Consistent temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius in Garo Hills is down to drastic climate change, deforestation, land-use changes and urbanisation, CEPARD, a local body dedicated to environmental and rural development, said today.
Climate change is a significant driver of the increasing temperatures in Garo Hills, leading to more frequent and intense heatwaves, it said in a press release. The rising levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, primarily due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, have resulted in a warming trend that is affecting regions worldwide, including Garo Hills, CEPARD added.
“Deforestation, another critical issue in Garo Hills, exacerbates the heat-related problems by reducing the natural cooling effect of forests and green cover. As trees are cut down for development or other purposes, the land loses its ability to regulate temperatures through evapotranspiration and shade, leading to higher temperatures in the region,” it stated.
