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India, Pakistan 'highly vulnerable', reveals first-ever US intel report on climate change

The unprecedented US National Intelligence Estimate on climate change suggests India and China will play essential roles in determining the course of global temperature rise and discuss the West's role in the crisis.

India Pakistan 'highly vulnerable' reveals first-ever US intel report on climate change gcw
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New Delhi, First Published Oct 23, 2021, 2:22 PM IST

In the wake of devastating weather events across India, a first-ever US intel report on climate has identified India and Pakistan among 11 countries that are "highly vulnerable" in dealing with the changing environmental and societal scenario due to climate change. The unprecedented US National Intelligence Estimate on climate change suggests India and China will play essential roles in determining the course of global temperature rise and discuss the West's role in the crisis.

According to the research, "China and India... are the first and fourth-biggest polluters, respectively, and both are increasing their overall and per capita emissions, whereas the United States and the European Union, as the second and third largest, are falling."

Also Read | Amid climate change, UN report warns of water crisis world over

It says that both China and India are introducing more renewable and low-carbon energy sources into their energy mix. The study also names 11 countries, including India and Pakistan, as 'Select Countries of Concern,' warning that they are expected to confront rising temperatures, more extreme weather, and disruptions to ocean patterns, all of which would have an impact on their energy, food, water, and health security.

According to the paper, more frequent and strong cyclones are predicted to pollute water supplies and increase vector populations and the diseases they carry in six of the 11 nations.

Also Read. | Wealthy nations must commit more than $100 billion for climate fight, says India

With a direct reference to India and Pakistan, the intelligence study predicts that transboundary conflicts over the shared surface and groundwater basins would rise as increased weather variability causes new water insecurity. It further stated that Pakistan relies on downstream surface water from glacier-fed rivers originating in India for agriculture. Pakistan relies on river flow information from India to offer a prior warning to evacuate areas and prepare for flooding.

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