Transcript Effects of Global Warming on the Coasts of India

“Only when the last tree has died, the last river poisoned and the last fish caught,
will we realize that we cannot eat money”
By:
AADI VAIDYA
SHOBHIT SINGH
SHITAL SHIRSAT
PRAJAKT SURVE
WHAT IS GLOBAL WARMING?
 Refers to the long term increase in temperature which is global
in nature.
 Disturbs balance between hot and cold
areas in the atmosphere.
 Caused by the increase in GHG(CO2,CH4,N2O…),they act as
a blanket resulting a rise in temperature
CONTRIBUTION OF GHG’S TOWARDS
CLIMATE CHANGE
CLIMATE CHANGE AND GLOBAL
WARMING
 Climate should not be confused with weather.
 Climate change refers to variation in global and
regional climates over time
 Changes the climate system as a whole shifting the
average pattern.
 Climate change and global warming are co related
CAUSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND
GLOBAL WARMING
……. Human activities …..main cause
 Burning of fossil fuels - emit excess GHGs
making a thicker blanket of ghg’s increasing heat
 Forest destruction
 Increase in co2
 Industrial pollution
 Incorrect waste management
 Depletion of land and soil………
IMPACTS
Coastal ecosystem:
• Includes mangrooves, coral reefs, sea grass, marine life
• Vulnerable to the effects of frequency changes in rainfall and
level rise
• May be damaged by warmer sea temperature
disasters
• Can cause high tides, storms, floods, seismic sea
waves(tsunami)
• 46 mn people on an average are affected
economic impacts
• Damages economic sectors
…………………
 many coastal communities are affected
 increase in global warming is leading to the increase in various
infections
 disruption of sanitation, drainage, sewage disposal, system
 psychological and other illnesses
 transmission of diseases and breeding of insects
•
Many industries set up at the coastal regions can be harmed
in turn affecting the Indian economy
THE INDIAN SITUATION
 Mean temperature increase of 3 to 5 degree C by end of century –
more pronounced in north
 20% rise in Indian monsoon
 More extreme extremes – especially over west coast of India and
west central India
 Reduced crop production due to increased temperature and higher
CO2 content
 An increase in cyclones in Bay of Bengal
 Flooding of low lying areas producing climate refugees
INDIAN COASTLINE
 Total length from Sunder bans in West Bengal till the Rann of
Kutch in gujarat-5700km.
 Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar group of islands
constitute-1810 km
 few major coastal ports
Mumbai, Chennai, Vishakhapatnam, Kolkata, Kochi and Goa
 Western coastline has a continental shelf having an area of
0.13mn sq. km.
CRZ
 Coastal regulation zone is the boundary from the high tide line
up to 500m in the land -ward side.
 Four categories:




CRZ I : Ecologically important areas like national parks
CRZ II: Already exploited to some extent like drainage etc.
CRZ III: Undisturbed areas not included under I & II.
CRZ IV : Coastal areas in Andamans, Lakshadweep and other small
islands.
THE GREATEST THREAT- SEA LEVEL RISE
 Inundation of coastal colonies
 India is one of the 28 countries endagered from sea level rise
 Total area of 5763 sqkm and 4.6% of the coastal population
would be affected
 Most vulnerable areas-gujarat,mumbai,south
kerala,lakshadweep islands
DISPLACEMENT OF COMMUNITIES
Facts:
 Reports say-sea level rise between 15 to 38 cm can affect tens of
thousands of people at the coasts
 A meter rise today would displace 7 million people
 Sudhir Chellarajan(IIT professor)has determined that by the end of
the century 12 million people would be displaced in west Bengal
 The problem of coastal refugees would start irking the governments
soon : their rehabilitation, compensation and effect on economy..
BYE BYE BEACHES…….
 Threatning to chew up beaches of Vishakhapatnam. In the past
month it has gouged 75 metre of the section through erosion
 Puri’s beaches are slowly disintegrating
 Climatic factors and man made development is causing heavy
toll on the beaches of Goa. Water has started to enter close to
solid ground….would affect tourism and local coastal
communities
GLOBAL WARMING CAUSING CHANGE
IN MONSOONS
 Changes in the monsoon pattern in India are expected to result
in severe floods, droughts
 Scientists predict a 3-5 degree rise in temperature causing a
20% increase in summer rainfall.
 A vast population depends upon rainfall for their livelihood
 Changes in water cycle can cause diseases such as malaria,
cholera, hepatitis,etc.
SEA WATER INTRUSION
 The vulnerability area increases with every 0.5 m rise in
sea level.
 Maximum near the creeks and minimum along main coast.
