Heatwaves and Climate Change Impacts
Heatwaves are extreme weather events with severe health and infrastructure impacts, whose increasing occurrence and intensity are directly attributable to hu...
Italy and Balkans endure heatwave, U.S. also faces soaring temperatures
The article reports on a record-breaking heatwave impacting Italy, the Balkans, and parts of the U.S., causing hundreds of excess deaths, disrupting daily life, and increasing the risk of wildfires. It highlights the strain on healthcare systems and infrastructure, with scientists linking the extreme heat to human-caused climate change, making such events significantly more likely.
Syllabus mapping
Mains syllabus topics
Indian Society Diversity
Globalization Indian Society
Civil Services Democracy
International Institutions
Liberalization Industrial Policy
Prelims takeaways
- Understand the increasing frequency and intensity of global heatwaves and their link to human-caused climate change.
- Be aware of the multi-faceted impacts of extreme heat events, including excess mortality, strain on public health systems, infrastructure damage, and increased wildfire risk.
- Recognize the vulnerability of specific populations (e.g., elderly, those without adequate cooling) during heatwaves.
- Note the geographical spread of recent extreme weather events (Europe, U.S.) as indicators of global climate patterns.
Elimination traps
- Focusing on specific temperature figures or exact dates rather than the overall trend and its implications.
- Confusing the specific locations mentioned (e.g., Vis island, Klos village) as individually significant for Prelims.
- Misattributing the cause of heatwaves to natural cycles without acknowledging the role of anthropogenic climate change.
Static concepts
- Heatwave
- Wildfires
- Climate Change
- Temperature
- Degrees Celsius
- Degrees Fahrenheit
- Adriatic Sea
- Mediterranean island
Probable question areas
Question areas
- Causes and consequences of extreme weather events like heatwaves and wildfires.
Question areas
- Impact of climate change on global weather patterns and human societies.
Question areas
- Measures for disaster preparedness and mitigation strategies for heatwaves.
Question areas
- Reports and scientific consensus on the attribution of extreme weather to climate change.
UPSC concepts in this story
Durable syllabus ideas for revision — not article memory.
Previous year Prelims questions on overlapping themes and topics.
Consider the following statements with reference to India's response to climate change :
I. India's Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) is a crucial tool for achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
II. India's 4th Biennial Update Report (BUR-4) submitted in December, 2024 recorded around 8% decrease in Greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 over 2019.
III. Climate-resilient development necessarily depends on quick and short-term achievement of emission reduction targets.
Which of the following relationships among the above statements is/are correct ?
1. Statement I is empirically supported by statement II.
2. Statement III contradicts the approach implicit in statement I.
3. Statement I and statement III together establish the premise of long-term sustainability.
Select the answer using the code given below :
Explanation
Correct answer
B. 1 and 2
Statement I is Correct: India's Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) is indeed a crucial tool for achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. It outlines the strategic framework necessary for sectoral transitions in energy, transport, industry, and forestry to meet this long-term goal. Statement II is Incorrect: While India's 4th Biennial Update Report (BUR-4) does record an approximately 8% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 compared to 2019, this decrease is attributed to the economic slowdown and lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic, not to structural or strategic efforts towards long-term emission reductions. Therefore, it does not empirically support the strategic framework of LT-LEDS. Statement III is Correct: The IPCC emphasizes that climate-resilient development depends on rapid, deep, and immediate emission reductions in the short term. This approach can be seen as contradicting the long-term focus of strategies like LT-LEDS if they do not also incorporate aggressive short-term actions. Therefore, the correct relationship is that Statement III contradicts the approach implicit in Statement I, making option B correct.
Environment & Ecology
Climate Change & Conventions
Environmental Law & Policy
The World Bank warned that India could become one of the first places where wet-bulb temperatures routinely exceed 35 °C. Which of the following statements best reflect(s) the implication of the above‐said report?
