Introduction
Recent reports and studies forecast a concerning future for Earth’s glaciers due to climate change. With increasingly sophisticated technology, researchers have utilized satellite data from the past two decades to map our planet’s glaciers in unprecedented detail. These findings are supported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s sixth assessment report released by the United Nations in 2022. This study warns that the time to reach the crucial 1.5°C target is rapidly reducing.
The Irreversible Damage of Global Glacier Change
Glaciers are receding at an alarming rate due to climate change and climbing temperatures. Between 1994 and 2017, glaciers lost around 30 trillion tonnes of ice, now melting at a pace of 1.2 trillion tonnes annually. Some glaciers in areas such as the Alps, Iceland, and Alaska are melting faster than others. If global temperature continues to rise, it is predicted that half of Earth’s glaciers will disappear by 2100. This forecast applies even if we succeed in limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, as stated in the Paris Climate Agreement. According to the researchers, immediate action can potentially save some glaciers from extinction.
Anticipating Catastrophic Outcomes
With glaciers, which hold 70% of Earth’s freshwater, disappearing, the risk of disasters escalates. Melting glaciers raise sea levels and endanger up to two billion people’s access to water, increasing the likelihood of natural disasters and severe weather events like floods. From 2000 to 2019, global sea level rose by 21%, solely due to meltwater from melting glaciers and ice sheets.
The Urgency of Ambitious Climate Pledges
The calamitous condition of glaciers reiterates the urgency of establishing more ambitious climate pledges. Commitments must be made to curb global temperature increases beyond 1.5°C, preserving glaciers in mountainous regions. The dire state of Earth’s glaciers demands global cooperation and immediate action.
A Spotlight on India’s Climate-Smart Agriculture
One of the critical steps towards fighting climate change is the adaptation of Climate-Smart Agriculture. In India, the ‘Climate-Smart Village’ approach forms part of a project led by the Climate Change, Agriculture, and Food Security (CCAFS), an international research programme. This work of CCAFS is carried out under the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) headquartered in France. The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in India is one of CGIAR’s research centres.
The Objectives of India’s Green Mission
The ‘Green India Mission’ aims to incorporate environmental benefits and costs into the Union and State budgets. However, it also seeks to launch the second green revolution to enhance agricultural output, ensuring food security for everyone in the future. A crucial aspect of this ambitious mission is restoring and enhancing the forest cover and responding to climate change via a combination of adaptation and mitigation measures.
Global Climate Change Alliance and Its Purpose
The Global Climate Change Alliance is an initiative of the European Union that offers technical and financial support to targeted developing countries. It aids such nations to integrate climate change into their development policies and budgets. However, contrary to some beliefs, the alliance is not coordinated by World Resources Institute (WRI) or World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).
The current grim outlook demands urgent actions and policies aimed at limiting the escalation of global temperatures. The survival of Earth’s glaciers and, subsequently, our planet depends on the tackling of this inevitable truth.