TOPIC – Code red
The IPCC has issued arguably its strongest warning yet on impending catastrophe from unmitigated global warming caused by human activity, lending scientific credence to the argument that rising wildfires, heat waves, extreme rainfall and floods witnessed in recent times are all strongly influenced by a changing climate. In a stark report on the physical science basis of climate change contributed for a broader Assessment Report of the UN, the IPCC’s Working Group I has called for deep cuts to carbon dioxide emissions and other greenhouse gases and a move to net zero emissions, as the world would otherwise exceed 1.5°C and 2°C of warming during the 21st century with permanent consequences. Climate change is described by many as a far greater threat to humanity than COVID19, because of its irreversible impacts. The latest report is bound to strengthen the criticism that leaders in many countries have stonewalled and avoided moving away from coal and other fossil fuels, while even those who promised to act, failed to influence the multilateral system. The new report attributes catastrophic events to sustained global warming, particularly the frequency and intensity of hot extremes, marine heat waves, heavy precipitation, agricultural and ecological droughts, proportion of intense tropical cyclones, reductions in Arctic Sea ice, snow cover and permafrost. A phenomenon such as heavy rainfall over land, for instance, could be 10.5% wetter in a world warmer by 1.5°C, and occur 1.5 times more often, compared to the 18501900 period. More than five years after the Paris Agreement was concluded, there is no consensus on raising ambition to reduce emissions, making access to low carbon technologies easier, and adequately funding mitigation and adaptation. COVID19 had the unexpected effect of marginally and temporarily depressing emissions. The IPCC’s analysis presents scenarios of large scale collapse of climate systems that future leaders would find virtually impossible to manage. Heat waves and heavy rainfall events experienced with increasing frequency and intensity are just two of these, while disruptions to the global water cycle pose a more unpredictable threat. Also, if emissions continue to rise, oceans and land, two important sinks and the latter a key part of India’s climate action plan, would be greatly weakened in their ability to absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide. The new report sets the stage for the CoP26 conference in November. The only one course to adopt there is for developed countries with legacy emissions to effect deep cuts, transfer technology without strings to emerging economies and heavily fund mitigation and adaptation. Developing nations should then have no hesitation in committing themselves to steeper emissions cuts.
The Hindu Editorial Words with meanings, synonyms, and antonyms
Catastrophe (noun) – An event resulting in great loss and misfortune
Synonyms – Tragedy, cataclysm, debacle, fiasco, affliction
Antonyms – Miracle, paragon, triumph, smash, prosperity
Credence (noun) – That which gives a claim to credit
Synonyms – Credenza, certitude, plausibility, assent, prothesis
Antonyms – Skepticism, agnosticism, atheism, dubiousness, apostasy
Irreversible (adjective) – Incapable of being reversed
Synonyms – Immutable, incurable, incorrigible, undeviating, indelible
Antonyms – Reparable, correctable, corrigible, incipient, ambulant
Stonewalled (adjective) – Delay by refusing to answer questions
Synonyms – Filibustered, crimped, embittered, crabbed, stymied
Antonyms – Enlightened, judicious, punctilious, standard, legitimate
Precipitation (noun) – The falling to earth of any form of water
Synonyms – Haste, drizzle, sleet, sediment, impetuosity
Antonyms – Aridity, corkiness, desiccation, starvation, drouth
Permafrost (noun) – Ground that is permanently frozen
Synonyms – Chunk, glaze, pergelisol, conservancy, acreage
Antonyms – Basalt, schist, tuff, scoria, shale
Ambition (noun) – A strong drive for success
Synonyms – Initiative, eagerness, yearning, hankering, appetite
Antonyms – Apathy, sloth, anguish, barnacle, bludger
Mitigation (noun) – To act in such a way as to cause an offense to seem less serious
Synonyms – Extenuation, abatement, palliation, diminution, reprieve
Antonyms – Accusation, blame, attack, incremental cost
Adaptation (noun) – A written work that has been recast in a new form
Synonyms – Acclimation, conformity, habituation, orientation, fitting
Antonyms – Abnegation, altercation, fester, disputation, negation
Disruptions (noun) – An event that results in a displacement
Synonyms – Ruptures, dislocation, intrusions, perturbations, perturbation
Antonyms – Amenities, calms, peaces, accords, health
Steeper (noun) – A vessel
Synonyms – Abrupt, extortionate, sheer, exorbitant, outrageous
Antonyms – Flatter, prudent, reasonable, budget, affordable