I. Peninsular India will most likely suffer from flooding, tropical cyclones and droughts.
II. The survival of animals including humans will be affected as shedding of their body heat through perspiration becomes difficult.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Explanation
Correct answer
B. II only
Wet-bulb temperature combines heat and humidity. When it exceeds 35°C, the human body can no longer cool itself through sweating, posing a serious threat to survival. ❌ Statement I: Incorrect
* Though flooding, cyclones, and droughts are valid climate threats, they are not directly related to the World Bank's warning about wet-bulb temperatures. ✅ Statement II: Correct
* When wet-bulb temperatures cross 35°C, the body cannot release heat, making it fatal for humans and animals.
Environment & Ecology
Current Affairs
Climate Change & Conventions
Flora & Fauna Dynamics
Consider the following pairs
| International Agreement | Set-up Subject |
|--------------------------|----------------------------|
| 1. Alma-Ata Declaration | Healthcare of the people |
| 2. Hague Convention | Biological and chemical weapons |
| 3. Talanoa Dialogue | Global climate change |
| 4. Under2 Coalition | Child rights |
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Explanation
Correct answer
C. 1 and 3 only
Pair 1 is correctly matched. Alma Ata Declaration: The Declaration of Alma-Ata was adopted at the International Conference on Primary Health Care, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 612 September 1978. It expressed the need for urgent action by all governments, all health and development workers, and the world community to protect and promote the health of all people. Pair 2 is not correctly matched. Hague Convention: The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction or Hague Abduction Convention is a multilateral treaty developed by the Hague Conference on Private International Law that provides an expeditious method to return a child internationally abducted by a parent from one member country to another. Pair 3 is correctly matched. The Talanoa Dialogue is a process designed to help countries implement and enhance their Nationally Determined Contributions by 2020. The Dialogue was mandated by the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change to take stock of the collective global efforts to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases, in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement. Pair 4 is not correctly matched. The Under2 Coalition is a global community of state and regional governments committed to ambitious climate action in line with the Paris Agreement. The coalition brings together more than 220 governments that represent over 1.3 billion people and 43% of the global economy. Signatories commit to keeping global temperature rises to well below 2C with efforts to reach 1.5C.
International Relations
Environment & Ecology
Social Justice & Development
Climate Change & Conventions
Environmental Law & Policy
Welfare Schemes & Social Policies
Consider the following statements:
Statement I:
Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change is frequently discussed in global discussions on sustainable development and climate change.
Statement II:
Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change sets out the principles of carbon markets.
Statement III:
Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change intends to promote inter-country non-market strategies to reach their climate targets.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Explanation
Correct answer
A. Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I
Article 6 of the Paris Agreement is crucial as it outlines international cooperation through both carbon markets and non-market approaches to help countries meet climate goals. ✅ Statement I is correct:
* Article 6 is widely discussed because it enables cooperation through market and non-market means to fight climate change. ✅ Statement II is correct:
* It defines rules for carbon markets, including carbon trading and credit mechanisms. ✅ Statement III is correct:
* It also promotes non-market tools like technology transfer and capacity building to reach climate targets. So, the correct answer is: A
Environment & Ecology
Climate Change & Conventions
Environmental Law & Policy
Which of the following best describes the aim of ‘Green India Mission’ of the Government of India?
1. Incorporating environment benefits and costs into the Union and State Budgets thereby implementing the ‘green accounting’.
2. Launching the second green revolution to enhance agriculture output so as to ensure food security to one and all in the future.
3. Restoring and enhancing forest cover and responding to climate change by a combination of adaptation and mitigation measures.
Select the correct answer using the code given below
Explanation
Correct answer
C. 3 only
The National Mission for Green India (GIM) is one of the eight Missions outlined under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). Mission Goals:
- To increase forest/tree cover to the extent of 5 million hectares (mha) and improve quality of forest/tree cover on another 5 mha of forest/non-forest lands;
- To improve/enhance ecosystem services like carbon sequestration and storage (in forests and other ecosystems), hydrological services and biodiversity; along with provisioning services like fuel, fodder, and timber and non-timber forest produces (NTFPs); and
- To increase forest-based livelihood income of about 3 million households.
Environment & Ecology
Climate Change & Conventions
Biodiversity Conservation & Protected Areas
Which organization has enacted the Nature Restoration Law (NRL) to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss?
