If you closely follow the trajectory of climate change, the news of a potential 10-20 days of heatwaves this summer comes as a grim confirmation, not a surprise.

The world ambitiously aimed/ pledged to limit global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius to the pre-industrial levels. However, we are nowhere near achieving that target. Each year, the consequences are unfolding with ever-increasing ferocity.

Some facts:

· 2023 was officially the hottest year on record.

· The recent Taiwan earthquake measured a terrifying 7+ on the Richter scale.

· India’s rising temperatures this year suggest it could surpass even 2023’s extremes.

Officially, it is accepted that the recorded temperature rise is more than 2 degrees, and in some geographical areas, it has crossed 3-4 degrees Celsius. Here in India, the temperature rise observed so far this year suggests a strong possibility of exceeding even the scorching extremes of 2023.

The IMD alert on heatwaves:

The India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) latest warning for potentially 20-days of heatwaves stretching from April to June is particularly alarming. Such an event would throw normal life out of gear. Imagine sweltering temperatures relentlessly gripping the nation for weeks. Daily commutes would transform into journeys through a furnace. However, the most affected, as always, would be the common man – the farmers, construction workers, street vendors, and countless others who toil outdoors to earn their daily bread. These are the people who live in constant communion with nature, are exposed to its elements, and eventually bear the brunt of climate change-related fury.

This is not a wake-up call anymore. We are past the stage of gentle nudges and warnings. The inconvenient truth is – we have crossed the tipping point. This is an emergency siren blaring at the highest pitch. We are hurtling towards a future defined by extreme weather events, and the heatwave this summer is a mere glimpse of what’s to come.

While COP28, held in Dubai last year, saw the establishment of the loss and damage fund, the effectiveness of these financial instruments in truly rebuilding lives shattered by climate disasters remains to be seen. The question lingers – how much of this allocated capital will reach the hands of those who desperately need it?

Individual action:

The time for action is now. We cannot afford to be passive bystanders in this unfolding catastrophe. Policymakers need to prioritize drastic emission reduction measures and invest in climate-resilient infrastructure. Citizens too can make an impact individually. We must make conscious choices to reduce their carbon footprint, embrace sustainable practices, and hold those in power accountable.

The future we choose depends on the actions we take today. Let us not sleepwalk into oblivion. Let this looming summer of fury serve as a stark reminder of the climate emergency we face. We must rise to the challenge, for the sake of ourselves and for the generations to come.