Heatwaves Ahead: A worry not just for economists but politicians as well
The weather is changing and that is for all to see. The impact of global warming can be felt on a daily basis. Scientists predict heatwaves ahead and these heatwaves could change the global scenario as a whole. Let us see how.
How can the heatwaves ahead impact the economy and politicians?
The weather is changing and that is for all to see. The impact of global warming can be felt on a daily basis. Scientists predict heatwaves ahead and these heatwaves could change the global scenario as a whole. Let us see how.
Heatwaves Predicted
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heatwaves for the Northern region on multiple occasions. Though these heat waves have a huge impact on the overall climate, it also has an impact on the economy.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) issues a heat wave warning for Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas for tomorrow i.e. 22nd May. pic.twitter.com/HwuVFRneEo
— ANI (@ANI) May 21, 2023
How do heatwaves impact the economy?
Hot days not only mean scorching heat when people think twice before getting out of their houses, but labour loss as well. Reports have shown that lost labour from the heat and humidity can put 4.5% of India’s GDP at risk. This is a huge number! In a constitution where India is struggling to touch a GDP of 7%, there can be no areas where we lose out on our growth.
Why should politicians be worried about the heatwaves?
India remains primarily an agricultural economy and this makes for the most promises of politicians related to the welfare of this sector. Heatwaves and lack of rain are a huge problem for the crops in India. Lack of rain and extreme temperature will lead to a loss in crop productivity.
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“The heatwave affected most of the Rabi crops. For wheat, the output went down by 10-15 per cent and the output was so deficit that the government banned exports last year to maintain domestic availability”, said Arindam Banerjee, Associate Professor, School of Liberal Studies, Ambedkar University, Delhi.
“The World Ahead” podcast imagines a scenario in the year 2041, when a deadly heatwave hits India—and some cities are better prepared for it than others https://t.co/7E1f7f4rbq pic.twitter.com/End0718vvO
— The Economist (@TheEconomist) July 9, 2021
The World Bank Report titled ‘Climate Investment Opportunities in India’s Cooling Sector’ also talked about how India coils to be one of the first countries to reach such levels of heatwaves that will break the limit of human survival.
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The loss of agriculture is a huge problem for politicians as they need to not only bring in more welfare measures for the farmers but also think of ways to combat inflation due to a lack of food. Food shortages due to failed cropping season will push up prices of essential goods and the country will suffer as a whole. So, heatwaves are no longer a climatic condition, they are an economic and political issue as well.
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