supplies. However, these rains also bring with them the potential for immense destruction, as evidenced by the recent landslides. The WWA's analysis revealed that the rainfall responsible for the landslides was the third heaviest one-day event on record in the area, surpassed only by storms in 2019 and 1924. The scientists issued a stark warning that without rapid and decisive action, worse events are likely to follow.

 

The researchers made it clear that the intensification of one-day bursts of monsoon rainfall is a direct consequence of climate change. They warned that as these bursts become even heavier, the risk of deadlier landslides will continue to rise. The only way to mitigate this threat is for the world to transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy. The urgency of this transition cannot be overstated, as the lives of millions of people are at stake.

 

India, currently the world's third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has set an ambitious target of achieving a net zero emissions economy by 2070. This goal is two decades later than the targets set by most industrialized Western nations. However, for the time being, India remains heavily reliant on coal for power generation. This dependence on fossil fuels not only contributes to global warming but also exacerbates the very climate-related disasters that threaten the country.

 

Arpita Mondal, a WWA scientist from the Indian Institute of Technology, highlighted the ongoing and escalating threats posed by climate change. "These direct threats to people in India will continue to escalate as the climate warms and humans continue to regulate natural systems," she said. Mondal's words serve as a sobering reminder that the effects of climate change are not distant or hypothetical—they are happening now, with deadly consequences for communities across India and beyond.

 

The recent landslides in Kerala are a tragic reminder of the devastating impact of climate change. As the world continues to warm, the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events are expected to increase, putting millions of lives at risk. The time for action is now, and the stakes could not be higher. The world must come together to combat climate change and protect vulnerable communities from the catastrophic consequences of inaction.

 

Credit: RFI  2024-08-16

 

 

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[thaibeachlovers]

3 hours ago, Social Media said:

The torrential rains that struck India last month have been directly linked to climate change, according to a group of scientists. These catastrophic downpours triggered deadly landslides, particularly in the southern coastal state of Kerala, resulting in the loss of at least 200 lives. The landslides, which occurred on July 30, buried homes and residents in the Wayanad district under immense amounts of rock and soil, leaving behind a trail of destruction and despair.

Soooooo, nothing to do with too many people cutting all the trees down and building in inappropriate places then?

 

No, it's obviously my fault for driving an ICE car for over 50 years.

 

[thaibeachlovers]

3 hours ago, Social Media said:

The recent landslides in Kerala are a tragic reminder of the devastating impact of climate change. As the world continues to warm, the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events are expected to increase, putting millions of lives at risk. The time for action is now, and the stakes could not be higher. The world must come together to combat climate change and protect vulnerable communities from the catastrophic consequences of inaction.

Yes, the time has come for action, but nothing to do with solving overpopulation, I'll bet. More likely western countries throwing vast sums of money at countries like India without any accountability, as the IMO scheme to redistribute wealth from wealthy countries to poor countries progresses according to plan.

[thaibeachlovers]

3 hours ago, Social Media said:

India, currently the world's third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has set an ambitious target of achieving a net zero emissions economy by 2070. This goal is two decades later than the targets set by most industrialized Western nations. However, for the time being, India remains heavily reliant on coal for power generation. This dependence on fossil fuels not only contributes to global warming but also exacerbates the very climate-related disasters that threaten the country.

Am I alone in seeing the irony in that?

[Eric Loh]

9 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Am I alone in seeing the irony in that?

Pretty lonely taking to yourself. 

[novacova]

12 hours ago, Social Media said:

The landslides... were triggered by a burst of rainfall that was made about 10 percent heavier by human-caused climate change."

Good grief, the sky is falling again. Landslides have been happening for millions of years and humans didn’t cause climate change and certainly didn’t cause natural occurrences of landslides besides for choosing to live in the path of a slide. 

[honcho]

more emotive fear mongering with no real evidence to back it up.... yawn

[Stargeezr]

I thought India was sort of a tropical country, where there are monsoons, and big

storms at times. Now everything is Climate change, or Global warming.

  I remember the old days of La Nina and El Nino and weather patterns.

Crazy times now, in my opinion.

[thaibeachlovers]

24 minutes ago, Stargeezr said:

I thought India was sort of a tropical country, where there are monsoons, and big

storms at times. Now everything is Climate change, or Global warming.

  I remember the old days of La Nina and El Nino and weather patterns.

Crazy times now, in my opinion.

Can't increase taxes based on normal weather patterns, so IMO when something happens now it's used as propaganda to get the sheeple to agree to more taxes.