Explanation
Correct answer
A. The European Union
✅ A. The European Union:
The Nature Restoration Law (NRL) is an EU legislative initiative adopted in 2024. It sets binding targets to restore ecosystems, fight climate change, and protect biodiversity across EU member states. ❌ B. The World Bank:
An international financial institution providing loans and grants; it does not enact laws like the NRL. ❌ C. OECD:
An organization promoting economic cooperation and policy coordination; it does not enact binding environmental laws such as the NRL. ❌ D. FAO:
A UN agency focused on hunger and agriculture; it does not enact regional laws like the NRL.
Environment & Ecology
Current Affairs
Climate Change & Conventions
Biodiversity Conservation & Protected Areas
Environmental Law & Policy
One of the following regions has the world's largest tropical peatland, which holds about three years worth of global carbon emissions from fossil fuels; and the possible destruction of which can exert detrimental effect on the global climate. Which one of the following denotes that region?
Explanation
Correct answer
B. Congo Basin
Congo Basin Peatlands: The Congo Basin in Central Africa is home to the world's largest tropical peatland complex. This vast peatland stores an immense amount of carbon, estimated to be equivalent to about three years of global fossil fuel emissions. Importance of Peatlands: Peatlands are a critical carbon sink. They store more carbon than all the world's forests combined. When peatlands are drained or degraded, this stored carbon is released into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. The Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Cong and Indonesia are parties to the Brazzaville Declaration, aimed at protecting the Cuvette Centrale region in the Congo Basin, the world’s largest tropical peatlands, from unregulated land use and preventing its drainage and degradation. _Other Options:_ * Amazon Basin: While the Amazon is known for its vast rainforests, it is not the primary location of the world's largest tropical peatland. * Kikori Basin: The Kikori Basin is located in Papua New Guinea and contains significant peatlands, but not the largest tropical peatland complex. * Rio de la Plata Basin: This basin in South America is primarily known for its grasslands and is not associated with major peatland areas.
Environment & Ecology
Geography
Climate Change & Conventions
Biogeography & Ecosystems
Physical & Regional Geography
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: Carbon markets are likely to be one of the most widespread tools in the fight against climate change.
Statement-II: Carbon markets transfer resources from the private sector to the State.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Explanation
Correct answer
B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
* Carbon markets, which include mechanisms like cap-and-trade systems and carbon offsets, are increasingly being used as a tool to incentivize emissions reductions and help in the fight against climate change. So, statement 1 is true. * Carbon markets typically work by transferring resources from emitters (usually in the private sector) to entities that can reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions, which can be either private entities or the government. So, statement 2 can also be true.
Environment & Ecology
Climate Change & Conventions
Environmental Law & Policy
Among the following crops, which one is the most important anthropogenic source of both methane and nitrous oxide?
Explanation
Correct answer
B. Rice
Methane and nitrous oxide emissions from rice farms could have the same long-term warming impact as about 600 coal plants. Rice cultivation emits methane and nitrous oxide due to flooded fields and nitrogen-based fertilizers. Flooding creates anaerobic conditions, producing methane released through rice plants. Fertilizers poorly absorbed by rice lead to soil microbes converting nitrogen into nitrous oxide.
Agriculture
Environment & Ecology
Climate Change & Conventions
Biogeography & Ecosystems
Which one of the following lakes of West Africa has become dry and turned into a desert?
Explanation
Correct answer
B. Lake Faguibine
Lake Faguibine in Mali is a prime example of increasing aridity . Here's how it changed over the years, as seen through false-color Landsat satellite images - Initially, it was one of the largest lakes in West Africa, fed by the Niger River during floods. - In 1974, it spanned approximately 590 square kilometers (230 square miles). - A decline in precipitation from the late 1980s led to its gradual drying. - By the late 1990s, traditional livelihoods like fishing , agriculture , and livestock herding became impractical. - Despite the resumption of normal rainfall after 2000, the lake has remained nearly dry. Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa and remains filled with water.
Lake Oguta is located in Nigeria and is still a freshwater lake.
Lake Volta is one of the largest artificial lake by surface area in the world and remains filled with water from the Volta River.
Environment & Ecology
Geography
Climate Change & Conventions
Physical & Regional Geography
Previous year Mains questions mapped to overlapping GS syllabus topics.
