NEW DELHI — Indian officials are wrestling with mounting deaths, water shortages and blazing wildfires as a punishing heat wave continues to grip northern India days after monitors in New Delhi recorded temperatures of 126 degrees (52 Celsius), an all-time high.
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In the eastern states of Bihar and Odisha, 24 people died on Thursday, including three election officials and a police officer who collapsed in the midday sun, the Times of India reported, citing state officials. In the desert state of Rajasthan, 55 heat-related deaths have been reported in the last seven days. Within just a two-hour span on Thursday night, 103 patients complaining of heat stroke were admitted to Sadar Hospital in Aurangabad, surgeon R.B. Shrivastav told The Post by telephone. Five were dead by morning.
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India’s heat waves are attributed to a combination of short-term weather patterns and long-term warming trends fueled by human-caused climate change. Residents in India’s sprawling capital are often particularly affected, because dense buildings, roads, cars and air conditioners contribute to urban heat, experts say.
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In the Himalayas, a forest near the town of Shimla this week went up in flames. In cities, so did dwellings: On Wednesday, the hottest day, Delhi’s fire department received 183 fire-related calls, a high for the year, fire chief Atul Garg said. Other fire officials warned residents not to let air conditioners get overloaded and cause fires.
Aside from electricity demand, Delhi officials have also warned that the city’s water supply has fallen to crisis levels amid soaring consumption and reduced flow from the Yamuna River — a situation that mirrors the water shortage facing the southern megacity of Bangalore.
This week, Delhi officials instituted a new 2,000-rupee ($24) fine for wasting drinking water. In parts of the city that do not have running water, tanker trucks delivering water will come only once a day instead of twice, city administrators announced, even as television channels aired footage this week of people in urban slums lining up for hours and mobbing water trucks.
Yeah, it does. He had some good information and insight into writing what he did -- and he did it in a relatively short time! Between this heat wave and the heat dome that Mexico City is...
Yeah, it does. He had some good information and insight into writing what he did -- and he did it in a relatively short time!
Between this heat wave and the heat dome that Mexico City is experiencing, I was also reminded of this talk Kim Stanley Robinson gave in 2023 titled "What I’ve Learned since The Ministry for the Future Came Out in 2020" that he gave at a climate change CoP. It's about 20 minutes and worth a watch, whether people have an interest in the book or not.
...i'm in a part of the country rife with climate denialists, and since - this decade, really - i've noticed that they're largely not denying climate change anymore, they're just denying that it's...
...i'm in a part of the country rife with climate denialists, and since - this decade, really - i've noticed that they're largely not denying climate change anymore, they're just denying that it's an anthropogenic phenomenon and insist that any climate adaptations are anti-industrial fallacy...
India is going to be in a very rough position in the future... still using coal, making the environment worse - both locally and globally, while requiring more air conditioning for people to...
India is going to be in a very rough position in the future... still using coal, making the environment worse - both locally and globally, while requiring more air conditioning for people to survive all the while being a developing country. Close to the equator, and humid, with growing cities... this is not going to be easy for them.
We've reached the 'turning years' of climate change. Both in the amount of action increasing, and the damage being done.
Comment box Scope: comment response, information/data, some conclusions Tone: neutral Opinion: only in conclusions Sarcasm/humor: none India’s decision to ramp up coal production as the most...
Comment box
Scope: comment response, information/data, some conclusions
Tone: neutral
Opinion: only in conclusions
Sarcasm/humor: none
India’s decision to ramp up coal production as the most populous nation on Earth contributes to climate issues like this. It is deeply short-sighted.
However, the country has made great strides in the adoption of renewable energy generation sources. Installed capacity is accelerating:
Rystad Energy’s latest data reveals monthly renewable energy installations in India surged to a record 7.1 GW in March 2024, more than doubling the previous record of 3.5 GW set in March 2022. Of the record 7.1 GW of renewable capacity added in March, more than 6.2 GW was new solar capacity—a significant addition considering the Jan-Dec. period of 2023 saw 7.5 GW of new solar installations.
The Indian government must invest more heavily into renewables instead of coal as soon as possible.
Wealthy Western nations must also invest more heavily into expensive research of efficiency improvements for renewables in order to increase their economic competitiveness against fossil fuels, including in India.
Yeah I agree that the richest countries in particular have more responsibility here. I don't envy India's position in this situation. Too much coal? Life becomes less bearable. Strapping up on...
Yeah I agree that the richest countries in particular have more responsibility here. I don't envy India's position in this situation. Too much coal? Life becomes less bearable. Strapping up on renewables immediately? Slower economic growth and development when they need it, especially with their growing population.
The fact that China recently has managed to, surprisingly, dip their CO2 emission slightly gives me hope. Especially with the Indo-Chinese rivalry in the region it may push India for a more impressive renewable energy production.
I believe air conditioning is going to be required in hotter regions. Making sure everyone has it and making it energy-efficient is going to be a big challenge.
I believe air conditioning is going to be required in hotter regions. Making sure everyone has it and making it energy-efficient is going to be a big challenge.
From the article:
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The Ministry for the Future becomes more real and prescient on a yearly basis.
Yeah, it does. He had some good information and insight into writing what he did -- and he did it in a relatively short time!
Between this heat wave and the heat dome that Mexico City is experiencing, I was also reminded of this talk Kim Stanley Robinson gave in 2023 titled "What I’ve Learned since The Ministry for the Future Came Out in 2020" that he gave at a climate change CoP. It's about 20 minutes and worth a watch, whether people have an interest in the book or not.
Wow. This was a good listen. I've never heard him speak before. Thank you for sharing.
Climate change is real and people still bury their heads and say it's a fallacy.
...i'm in a part of the country rife with climate denialists, and since - this decade, really - i've noticed that they're largely not denying climate change anymore, they're just denying that it's an anthropogenic phenomenon and insist that any climate adaptations are anti-industrial fallacy...
India is going to be in a very rough position in the future... still using coal, making the environment worse - both locally and globally, while requiring more air conditioning for people to survive all the while being a developing country. Close to the equator, and humid, with growing cities... this is not going to be easy for them.
We've reached the 'turning years' of climate change. Both in the amount of action increasing, and the damage being done.
Comment box
India’s decision to ramp up coal production as the most populous nation on Earth contributes to climate issues like this. It is deeply short-sighted.
However, the country has made great strides in the adoption of renewable energy generation sources. Installed capacity is accelerating:
The Indian government must invest more heavily into renewables instead of coal as soon as possible.
Wealthy Western nations must also invest more heavily into expensive research of efficiency improvements for renewables in order to increase their economic competitiveness against fossil fuels, including in India.
Yeah I agree that the richest countries in particular have more responsibility here. I don't envy India's position in this situation. Too much coal? Life becomes less bearable. Strapping up on renewables immediately? Slower economic growth and development when they need it, especially with their growing population.
The fact that China recently has managed to, surprisingly, dip their CO2 emission slightly gives me hope. Especially with the Indo-Chinese rivalry in the region it may push India for a more impressive renewable energy production.
I believe air conditioning is going to be required in hotter regions. Making sure everyone has it and making it energy-efficient is going to be a big challenge.
Mirror, for those hit by the paywall:
https://archive.is/QCjjZ