Indian States Witness Extreme Temperature Increase: Report

September 8, 2023

A recent report by Climate Central reveals that Kerala, Puducherry, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands experienced exceptionally high temperatures, more than three degrees higher, during June to August this year. The report uses the Climate Shift Index (CSI) to compare observed or forecast temperatures to models that account for human-caused climate change. It states that these regions witnessed more than 60 days at CSI level 3 or higher, indicating the impact of climate change.

Additionally, eleven Indian states had average temperatures exceeding 1°C above the long-term average, with five states, including Kerala, Puducherry, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, having a summer average CSI above 3. The report highlights the global impact of climate change on extreme temperatures and emphasizes its inequitable distribution worldwide.

What does the Climate Shift Index (CSI) measure?

The CSI compares observed or forecast temperatures to models that account for human-caused climate change.

How did the report assess the global impact of climate change on temperature increases during the boreal summer?

The report found that approximately 7.95 billion people, or 98% of the world’s population, experienced temperatures made at least two times more likely by heat-trapping carbon pollution during the hottest boreal summer in recorded history.

What is the significance of the report’s findings regarding the distribution of climate change effects among countries?

The report highlights that countries with the lowest historical emissions experienced three to four times higher seasonal temperatures than the world’s largest economies. It underscores that the impact of climate change is not evenly distributed globally.

What specific challenges and impacts are highlighted for Kerala in the report?

Kerala faced higher-than-average temperatures, weakened southwest monsoons, and potential drought conditions due to climate change, as mentioned in the report.

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