Forget Global Warming, The Era Of “Global Boiling” Has Arrived

Is the world on the brink of a cataclysmic shift? United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres contends that our planet has already transitioned from an era of global warming to an “era of global boiling.” Evidence for the Secretary-General’s assertion surrounds us, manifesting as erratic and extreme weather events, from boiling seawater and devastating floods to severe droughts and rapid glacier melting. These phenomena are occurring concurrently across various parts of the globe, within a single season.

Regions traditionally known for their cold climates, such as parts of the US, Europe, and China, are grappling with unprecedented heat waves. In July, temperatures in America’s Death Valley reached a record 128 degrees Fahrenheit (53.3 degrees Celsius). Meanwhile, Phoenix City in the US state of Arizona endured 43 degrees Celsius for 25 consecutive days. China registered its highest-ever temperature of 52.3 degrees Celsius. Europe isn’t far behind, with areas in Spain and Italy reporting temperatures nearing 49 degrees Celsius. The UN Weather Department and scientists from the European Union’s Climate Change Service have declared this year’s July as the hottest in the past 120,000 years.

India is also experiencing the ramifications of rising global temperatures. Multiple states, including Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Telangana, Rajasthan, and the Jammu-Kashmir region, have faced devastating floods. In Delhi, a city accustomed to the dichotomy of hot and extremely hot weather, the Yamuna River overflowed its banks. Conversely, several regions in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand are facing potential drought due to insufficient rainfall this year.

The World Weather Attribution (WWA), a collaboration of leading scientists specializing in extreme weather phenomena, asserts that such dramatic shifts in weather are direct outcomes of climate change. In a report released this week, the WWA forecasts the United States and Mexico will experience these climatic extremes every 15 years, while southern Europe can expect them once a decade. China may face even more severe prospects, with extreme weather events likely to occur every five years, according to the report. It further warns that the situation will likely worsen if the average global temperature rises two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. In such a scenario, many regions could endure unbearable temperatures every two to five years.

Another recent study found that snowfall across the world’s major mountain ranges is increasingly turning into heavy rain. This trend has persisted for decades, and approximately one-fourth of the global population is expected to bear the brunt of these changes. The study reports that for each degree of global temperature increase, about 15 percent of usual snowfall transforms into heavy downpours in mountainous regions. This translates to an increased likelihood of disastrous landslides and floods in these areas. Keeping the global temperature rise to two degrees Celsius may not be enough to avert these catastrophes. A rise of just one degree Celsius could devastate many hilly regions worldwide.

The detrimental effects of global warming become more apparent in our country with each passing year. The year 2023 kicked off with unusually high temperatures during the winter season, with February recording the highest figures in 123 years. Eastern and Central India experienced their worst heat and humidity in the past three decades. This was followed by Cyclone Biparjoy, which lingered over the Arabian Sea for 13 days – the longest recorded cyclonic activity in the region in the last 45 years.

Floods during the monsoon season are an annual event in many parts of India. However, the intensity displayed by our rivers this year is unprecedented. The northern regions suffered from the unusual convergence of monsoon winds and western disturbances. This rare event severely impacted Himalayan regions, triggering extensive landslides and floods. Himalayan glaciers have been melting at a rate ten times faster in recent decades, with nearly 40 percent already lost. The Arctic and Antarctic glaciers are facing a similar predicament, upsetting the global weather cycle.

Humanity is far from oblivious to the impacts of climate change. We’ve been hearing warnings of a looming catastrophe that could threaten our existence on this planet for many decades. Scientists have unequivocally alerted us to the increasing heat and humidity, with temperatures projected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius between 20 to 50 times annually. The World Meteorological Organization has drawn attention to the intensifying impact of the El Niño phenomenon. This weather event, typically observed in the Pacific Ocean, contributes to global temperature increases. It begins with the warming of seawater over the Mediterranean Sea and can influence the Indian monsoon, leading to extreme summers in Europe and America. Many European countries, known for their pleasant climates – a quality this writer has savoured during numerous tours – may lose this characteristic if the current trend persists.

However, merely attributing these changes to global warming isn’t enough. We must acknowledge our own role in this predicament. Our unrestrained use of oil, coal, and gas has brought us to this critical juncture. Nature is sending a clear message: we must adjust our behaviour before it’s too late.