Climate change: Delhi may suffer losses of Rs2.75 trillion by 2050
₹2.75 trillion by 2050 due to the impacts of climate change, with changes in precipitation and temperature patterns posing significant threats to the lives of the most vulnerable populations. "At an aggregate level, the total cost of climate change for Delhi by mid century is expected to be ₹2.75 trillion," the draft action plan states.
It also estimates “the losses from the agriculture and allied sectors at ₹80 billion, manufacturing at ₹330 billion and services at ₹2.34 trillion." According to draft action plan--pending approval-- the national capital may confront "heat waves/higher temperature and heavy precipitation events over fewer number of days" in the upcoming years. The projections show a rise in maximum temperatures in Delhi by 1.5 degrees Celsius based on the RCP 4.5 scenario, and a 2.1-degree Celsius increase based on the RCP 8.5 scenario by mid-century.
During the formulation of the new action plan for the national capital, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report (IPCC AR6) was examined. Excerpts of the draft action plan indicated a decrease in cold days and nights, an anticipated reduction of 8.4 dry days, an increase of 1.4 consecutive wet days, and a rise of 0.9 heavy precipitation days compared to the baseline period of pre-industrial levels.
A detailed district-specific vulnerability assessment was conducted for the national capital in which south Delhi was identified as the most vulnerable and New Delhi the least. On July 8-9, Delhi witnessed its highest single-day rainfall (153 mm) in the month since 1982 due to the interaction of a western disturbance, monsoon winds and a cyclonic circulation over northwest India.
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