India's Coastal Regions Face Severe Climate Shifts by 2040, Report Warns A newly released report by Azim Premji University highlights alarming climate projections for India’s coastal regions, warning that temperatures in around 40 districts—including Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, and Udupi—could rise by over 1°C by 2040. The study, titled “Indian Coastal Region: Climate Projections 2021-2040,” underscores an imminent climate crisis that threatens to reshape ecosystems, livelihoods, and daily life across the country’s coastline. The report predicts India’s average temperatures will increase by 1.5°C, with coastal areas facing the most severe impacts due to their vulnerability to rising sea levels and extreme weather events. The report details specific temperature trends for key districts. In Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, summer maximum and wet-bulb temperatures are projected to rise by 1.1°C, while Uttara Kannada’s winter minimum temperatures could increase by 1.2°C. Annual maximum and winter minimum temperatures in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi are also expected to rise by 1°C from their current baselines, with Uttara Kannada seeing smaller but still significant increases of 0.9°C and 0.8°C, respectively. These changes are compounded by intensified monsoon seasons, with precipitation forecasts indicating a 7% rise in the southwest monsoon for Dakshina Kannada and a 6% increase in the northeast monsoon. Udupi, already the rainiest coastal district during the southwest monsoon, is projected to see a 6% rise in rainfall, starting from a baseline of 2,055 mm. The northeast monsoon in Uttara Kannada is expected to grow by 13% over its 167 mm baseline, while the southwest monsoon there is projected to increase by 8%.#azim_premji_university #dakshina_kannada #uttara_kannada #udipi #anurag_behar
