Impact of Climate Change in India

 

Climate change could affect our society through social, political and economic impact. For example, climate change could affect human health, infrastructure, and transportation systems, as well as energy, food, and water supplies.

Some groups of people will likely face greater challenges than others. Climate change may especially impact people who live in areas that are vulnerable to coastal storms, drought, and sea level rise or people who live in poverty and immigrant communities. Similarly, some types of professions and industrial sectors may face considerable challenges from climate change.

Finding strategies for the adaptation and mitigation to face such changes is a major challenge for countries such as India with a large and fast rising population, densely populated coastal zone, large number of agriculture-dependent communities, fragile ecosystem and also various socio-economic and political reasons that are hurdles in implementing adaptation measures.

Major impact of climate change in India is on water. Since national economy still depends considerably on agriculture, any set back in this sector will affect all facets of life. Change in seasonality or further extremities in rainfall will affect water availability and may worsen the social issues associated with water allocation. Falling water availability may retard the present industrial growth. Abnormal melting of the Himalayas may soon affect the existence of major rivers, and the deltas, affecting millions of populations and the rich biodiversity.

Recent studies showed assessment of the impact of climate change on various sectors in India, with special focus on water and of the current policies and strategies for adaptation and hurdles in their implementation. Trends in climate in different zones have been examined. Impact of climate change on health, coastal population, food production etc and possibilities for appropriate adaptation measures have been discussed. The results predict a considerable decrease in water availability in many parts of India soon, with its reflections on all sectors of the society. Change in seasonality is leading to the extinction of certain plant species. Climate activists have stated massive investment will be required in satisfying the demands in food, water and energy and in public health in near future. Rehabilitation and resettlement of coastal population vulnerable to extreme weather will be a very complicated issue in India.

In India, there are several laws that directly or indirectly relate to the safeguard of environmental resources. But, many of the existing policies and environmental laws have become outdated. Current ongoing policies are Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, National Mission on Sustainable Habitat, National Water Mission, Nation Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, Nation Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem, Nation Mission for a Green India, Nation Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change, and Auto Fuel Vision and Policy 2015.

India urgently needs to develop an appropriate management strategy and an updated policy to face challenges associated with climate change. Policy can be effectively implemented with a strong and impartial political will.