The wheat harvest

Temperatures are rising in India.

Millions of Indians are experiencing a brutal heatwave that is throwing lives and livelihoods out of gear – and there is no relief in sight.

While heatwaves are common in India, especially in May and June, summer began early this year with high temperatures from March itself – average maximum temperatures in the month were the highest in 122 years. Heatwaves also began setting in during the month.

The effects are visible. Farmers say the unexpected temperature spikes have affected their wheat harvest, a development that could potentially have global consequences given supply disruptions due to the Ukraine war.

We’re told to remember that weather is different from climate, and not to attribute all extreme weather to climate change, but that said, the matter of wheat harvests and global consequences is one of the reasons climate change is so lethal. You may be comfortable in an air-conditioned office or a swimming pool, but when the crops start to fail…

The heat has also triggered an increase in power demand, leading to outages in many states and fears of a coal shortage.

Loop, innit. Heat—>more power demand—>more heat—>more power demand—>ad infinitum.

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