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HomeEnvironmental ImpactsScientists attribute deadly landslides in India to climate change

Scientists attribute deadly landslides in India to climate change

“Climate Change and Catastrophic Landslides: The Deadly Impact on India”

A group of scientists have identified climate change as a key factor in the devastating landslides that struck Kerala, India last month, resulting in the deaths of at least 200 people. The torrential rains that battered the southern coastal state on July 30 triggered landslides in the Wayanad district, burying homes and residents under tons of rock and soil.

According to World Weather Attribution, a network of scientists specializing in assessing the role of climate change in extreme events, the intense rainfall in Kerala was made approximately 10 percent heavier by human-caused climate change. The analysis by 24 scientists revealed that over 140mm (5.5 inches) of rain fell in a single day, a phenomenon that was previously rare in the region before the effects of climate change were felt.

The scientists explained that higher temperatures resulting from fossil fuel emissions have enabled the atmosphere to hold more moisture, leading to heavier rainfall. Additionally, the significant decrease in forest cover in the Wayanad region since 1950 has reduced slope stability, increasing the risk of landslides.

Mariam Zachariah, a member of the study from Imperial College London, described the Wayanad landslides as a catastrophic example of climate change unfolding in real time. The researchers warned that without rapid changes, such as transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, one-day bursts of monsoon rainfall will continue to become heavier, posing even deadlier landslide risks.

India, the world’s third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has committed to achieving a net zero emissions economy by 2070. However, the country remains heavily reliant on coal for power generation. Arpita Mondal, a scientist from the Indian Institute of Technology, emphasized that the direct threats to people in India will escalate as the climate warms and human activities continue to impact natural systems.

The scientists urged for urgent action to address climate change and its impacts, emphasizing the need to transition to renewable energy sources to mitigate the risks of extreme weather events like the landslides in Kerala.

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