Mentors Comments:

The answer must discuss the impact of global warming on future economy and Jobs.

In the intro briefly discuss the recent trends in global warming, highlight the recent trends in it.

In the main body, the answer should discuss the following –

The report defines heat stress as heat in excess of what the body can tolerate without suffering physiological impairment. It generally occurs at temperatures above 35°C, in high humidity. Excess heat during work is an occupational health risk and restricts workers’ physical functions and capabilities, work capacity and thus, productivity.

Take hints from the articles that were in news recently and the report and state how global warming can directly impact the job scenario and the economy.

Conclude by suggesting measures to tackle such adversaries.

Answer:

Climate change is certainly without argument the most serious global environmental crisis that we face. It is not the only environmental problem, but it is unique in its multi-scalar characteristic, from the global to the local. And, in many ways, it is arguably the most immediate of our problems.

India is more vulnerable to climate change:
India, being a tropical country, is more susceptible to changes in temperature.
Also, in India, about 50% of the population directly or indirectly depends on agriculture for a livelihood.
The existent distress in the farm sector and the state governments’ response with loan waivers has already strained their fiscal condition.
Furthermore, the production of kharif crops is expected to decline.
The possibility of adverse weather events is likely to increase in the future posing a greater challenge.
The impact of climate change in agriculture is thus expected to reverberate in other sectors of the economy and affect the overall growth prospects.

Impact of global warming on India’s future economy and Jobs:
By 2030, India is expected to lose an equivalent of 34 million jobs as a result of global warming, says a report released by the ILO.
The report, ‘Working on a warmer planet: The impact of heat stress on labour productivity and decent work’ anticipates an increase in “heat stress” resulting from global warming.
It projects global productivity losses equivalent to 80 million full-time jobs in 2030, and the projection of 34 million jobs would make India the worst affected.
The region projected to lose the most working hours is southern Asia, at 5% in 2030, corresponding to around 43 million jobs, respectively.
A third of the southern Asian countries have already incurred losses greater than 4%.
India, which lost 4.3% of working hours in 1995 because of heat stress, is projected to lose 5.8% of its working hours in 2030, which corresponds to 34 million jobs.
The impact of heat stress on labour productivity and decent work’ anticipates an increase in “heat stress” resulting from global warming.
With some 940 million people active in agriculture around the world, farmers are set to be worst hit by rising temperatures, according to the ILO data, which indicates that the sector will be responsible for 60 per cent of global working hours lost from heat stress, by 2030.
The report projects losses in working hours as04% in agriculture, 5.29% in manufacturing, 9.04% in construction, and 1.48% in services.
Although most of the impact in India will be felt in the agricultural sector, more and more working hours are expected to be lost in the construction sector, where heat stress affects both male and female workers,” the report says.
There is little data in the country to corroborate trends of climate change and employment.
However, that there has been no direct job loss at present, with distressed workers switching from one vulnerable sector to another.

Way forward:
There is a need to strengthen its macroeconomic stability to deal with temperature shocks.
India has considerably reduced its dependence on the monsoon as evident from avoiding a runaway inflation even after two successive years of drought.
However, more needs to be done to enhance productivity in the agriculture sector.
India can work on programmes that will help improve the quality of land and reduce the risk of climate change. Ex: Use employment under the MGNREGA to enhance soil and water conservation.
India also needs to strengthen its overall capability by investing in and adopting new technology.
We need to move climate change, global warming to the top of our foreign policy agenda.
We need to start taking climate change more seriously, particularly on the adaptation side, because we really have a lot to be concerned about.
And on the mitigation side, we have to be careful as we may not be fully exploring the scope of intersections between ‘a low carbon agenda’ and ‘a development agenda’.