Effect of Climate Change on Indian Agriculture

Abstract

One of the major challenges facing humankind is to provide an equitable standard of living for present and future generations: adequate food, water, energy, safe shelter and a healthy environment. But, global environmental issues such as land degradation, loss of biodiversity, stratospheric ozone depletion along with human-induced climate change, threatens our ability to meet the basic human needs. The Third Assessment Report (TAR) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reaffirms that the climate is changing in ways that cannot be accounted for by natural variability and that 'global warming' is happening. Global mean temperatures have risen (0.6oC in the last century), with the last decade being the warmest on record. Climate change will, in many parts of the world, adversely affect socio-economic sectors, including water resources, agriculture, forestry, fisheries and human settlements, ecological systems and human health, especially in developing countries due to their vulnerability.