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Europe is the World’s Fastest-Warming Continent

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Context

  • Europe is the world’s fastest-warming continent as per the U.N.’s World Meteorological Organisation and the European Union’s climate agency.

Major Findings

  • Europe is the fastest-warming continent and its temperatures are rising at roughly twice the global average.
  • The latest five-year averages show temperatures in Europe are now running 2.3 degrees C above pre-industrial levels, compared to 1.3 degrees C higher globally.
  • Extreme Heat Stress: The continent experienced the most number of days with ‘extreme heat stress’ and a decrease in the number of days with ‘cold stress’.
  • The Global Meteorological Agency defines ‘extreme heat stress’ as the condition when the ‘feel like’ temperature is higher than 46°C.
  • Loss of Glacier Volume: Because of the consistent and rapid heating, the Alps mountain range, which consists of Europe’s highest peak Mont Blanc, lost 10 percent of its glacier volume in the last two years, 2022 and 2023.
  • In 2023, the glaciers in the range reduced in volume by 4.4 percent compared to the previous year.
  • More energy in Europe was generated from renewables than from fossil fuels for the second year running.
  • The continent generated 43% of its electricity from renewable resources last year, up from 36% the year before.
  • The report focuses this year on the impact of high temperatures on human health, noting that deaths related to heat have risen across the continent.
  • More than 150 lives were lost directly last year in connection with storms, floods, and wildfires.
  • The cost of weather- and climate-related economic losses in 2023 was estimated at more than 13.4 billion euros.

Climate Change

  • Climate change refers to long-term shifts in global or regional climate patterns.
  • It’s primarily driven by human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes, which release greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane into the atmosphere.
  • These gases trap heat, causing the Earth’s temperature to rise—a phenomenon known as global warming.
  • Impact: It threatens the essential ingredients of good health – clean air, safe drinking water, nutritious food supply, and safe shelter – and has the potential to undermine decades of progress in global health.
Greenhouse Gases

– Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere are called greenhouse gases. The gases act like the glass walls of a greenhouse – hence the name, greenhouse gases.

– Without this greenhouse effect, temperatures would drop to as low as -18˚C (-0.4˚F); too cold to sustain life on Earth.

– CO2 accounts for 64 percent of the global warming effect, while methane accounts for 16 percent and nitrous oxide accounts for 7 percent.

– Three industrial fluorinated gases – hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), perfluorocarbons (PFC), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) – are solely man-made during industrial processes and do not occur in nature.

a. Though they are present in very small concentrations in the atmosphere, they trap heat very effectively, meaning

they are extremely potent.

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

  • It is an international treaty established to address the global challenge that came into force in 1994.
  • Aim: To stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system.

Key features of the UNFCCC:

  • Parties and Membership: The Convention has 198 members.
  • Conference of the Parties (COP): It is the supreme decision-making body of the UNFCCC and COP meetings are held annually.
  • Funds to Developing Countries: Industrialized nations agree under the Convention to support climate change activities in developing countries by providing financial support for action on climate change – above and beyond any financial assistance they already provide to these countries.
  • Kyoto Protocol: It was adopted in 1997 and establishes legally binding emission reduction targets for developed countries.
  • It operates under the framework of the UNFCCC and has its own decision-making body, the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP).
  • Paris Agreement: Adopted in 2015 at COP21 in Paris, it is an international treaty that builds upon the UNFCCC.
  • It aims to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
  • The Paris Agreement emphasizes nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and encourages all countries to take climate action.

India’s Efforts to Combat Climate Change

  • Renewable Energy Expansion: India has set ambitious targets for renewable energy generation, aiming to increase its capacity significantly.
  • The country has invested heavily in solar and wind energy projects, to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
  • International Commitments: India is a signatory to the Paris Agreement, committing to reduce its carbon intensity and increase the share of non-fossil fuel energy sources in its total energy mix.
  • India has announced its aim to meet 50% of its electricity demands from renewable energy sources by 2030.
  • Afforestation and Forest Conservation: Recognizing the role of forests in carbon sequestration and climate regulation, India has initiated programs to increase forest cover, restore degraded lands, and promote sustainable forest management practices.
  • Clean Transportation: India is promoting the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and has set a target of 30% EV market share by 2030.
  • The government has introduced incentives and subsidies to support the production and adoption of EVs.
  • Climate Resilience: India is investing in measures to enhance climate resilience and adaptation, particularly in vulnerable sectors such as agriculture, water resources, and coastal areas.
  • This includes the development of climate-resilient crop varieties, water conservation techniques, and disaster preparedness measures.
  • International Cooperation: India actively participates in international forums and collaborations on climate change, engaging in initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.