UP PCS Mains-2024

Approach Start by highlighting the climate change impact. Show how much Uttar Pradesh is vulnerable to climate change. Suggest measures to deal with this. Conclude with SDG Target 13.

Introduction

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may be natural, but since the 1800s (after industrialization), human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels (like coal, oil, and gas), which produces heat-trapping gases.

Climate change is affecting Uttar Pradesh in many ways, from reducing its agricultural productivity to increasing its vulnerability to floods. The climate sensitivity of agriculture is very high in the state and high-level poverty, rapid urbanization coupled with flood, heat waves and cold waves makes it one of the most vulnerable areas in India.

Body

Uttar Pradesh and Climate Change Vulnerability

• As per the projection, annual rainfall is predicted to increase by 15% to 20% in the 2050s. There is also a predicted increase in maximum temperature from 1.8 deg C to 2.1 deg C during that period.
• All the districts in the Bundelkhand and Vindya regions are highly vulnerable to climate change.
• The agricultural sector plays a major contribution in greenhouse gas emission. Methane levels have already increased by 2.5 times during the industrial era. The main source of methane is the agriculture sector, notably sub-merged rice fields and expanding herds of cattle.
• The Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report considers agriculture sector as highly vulnerable to the impact of climate change as crop production and aquaculture would be threatened by the rise in temperature, increased flooding and drought frequencies, and biotic stresses.
• Higher temperature is likely to accelerate the natural decomposition process of organic matter and to increase the rates of other soil activities that affect soil fertility and its productivity.
• Heat stress during the summer season has also been found to affect human and animal productivity. Heat affects fertility in most animal species. For example, the recent deaths reported in Uttar Pradesh due to heatwaves.
• Uttar Pradesh houses the largest number of energy poor in India and climate change would enhance stresses on them.
• Droughts are experienced due to deficient rainfall in certain parts of the state. Bundelkhand and part of Mirzapur and Allahabad are the most drought prone areas.
• Excess rainfall due to the climate change on the foothills of the Himalayas and transboundary flows from the rivers originating from Nepal causes floods in Eastern Uttar Pradesh and the Tarai region. It has been estimated that 30.45 % of the total geographical area of the state is flood prone.

Remedial measures:

• Farmers in Uttar Pradesh will get timely weather forecasts under Agromet Advisory Services of India Meteorological Department which is aimed at helping them save their crops from sudden extreme weather conditions, including rain and hailstorms, which cause major damage to yield.
• Climate- Smart Village:
  • It is the initiative of the Uttar Pradesh Climate Change Authority. Farmers will be encouraged to grow species that are resilient to climate change.
  • Climate-smart villages will have several features related to carbon sequestration, water conservation, weather forecast at gram panchayat level and change in crop variety for better yield.
  • Apart from climate forecast at local level, farmers will also be updated about crops that are water efficient to ensure scarcity of water does not affect the produce.
• The state revised and rolled out the Uttar Pradesh ‘State Action Plan for Climate Change (SAPCC)’ synergizing the SDGs 2030 vision. UPSAPCC maps financial resources with the identification of gaps for its implementation along with a well-integrated monitoring & evaluation framework enabling its timely & effective implementation.
• Uttar Pradesh has pioneered significant efforts for the localization of climate adaptation & resilience. For example, the government has organized the Conference of Panchayats to enhance localized climate actions in the State.
• Uttar Pradesh has embarked on a journey to build the capacities of 58000 Gram Panchayats to mainstream and integrate climate change adaptation & resilience in the local planning process through Gram Panchayat Development Plans.
• A Climate Change Knowledge Centre is being set up in Lucknow to create a state-of-the-art strategic knowledge centre for climate change.
• The state has notified the new Solar Policy in 2022 which aims to achieve a 22 GW of solar target by 2027. In addition, it aims to solarize 17 Nagar Nigams in the state.

Conclusion

In addition to the above measures, we need to promote practices like recharging aquifers, harvesting rainwater, promoting afforestation, etc. to combat climate change and its impacts. (Sustainable Development Goals Target 13- SDG 13).