The current spate of heat waves in India are only an indicator of what the weather will be in the future. We are going to witness longer duration of higher temperatures followed by thunderstorms and cyclones.
While global warming is happening due to emissions by all countries – developed or developing, and we need to take collective action for reduction of Carbon-dioxide, heat waves are more of a local phenomenon arising out of reduction in green cover and increasing urbanisation.
The solution is to increase planting of trees which not only absorb the carbon dioxide but also increase the moisture levels in the atmosphere (near the surface of the earth – that’s where we live!). The canopies of trees absorb the heat from sun’s rays and prevent the earth and the air above it from getting very hot and cause imbalances in surface temperature leading to cyclones and thunderstorms.
We also need to rejuvenate the wetlands which help in balancing the day and night temperatures.
Naavi Welfare Foundation 