Meteorologists estimate that in the next thirty years, temperatures in many regions could rise by another 5°C. This would mean 20–30% of Earth’s land becoming drought-prone and one-fourth of the planet turning into desert—affecting India, Southeast Asia, Central America, Southern Australia, and Southern Europe.
Yogesh Kumar Goyal
The continuous rise in global temperatures and the increasingly erratic behaviour of the weather have become matters of grave concern, not just in India but across the world. Although numerous high-level international summits—from Doha and Copenhagen to Cancun—have been held over the years to tackle climate change, concrete actions remain elusive.
The reality is that while the deteriorating state of nature is discussed with great anxiety on national and international platforms, and various resolutions are passed, these concerns often lose their meaning. They are frequently overshadowed by the blind pursuit of luxury, the pressure to boost GDP, unregulated industrial growth, and the demand for maximum employment opportunities. In this context, ‘World Earth Day’ is observed every April 22 to raise awareness about environmental conservation and to emphasise the urgent need to save our planet.
Nature’s Warning Signs
In recent times, nature has been sending severe signals through devastating storms, cyclones, and unseasonal hailstorms. These are reminders that the way we are tampering with nature in the name of ‘development’ is making it impossible to predict when or where the weather might turn catastrophic. The extent of climate change can be gauged from the fact that temperatures at the North Pole have recently surged by nearly 30°C above normal. The increasing adversity of the climate is visible everywhere: severe droughts in some regions and excessive unseasonal rainfall in others; heavy snowfalls alongside unexpected winter heatwaves. These are the direct consequences of our interference with natural resources, warning us of the grim future that awaits us if this exploitation continues.
The Illusion Of Progress
According to the book ‘Pradushan Mukt Saansein’, published with the support of the Hindi Academy, Delhi, we fail to realise that by tearing through mountains and destroying lush green forests to build ‘concrete jungles,’ we are not achieving development. Instead, we are paving the way for our own destruction. The rising heat in the mountains is leading to frequent and ferocious forest fires. This mountain warming directly impacts the plains, where temperatures are breaking records every year. If the Earth’s temperature continues to rise at this rate, we must be prepared for dire consequences. Nature, which gifts us pure air, water, and soil, will not hesitate for a moment to reclaim or destroy everything if provoked by human-induced environmental crises.
A Desertified Future?
Two decades ago, the average maximum temperature in many Indian states during April was around 32–33°C; it now frequently exceeds 40°C. Meteorological departments estimate that in the next three decades, temperatures in these regions could rise by another 5°C. Such an increase would not only intensify forest fires but could also lead to:
- 20-30% of the Earth’s land becoming drought-prone.
- One-fourth of the planet turning into desert, specifically affecting India, Southeast Asia, Central America, Southern Australia, and Southern Europe.
Why Is TheEarth Sizzling?
The primary culprit is Global Warming, a byproduct of human activities aimed at amassing comforts. The smoke from petrol and diesel engines has pushed carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas levels to dangerous heights. Experts estimate that there is now 30% more CO2 in the atmosphere than in the past, playing a pivotal role in disrupting the climate. While trees and plants naturally absorb CO2 to maintain balance, we have spent decades replacing forests with concrete.
Unchecked population growth is another critical factor. The global population has surged from 1.7 billion in the 20th century to over 8 billion today. Since the Earth’s landmass remains constant, the resources required to sustain this massive population are being extracted at an unsustainable rate. The late physicist Stephen Hawking once warned that if population and energy consumption continue to grow at this pace, the Earth could become a ‘ball of fire’ within 600 years.
The Final Call
The rising temperature is already causing polar ice to melt, leading to fears that many coastal cities across the globe will eventually be submerged. If we are the cause of these environmental problems through our interference with nature, then we must also be the solution. We must act now to avoid the wrath of nature. We must choose conservation over exploitation and sustainability over blind development. Failure to do so will mean that the entire human race will have to pay the ultimate price—its own extinction.
The writer is a senior journalist, environmental expert & author of the acclaimed book ‘Pradushan Mukt Saansein’ published with the support of the Hindi Academy, Delhi
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