Glaciers shrank 1m a year in a decade: WMO
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Glaciers shrank 1m a year in a decade: WMO
Subject: Environment
Section: Climate Change
Context:
- The 2011-2020 decade, though the warmest ever recorded in history, saw the lowest number of deaths from extreme events, said a report from the World Meteorological Organisation.
Details:
- Report title- The Global Climate 2011-2020: A Decade of Acceleration
- Released by- WMO
- Key findings:
- Heatwaves were responsible for the highest number of human casualties, while tropical cyclones caused the most economic damage.
- The 2011-2020 decade was the first since 1950 when there was not a single short-term event with 10,000 deaths or more.
- This is due to the improvement in the “early warning system” driven by improvements in forecasting and better disaster management.
- In India, improvements in forecasting cyclone formation and the time it takes to reach land have led to greater preparedness and evacuation of those most at risk.
- This was the first decade that the depleted ozone hole visibly showed recovery.
- Glaciers that were measured around the world thinned by approximately 1 metre per year on average between 2011 and 2020.
- Greenland and Antarctica lost 38% more ice during the period than during the 2001-2010 period.
- Public and private climate finance almost doubled during the period. However, it needed to increase at least seven times by the end of this decade to achieve climate objectives.
Source: The Hindu