Extreme weather and climatic conditions are here to stay as the world is witnessing exceptionally high temperatures, low sea ice and unabated ocean heat. Last year, the world experienced record high temperatures which seems to have continued to this year too. It is said that 2016 was the hottest year of the century and it seems that this year is also going to break records.

According to the World Meteorological Organisation's (WMO) statement on the state of the Global Climate in 2016, global temperatures hit a remarkable 1.1 Degree Celsius above the pre-industrial period while global sea-level touch record highs and the planet's sea-ice coverage dropped more than four million square kilometers below average.

Even though there is widespread awareness about global warming, levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere consistently breaking new records which is proof that we humans are responsible for this unusual climate change. In India alone more than 1,600 people died due to extreme weather conditions across the country last year, with 40 per cent people succumbing to severe heat wave. The highest death rate due to severe heat was in the states of Telengana and Andhra Pradesh.

The UN agency has been maintaining records and monitoring the climate change and results have shown that since 2001, there has been at least a 0.4 degree Celsius rise in temperature every year. According to IMD, 2016 was the warmest year ever recorded, globally while in India, Phalodi in Rajasthan recorded 51 degrees Celsius, highest ever recorded in the country.

World Climate Research Programme Director David Carlson said that there are such remarkable changes across the planet that's challenging the limits of our understanding of the climate system.

The world is taking note of these climate changes and accepts that prompt and effective steps have to be taken to reverse this alarming situation. The Paris agreement saw 196 countries including India agreeing to make efforts to a low carbon economy, through continued innovation in technology, energy and conservation sectors.

The countries agreed to strive to reduce their carbon imprint. They also agreed to work towards making sure the earth's temperature does not rise above 2 degree Celsius. However, it has been proved by recent science that a change of even one degree Celsius could cause major threats.

The agreement also affirms the important role that ecosystems, biodiversity and land use can play in reducing greenhouse emissions. As climate change continues to take the top place in the list of global issues, we must remember that nature has its own way of retaliation and unless we stop exploiting it for our selfish needs, we may have to face the heat. So let’s pledge that we take every action keeping our environment in mind.