Foreword by M. Rajeevan
Earth’s climate is changing, primarily as a result of human activities. We are adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere that is driving the climate to a warmer state. The warming is
evident in the long-term observations from the top of the atmosphere to the depths of the
oceans. Climate change presents growing challenges to human health and safety and quality of
life and economy of the country. While climate change is global, changes in climate are not
expected to be uniform across the planet.
Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities will continue to affect Earth’s climate for
decades and even centuries. Future climate change is expected to further disrupt many areas of
life. The impacts are already evident and are expected to become increasingly disruptive
across the globe. The severity of future climate change impacts will depend largely on actions
taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to the changes that will occur.
For policy makers, it is important to have a clear comprehensive view on the possible future
climate change projections. Climate models are often used to project how our world will
change under future scenario. Climate models have proven remarkably accurate in simulating
the climate change we have experienced to date. Global climate models project a continuation
of human-induced climate change during the twenty-first century and beyond. Climate change
projections, however, may have large uncertainties. The largest uncertainty in climate change
projections is the level of greenhouse gas emissions in future.
The need for a comprehensive assessment report on climate change was felt for a long time.
This is the first-ever climate change assessment report for India. The report consists of 12
chapters describing the observed changes and future projections of precipitation, temperature,
monsoon, drought, sea level, tropical cyclones, and extreme weather events, etc. This report
will be very useful for policy makers, researchers, social scientists, economists, and students.
I congratulate the editors and contributors for bringing out this valuable national climate
change assessment report.
M. Rajeevan
Secretary
Ministry of Earth Sciences
New Delhi, India
v
Earth’s climate is changing, primarily as a result of human activities. We are adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere that is driving the climate to a warmer state. The warming is
evident in the long-term observations from the top of the atmosphere to the depths of the
oceans. Climate change presents growing challenges to human health and safety and quality of
life and economy of the country. While climate change is global, changes in climate are not
expected to be uniform across the planet.
Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities will continue to affect Earth’s climate for
decades and even centuries. Future climate change is expected to further disrupt many areas of
life. The impacts are already evident and are expected to become increasingly disruptive
across the globe. The severity of future climate change impacts will depend largely on actions
taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to the changes that will occur.
For policy makers, it is important to have a clear comprehensive view on the possible future
climate change projections. Climate models are often used to project how our world will
change under future scenario. Climate models have proven remarkably accurate in simulating
the climate change we have experienced to date. Global climate models project a continuation
of human-induced climate change during the twenty-first century and beyond. Climate change
projections, however, may have large uncertainties. The largest uncertainty in climate change
projections is the level of greenhouse gas emissions in future.
The need for a comprehensive assessment report on climate change was felt for a long time.
This is the first-ever climate change assessment report for India. The report consists of 12
chapters describing the observed changes and future projections of precipitation, temperature,
monsoon, drought, sea level, tropical cyclones, and extreme weather events, etc. This report
will be very useful for policy makers, researchers, social scientists, economists, and students.
I congratulate the editors and contributors for bringing out this valuable national climate
change assessment report.
M. Rajeevan
Secretary
Ministry of Earth Sciences
New Delhi, India
v