Poll campaigns in India must reflect climate issues

Context:

The recently released State of the Global Climate report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) highlights 2023 as the hottest year in recorded history, raising concerns over the alarming rise in global temperatures and its adverse impacts.

Temperature Records and Environmental Impacts:

• Worrisome findings: The WMO report confirms 2023 as the warmest year on record, accompanied by numerous records being broken in areas like ocean temperatures, glacier retreat, and diminishing Antarctic ice cover.
• Rising sea levels and increased frequency of extreme weather events like heat waves, torrential rains, and tropical cyclones further underscore the severity of climate change's impacts.
• Impact on socio-economic activities: These events disrupt various socio-economic activities, including agriculture, posing significant challenges to global development.

Election Season as an Opportunity:

• Discussion: Amidst election season in many democracies, including India, the WMO report serves as a timely catalyst to initiate discussions on climate change across the political spectrum.
• Public awareness: Political parties have the opportunity to commit to enhancing public awareness on climate change and outlining concrete steps to mitigate global warming.
• Integral element: Addressing climate change becomes integral to India's pursuit of global leadership and economic prosperity, and political parties should incorporate climate action plans into their election agendas.