India’s contribution to climate research is noteworthy, for Indian researchers are involved in a large number of climate science projects, and publish their studies in reputable journals every year.
India is quite advanced in terms of climate research, but several challenges remain, experts told ABP Live. They suggested that capacity building and continued investment in research infrastructure can help overcome these obstacles.
Climate research holds immense significance in the present day because the findings provide us with substantiated data about how climate change is damaging the environment, and how this influences our day-to-day lives. It is due to climate research that we know that the summer of 2023 was the hottest summer since global records started in 1880, according to NASA scientists. India’s contribution to climate research is noteworthy, for Indian researchers are involved in a large number of climate science projects, and publish their studies in reputable journals every year.
On May 26, 2023, ‘India’s Climate Research Agenda: 2030 & Beyond’ was published. The agenda mentions India’s climate research vision for 2030 and how coordinated national efforts can help address climate change.
In order to know more about the status of climate research in India, ABP Live spoke to Dr Roxy Mathew Koll, Climate Scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology and Lead IPCC Author; Dr Anjal Prakash, Clinical Associate Professor (Research) and Research Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business; and Prof Anamika Barua, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Guwahati.
The experts said that India is quite advanced in terms of climate research, but several challenges remain. They suggested that capacity building and continued investment in research infrastructure can help overcome these obstacles.
“In terms of climate research and development, India is way ahead. The Centre for Climate Change Research at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology is focused on R&D in climate change. The centre brought out the national assessment report of climate change over the Indian region. This report is made available in the public domain and can be downloaded free of cost. The centre has also developed the first climate model from South Asia, suited for generating future climate projections that are used for assessment in the IPCC reports. The climate model is tailored to simulate tropical monsoon climate better,” said Dr Koll.
While India plays a significant role in climate research through international collaborations and by creating climate models, hurdles persist. These include data gaps and resource constraints.
“India is actively engaged in climate research with notable advancements. The country’s research institutions and organisations are studying various aspects of climate change, including impacts, adaptation, and mitigation strategies. India contributes to global climate science through collaborations, data collection, and modelling. The Indian government also supports initiatives to enhance climate research capabilities. However, challenges like data gaps and resource constraints persist. Continued investment in research infrastructure, capacity building, and international cooperation can further strengthen India’s position in climate research and enable informed policy decisions to address the evolving climate challenges,” said Dr Prakash.
Climate change research is of utmost importance because it allows informed decision-making, sustainable development, and effective action to mitigate and adapt to climate change challenges, according to Dr Barua. She said it is a “critical investment” in the well-being of our planet and its inhabitants. “While India is moving towards better knowledge creation, much scope remains to improve. The first and foremost thing to do is to teach courses related to climate change and the environment in educational institutions. This is important to raise awareness among the youth. At IIT Guwahati, we do have such cases. ‘Economics of Climate Change’ is one such course, but many more are needed.”
Dr Barua also said that research is needed to understand the science behind climate change better and to predict the impact better. Therefore, climate research must be interdisciplinary because the impact of climate change will be mostly on socio-economic sectors.
Source: news.abplive.com
