Bengal Batters by Extreme Weather: A Growing Crisis

The Centre for Science & Environment (CSE) has released its annual “state of extreme weather report,” revealing a stark reality for Bengal: extreme weather events occurred on 86% of days in the first nine months of 2024, causing significant damage and loss of life. This represents a three percentage point increase from the previous year, highlighting the intensifying impact of climate change. The report highlights the devastating consequences of heatwaves, cyclones, lightning, heavy rain, floods, and landslides, resulting in 64 deaths and crop damage across 200,900 hectares. While India as a whole experienced extreme weather on 93% of days, Bengal’s situation is particularly alarming, with the state experiencing the fourth highest crop damage in the country. The report emphasizes the need for a shift in approach from disaster response to risk reduction and resilience-building, including strategic flood management, expanded green spaces, and robust compensation systems for weather-induced losses. The CSE also calls for climate reparations from high-emission countries responsible for much of the damage, acknowledging the urgent need for global action to address the escalating climate crisis.