SDG 13: Climate Action | SDG 15: Life on Land
Institution: Ministry of Science & Technology
A study by scientists at the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences and the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology links the expansion of Antarctic ice sheets 34 million years ago to shifts in the Intertropical Convergence Zone and the intensification of Indian monsoons. By reconstructing past rainfall in Nagaland using fossil leaf data and the Climate Leaf Analysis Multivariate Program, the research shows how global cryospheric changes reshaped tropical weather systems. This finding is a warning signal: accelerating Antarctic ice melt driven by climate change could destabilise India’s monsoon, threatening agriculture, water security, and disaster management systems. Integrating such paleoclimate insights into present-day adaptation strategies can strengthen long-term planning for food security, rural livelihoods, and climate resilience.
Relevant question for policy stakeholders:
How can India incorporate paleoclimate evidence into its climate adaptation and agricultural policies to anticipate and mitigate potential monsoon disruptions?
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https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2164981