Climate Change
   Date :13-Jun-2021

by the way_1  H
 
By ANSHUMAN BHARGAVA :
 
The corona pandemic may just be a precursor of more challenging times shortly and catastrophes of different unprecedented kinds may become more frequent and intense as global warming rises.
 
The Mumbai coast is seeing higher tides, greater inundation, more frequent and intense storms in recent years due to ecological destruction. Kolkata, shaped like a saucer, is on the verge of sinking as it is precariously close to the sea and any further rise in sea level can be disastrous for its existence.
 
A NEW study has found that India may lose anywhere between 3 and 10 per cent of its GDP annually by 2100 and its poverty rate may rise by 3.5 per cent in 2040 due to climate change. The report was released recently by the London-based global think tank Overseas Development Institute. Titled ‘The Costs of Climate Change in India,’ the report looks at the economic costs of climate-related risks in the country and points to the possibility of increased inequality and poverty as a result of cascading effects of drastic climatic changes. India is already experiencing the consequences of 1°C of global warming, it said. Extreme heatwaves, heavy rainfall, severe flooding, catastrophic storms and rising sea levels are damaging lives, livelihoods and assets across the country, says the report. “Climate change is already slowing the pace of poverty reduction and increasing inequality in India. The districts that have warmed the fastest have seen gross domestic product grow on average 56 per cent less than those that have warmed the slowest. Without rapid global action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, rising average temperatures may reverse the development gains of recent decades,” it states.
 
The report finds that even if the temperatures are contained to two degrees Celsius, India will lose 2.6 per cent GDP annually, and in case the global temperatures were to increase to 3 degrees Celsius, this loss will magnify to 13.4 per cent annually. “These results are narrowly based on projections of temperature and precipitation changes, and the effect on labour productivity in different sectors. Climate change may also affect labour productivity through additional channels, for instance the increased incidence of endemic vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, chikunguniya, filariasis, Japanese encephalitis and visceral leishmaniasis.” The report portends a bleak and dangerous future ahead if we don’t take immediate steps of sweeping effects. The corona pandemic may just be a precursor of more challenging times shortly and catastrophes of different unprecedented kinds may become more frequent and intense as global warming rises. India is already a warm tropical country that breeds several infections and any further rise in temperatures can prove conducive to newer breeds of viruses. The rising seawater temperature affects aquatic life and many of our businesses depend on marine harvests, which are going to be hit, thereby spawning economic uncertainty.
 
Millions of our people are already vulnerable and on the brink due to their geographical and financial situation and any escalation in problems like rising seawater levels and dwindling economic stability can simply wipe them out. Our Governments need to take urgent steps so that such a scary situation doesn’t arise. Ecological imbalance is already causing havoc in the eco-sensitive and highly important Sunderbans region, with scores of villages being engulfed by the sea year after year. This will replicate in other coastal regions as well. The Mumbai coast is seeing higher tides, greater inundation, more frequent and intense storms in recent years due to ecological destruction. Kolkata, shaped like a saucer, is on the verge of sinking as it is precariously close to the sea and any further rise in sea level can be disastrous for its existence.
 
Droughts, untimely rains, floods, forest fires, landslides, heat waves cold waves, non-seasonal snowfall etc. are becoming more widespread and common, causing a great drain to our economy. Time is running out and we are still largely neglectful of the implications of our actions. Lack of resources and policy bottlenecks have slackened initiatives and the pace of ameliorative action is tardy. In a densely packed country like India, several logistic and human rights hurdles thwart drastic action and by the time any major step is taken, much loss is already accrued which is hard to reverse. To top it, there is rampant corruption and bending of rules to suit conveniences, which have led to widespread deforestation in the name of development. Unplanned construction of dams have damaged riverine ecosystems and paved the way for earthquakes, unbridled mining in fragile environment zones have put large populations and wildlife at risk, hasty urban expansions have led to mindless destruction of forests and water bodies around. These are some very cursory examples of how we have systematically plundered our nature and environment, despite a constant warning by scientists of the impending dangers.
 
The rot runs much deeper and in diversely ominous forms that have invaded all spheres of our life. Though India remains one of the most vulnerable countries in every way, environmental degradation is a global problem and every country is responsible in different degrees for things going out of control today. There have been years of systemic failure in foreseeing the future dangers and acting accordingly. Many of the developed countries of the West have had a major share in queering the pitch early on when in their mad race for industrialisation they destroyed everything they had in the form of nature’s bounty.
 
Countries like India picked pace much later but by then the damage had been done. The West might today go for rapid corrective actions to reverse the trend and show the world that they are replenishing nature, but no amount of resurrection can compensate for the losses. It is easy to blame the poorer countries now, but when it was time to ponder, no western country did so with any seriousness and let things slip out of hand. The density of cars per thousand population in the US is still 11 times more than in India, but such parameters are conveniently shoved. Even today, every climate summit is marred by dissensions, with leaders sparring over little issues, missing the bigger picture. No one wants to lose the share of their privileges. Unless the world unites and countries sacrifice their petty gains, it is very difficult to stem climate change and global warming, for it is not a problem of individual nations but the planet as a whole. By the way, we have to think collectively, the rich and the poor nations together. It is a challenge, a tough fight, where only unity can save us.