Journal of Earth Science & Climatic Change
Open Access

Abstract

The climate change is the biggest environmental emergency that the earth faces today. This inevitable disaster has a multitude of serious implications for both environment and human society. Efforts are being made to develop a better scientific understanding of this complex problem by generating better future projections of climate change. The climate change has potential implications on different sectors including glaciers and permafrost, rivers, forests, soils, ecosystems, society and economy etc. The state of Jammu and Kashmir is predominantly a mountainous state with all the major Himalayan ranges and Trans-Himalayas adequately represented. Falling in Himalayan region, Jammu and Kashmir has a geographic area 2,22,236 sqkm. Around 20230 sqkm, which comprises 19.95 percent of the geographical area of Jammu and Kashmir, is under the forest cover. The state is divided into three regions: Ladakh, Kashmir Valley and Jammu. The higher regions of the state are covered by Pir Panjal, Karakoram, Zanskar and inner Himalayan ranges of mountains. The increase in temperature has to do with the topography and high altitude. We have seen that warming is higher in Himalayas and other mountainous regions of the globe. Temperature varies from place to place and it is basically a function of location, longitude and altitude. Effects of climate change are already being felt on the ground. Erratic snowfall and snowfall pattern and unusual warm winters are some of the characteristics of the climate change in Jammu and Kashmir. The diverse types of ecosystems and communities, especially the poor rural people, living in the mountains across the state are among the most affected by the climate change. As part of its social responsibility our NGO, “Samajic Environmental Welfare Association” (Sewa) working since 1997, conducts many outreach activities/campaigns/camps on regular basis.

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