This winter, Kashmir is facing a drawn dry spell which bodes ill for the year ahead. On Saturday, Srinagar experienced the highest temperature in January in the last two decades, reaching a maximum of 15 degrees Celsius. The region is currently witnessing a significant deviation in its usual weather patterns, marked by an extraordinary 100% shortfall in snowfall in January. Prolonged periods of dry weather, particularly in the plains of Kashmir, have resulted in temperature anomalies, with readings surpassing normal levels by 6 to 8 degrees Celsius at numerous stations across the valley.
The unseasonal warmth, days hovering far above the typical winter chill, paints a grim picture. Experts have sounded the alarm on the rapid retreat of glaciers in Kashmir. Over the past six decades, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a staggering 25% reduction in glacier size, a trend exacerbated in recent years. If left unchecked, 48% of these vital glaciers could vanish by the end of the century.
The unusual rise in temperature across the globe has already caused deep concern about the creeping climate change, which is changing the nature of the seasons. Though this should cause alarm, it isn’t. Or at least to the extent where it could matter. India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh between them are home to around 1.7 billion people and any disruption in the climate pattern could severely impact them. So, the three countries, as well as other countries in the region need to wake up and work toward a global response to the looming catastrophe. But the factors causing climate change are global in nature and so any effort to reverse the damage has to be backed by the world. And this should be done sooner than later. The time is running out fast.
The world must move beyond lip service and commit to meaningful action. The Paris Agreement’s 1.5-degree Celsius goal, once ambitious, now seems woefully inadequate. We need aggressive emission reduction targets, investments in renewable energy, and a global commitment to protecting vulnerable ecosystems like the Himalayas.
Kashmir’s plight is not an isolated event, but a harbinger of what awaits us all if we continue down this path of unchecked environmental degradation. The fate of our snow-capped peaks is not just about tourism or winter sports, but about the food security, water resources, and livelihoods of millions. It is about the very future of our planet.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