 Irrigated agriculture, coastal activities , tourism at risk
 Saline water may make land unfit for agriculture
 Two islands already vanished from Sunder bans displacing
7000 people. Two more islands at risk.
Increased Sea Level, Increased Floods
MUMBAI
 Frequent floods and sea water intrusion has affected structural
stability of high rise buildings
 About 40% of the population in Mumbai vulnerable to sea
water intrusion due increased water level
 Low lying areas of Byculla to Parel and Dadar which had mill
areas given to industries
 Huge construction have destroyed their capability of acting as
water sinks during heavy rains
 Again dislocation of people
VOICE OF FISHERFOLK:
 “EARLIER WE USED TO OFFER COCONUTS TO THE GODS OF THE
SEA AND THEY USED TO LET US FISH PEACEFULLY. THOSE DAYS
ARE GONE……..”
THIS IS THE VOICE OF THE FISHERFOLK
 HAVE NO FAITH ON THE GOVERNMENT AND OTHER AGENCIES
 “MANY TIMES THEY HAVE ISSUED WARNINGS,BUT NOTHING EVER
HAPPENS……….BUT THEY DON’T REALISE THAT OUR LIVELIHOOD
IS AT STAKE”
 “WE DO NOT DEMAND TO SHUT DOWN INDUSTRIES……BUT TO
GIVE US ATLEAST OUR SHARE”
COASTAL REFUGEES
 Special type of climate refugees – basically inhabitants of the
coasts
 Displaced due to rise in sea level and inundation of their
villages
 Or due to sea water intrusion making land saline and
unavailable for agriculture
 7000 people already coastal refugees in Sunder bans and
70,000 looming under large threat
 No proper care hence can lead to dissent among people
C
L
I
M
A
T
E
R
E
F
U
G
E
E
S
Story-The end of world in Versova
 Over a hundred shanties were swept away last year July, tides rose
to 5.05 m.
 13 lakh people in a state of risk
 Fresh water supply has drastically reduced
 Improper drainage system
 the IPCC (intergovernmental panel on climate change)has declared
Versova as danger zone
GOVERNMENT ACTIONS
 A metre increase in sea level can affect 13 lakh people
 Government has sanctioned Mr. Rajendra.K.Pachauri along with his
committee to do a probe study on the coastal regions of Maharastra
(worth 98 lakhs)
 They have collaborated with MOHC(met office Headley centre)
 Different agencies may differ but what is of main concern is the
impacts
OPTING FOR SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
 Sustainable development means developing in such a way that
our resources are utilised in the best possible way and can be
replenished for future generations
 Now has become a global concept
 Many countries have recognised it and are adopting it
 It is necessary for all
 This would directly affect the lives of the people
INDIA WITH SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT:
 In India current plans are to tally contradictory to sustainable
development
 Growth in power, transport, energy would alone contribute
40% of GHG emissions
 The planning commission and the government have to bind
sustainable development and economic growth plans in such a
way that they don’t conflict each other
WHAT IS TO BE DONE?
 Despite of have to make a choice and our future will depend on that
 We cannot solely rely on government agencies, scientists and
economists to act
 While coastal communities have a low carbon footprint than us, we
can too reduce ours by adopting various methods of alternative
sources of energy
 We should change our thinking of using exotic products, which have
created a mindset of a higher standard of living
 We should realise that saving resources would in turn be the best
possible way to live
CAN INDIA SHOW THE WAY ?
 Developed countries worst polluters
 India and China still developing and can build in an environmental
friendly way
 Public Transport, low carbon emissions etc. should be aimed
 Actively supported the cause of environment in Copenhagen Summit
 Basic professions like agriculture and mining can easily reduce
carbon emissions
A GENDER AND LIVELIHOOD BASED
APPROACH
 Gender refers to social roles and relations between men and
women
 Use participatory approaches to involve all members of the
community in planning
 Enhance local capacity to adapt
 Introduce tools in a locally sensitive way
 Draw on local knowledge
 Understand local gender roles
CHANGE BEGINS WITH ME
 Can not solely depend on government agencies, research and
scientists
 Underlying point remains the same : Reduce your carbon footprint.
 Use more non conventional sources of energy - sun, wind etc.
 Coastal Management should be based on the region – decentralized
 Decision making should be flexible
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Websites:
 www.infochangeindia.org
 www.wikipedia.com/globalwarming
Books and magazine:
 The Coast isn’t Clear – Voices from Mumbai’s Margins
 Mumbai Mirror – 28th April, 2009
Resource Person:
 Mr. John – Centre for Education and Documentation, Colaba
 Ms. Jacintha - Centre for Education and Documentation, Colaba
THANK YOU.
“It seems to me that we all look at nature too much, and live with her too little”
- Oscar Wilde