Context:
A recent World Meteorological Organization (WMO) report highlights that record greenhouse gas (GHG) levels have created a heat surplus, disrupting Earth’s energy balance and ensuring continued warming even if emissions cease immediately.
Key Highlights:
- Record Climate Trends
- The last decade (2016–2025) recorded as the hottest on Earth.
- CO₂ levels are 50% higher than pre-industrial levels.
- CO₂ concentration highest in 2 million years; methane & nitrous oxide in 800,000 years.
- Energy Imbalance
- Excess GHGs trap more heat → Earth’s energy equilibrium disrupted.
- Leads to net heat gain (heat surplus) in the climate system.
- Ocean & Cryosphere Impact
- Oceans absorb excess heat → warmer seas.
- Leads to:
- Stronger tropical cyclones
- Sea-level rise
- Melting ice reduces albedo (reflectivity) → accelerates warming.
- Long-Term Implications
- Even if emissions stop, warming will continue due to stored heat.
- Indicates climate inertia and lag effects.
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Greenhouse Gases (GHGs):
- Major gases: CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, Water vapour.
- Trap outgoing infrared radiation → greenhouse effect.
- Earth’s Energy Balance:
- Balance between incoming solar radiation and outgoing terrestrial radiation.
- Imbalance leads to global warming.
- Albedo Effect:
- Reflectivity of Earth’s surface.
- Ice/snow → high albedo; melting reduces reflectivity.
- Ocean Heat Uptake:
- Oceans absorb ~90% of excess heat from global warming.
- WMO (World Meteorological Organization):
- UN specialized agency for weather, climate, and water.
Relevant Mains Points:
- Climate Change Intensification:
- Heat surplus ensures irreversible short-term warming, complicating mitigation.
- Increases frequency of extreme weather events (cyclones, heatwaves).
- Impact on Global Systems:
- Accelerates sea-level rise, threatening coastal regions.
- Disrupts marine ecosystems and fisheries.
- Impacts agriculture via erratic rainfall and heat stress.
- Policy Implications:
- Need for adaptation alongside mitigation.
- Climate policies must be long-term, stable, and insulated from politics.
- India’s Vulnerability:
- High exposure to heatwaves, monsoon variability, and coastal flooding.
- Impacts food security, water resources, and livelihoods.
- Way Forward:
- Accelerate net-zero transition and renewable energy adoption.
- Invest in climate-resilient infrastructure.
- Strengthen early warning systems.
- Enhance carbon sinks (afforestation, blue carbon).
- Promote international climate cooperation and finance.
UPSC Relevance:
• GS Paper 3 – Environment & Climate Change
• GS Paper 1 – Physical Geography (Climatology, Oceanography)
• Prelims – GHGs, Energy Balance, WMO