Why in the News?
Severe wildfires have swept across Greece, France, Spain, Portugal and Italy, driven by climate whiplash, pyrocumulonimbus (pyroCb) clouds, and prolonged heatwaves, highlighting the growing impact of climate change.
Key Concepts
Climate Whiplash
- Rapid shift between extreme wet and dry conditions.
- Wet periods promote vegetation growth, while subsequent heatwaves dry it into highly flammable fuel.
Pyrocumulonimbus (pyroCb) Clouds
- Fire-generated thunderstorm clouds formed by intense wildfire heat.
- Can reach the stratosphere, generate lightning and strong winds, creating new fires.
Sixth-Generation Wildfires
- Extremely intense wildfires driven by heatwaves and prolonged drought.
- Difficult to control using conventional firefighting methods.
Why are Europe’s Wildfires Becoming More Severe?
- Climate whiplash increases fuel availability.
- PyroCb clouds spread fires through lightning and erratic winds.
- Rural land abandonment has increased combustible vegetation.
- Rising temperatures and prolonged droughts intensify fire conditions.
Impacts
- Loss of lives, forests and biodiversity.
- Declining air quality across large regions.
- Increased carbon dioxide (COâ‚‚) emissions, accelerating climate change.
- Annual economic losses of about €2.5 billion in the European Union (EU).
[2026] Consider the following statements with reference to India’s response to climate change:
I. India’s LT-LEDS is a crucial tool for achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
II. India’s BUR-4 (Dec 2024) recorded ~8% decrease in GHG emissions in 2020 over 2019.
III. Climate-resilient development necessarily depends on quick and short-term achievement of emission reduction targets.
Which of the following relationships is/are correct?
1. Statement I is empirically supported by statement II
2. Statement III contradicts the approach implicit in statement I
3. Statement I and statement III together establish the premise of long-term sustainability
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 3 only