Does tribal development in India centre around two axes, those of displacement and of rehabilitation? Give your opinion.
Salient features of Indian Society and Diversity
Women, population, poverty, urbanization and development
View Mains PYQ
"The reform process in the United Nations remains unresolved, because of the delicate imbalance of East and West and entanglement of the USA vs. Russo-Chinese alliance." Examine and critically evaluate the East-West policy confrontations in this regard.
Bilateral, regional and global groupings involving India
Policies of developed/developing countries and Indian diaspora
Important International institutions, agencies and fora
View Mains PYQ
Achieving sustainable growth with emphasis on environmental protection could come into conflict with poor people’s needs in a country like India – Comment.
Salient features of Indian Society and Diversity
Women, population, poverty, urbanization and development
View Mains PYQ
"Energy security constitutes the dominant kingpin of India's foreign policy, and is linked with India's overarching influence in Middle Eastern countries." How would you integrate energy security with India's foreign policy trajectories in the coming years?
Bilateral, regional and global groupings involving India
Important International institutions, agencies and fora
View Mains PYQ
How do you account for the growing fast food industries given that there are increased health concerns in modern society? Illustrate your answer with the Indian experience.
Salient features of Indian Society and Diversity
Women, population, poverty, urbanization and development
Effects of globalization on Indian society
View Mains PYQ
Discuss the rationale of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. What are its achievements? In what way can the functioning and outcomes of the scheme be improved?
Indian Economy — planning, resources, growth, development, employment
Liberalization and industrial policy changes
View Mains PYQ
According to the article, scientists have attributed the recent record-breaking heatwave across Europe and the U.S. primarily to which of the following factors?
Explanation
The article explicitly states: 'The heatwave would have been 'virtually impossible' without human-caused climate change, which has made this week’s soaring night-time temperatures 100 times more likely than they would have been just two decades ago, according to scientists.'
Which of the following cities or regions was NOT explicitly mentioned in the article as being under a 'red heat warning' or 'red alert' for severe heatwave conditions directly impacting daily life during the specified period?
Explanation
The article mentions 'In Italy, 22 cities from Bolzano in the north to Palermo on the southern island of Sicily were covered on Monday (June 29, 2026) by a red heat warning.' and 'In Croatia, the weather service issued a red alert on Monday (June 29, 2026) for regions including the capital Zagreb'. While France reported excess deaths and overwhelmed funeral homes in Paris, Paris itself was not explicitly stated to be under a 'red heat warning' or 'red alert' in the same manner as the other options.
Beyond direct heat-related illnesses and deaths, the article highlights several other significant consequences of the ongoing heatwave. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a direct negative consequence of the heatwave?
Explanation
The article states that the heatwave 'disrupted power generation, damaged infrastructure and overwhelmed healthcare systems.' It mentions 'we are also seeing a lot of rainstorms, which obviously mitigates that risk' in relation to wildfires, indicating rainstorms are a concurrent weather phenomenon that can mitigate a heatwave consequence (wildfires), rather than a direct negative consequence of the heatwave itself.
The recent heatwave across Europe and the U.S. underscores the growing vulnerability of societies to extreme weather events. In light of this, discuss how such events, exacerbated by climate change, strain public health and critical infrastructure. Suggest comprehensive measures that governments can adopt to enhance societal resilience and mitigate the multi-faceted socio-economic impacts.
Introduce the context of extreme heatwaves and climate change. Discuss the specific impacts on public health (e.g., excess deaths, vulnerable populations, healthcare strain) and critical infrastructure (e.g., power, transport). Propose policy, technological, and infrastructural measures for building resilience and mitigating future impacts.
The article attributes the recent extreme heatwave to human-caused climate change, making such events significantly more likely. In this context, critically examine the scientific basis for linking extreme weather phenomena to anthropogenic climate change. Further, discuss the imperative for global cooperation and effective national policies to address the escalating challenge of climate change and its manifestations.
Explain the scientific evidence and models that link human activities (anthropogenic factors) to climate change and the increased frequency/intensity of extreme weather. Discuss the necessity of international agreements and collaborative efforts, alongside robust national strategies for both mitigation (reducing emissions) and adaptation (preparing for impacts).