Why is it in the news?

• The World Meteorological Organization’s report, “The Global Climate 2011-2020: A Decade of Acceleration,” underscores the profound impact of climate change during the years 2011-2020, citing extreme weather events, glacier shrinkage, and increased climate finance as notable aspects.

Key Highlights of the Report

• Despite being the warmest decade (2011-2020) on record, it saw the lowest number of deaths from extreme events. Notably, the first decade since 1950 without a single short-term event causing 10,000 deaths or more.
• Decrease in casualties attributed to enhanced early warning systems, forecasting, and disaster management. India specifically benefited from improved cyclone forecasting, leading to better preparedness and evacuation measures.
• The ozone hole exhibited visible signs of recovery for the first time during the decade.
• Glaciers globally shrank by an average of approximately 1 meter per year from 2011 to 2020. Greenland and Antarctica experienced a 38% increase in ice loss compared to the 2001-2010 period.
• Heatwaves resulted in the highest number of human casualties. Tropical cyclones caused the most significant economic damage.
• Public and private climate finance nearly doubled during the decade. However, it needed to increase by at least seven times by the end of 2011-20 to achieve climate objectives, including limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.