Is Mother Nature Warning us about `Global Warming`?

A cyclonic storm, had developed over the Arabian Sea off the north Maharashtra and south Gujarat coasts, referred to by the meteorologist as `Phyan`, which in Burmese means a cherry which has fallen off a tree, a vicious fruit from the weather gods. Luckily on Wednesday, November 11, it bypassed Mumbai, but ravaged the Konkan coast, western Maharashtra and Marthwada before heading towards Gujarat.

According to an official information, four deaths have been reported while 37 fishing boats and 200 fishermen have been missing.

The worst hit was the Ratnagiri coast in the Konkan region where 19 boats with 150 fishermen are missing. Al-Usmani, a fishing boat was capsised near the Dapoli coast here. Of the 23 people on board, only five were rescued.

The green house effect is taking its toll on the global environment. The UN panel had warned in the year 2007, that Mumbai and Kolkata will face the maximum impact of the climatic change. It had said that Mumbai is particularly vulnerable.

Also this year cyclone `Aila` claimed lives of over 120 people and rendered 5 lakh people homeless in coastal West Bengal.

After 26/7 torrential rains in 2005, Mumbai had a narrow escape from another natural calamity- Cyclone Phyan, which could have been due to `Global Warming`. The world meteorological bodies have already named potential cyclones till the end of this year. Eight north Indian Ocean countries have jointly prepared a list of 64 names for cyclones.

How much will be the effect of climate change on India?

The cyclone warns us of the impacts of climate change that India has to face in coming years. India is vulnerable to climate change because it is an agriculturally driven country and has got a large and growing population. The country will have abnormally rising temperature. Estimated increase in winter and summer temperatures by 3.2 degree and 2.2 degrees Celsius, respectively, by 2050. Such abnormal rises will surely have an adverse impact on agricultural production in the form of a reduction in total crop cycle duration.

The Himalayan glaciers are the most threatened by global warming. There can be faster glacial melting here. This can inundate low lying areas, wetlands, beaches, cause floods, increase salinity of rivers. Deltas like the unique Sunderban will be threatened by flooding, erosion and salt intrusion. In a developing and densely populated country like India, climate change puts additional burden on an already overstressed ecological and socioeconomic system due to rapid economic activities.

What can we do now to save ourselves and our future generations? How can we pacify our Mother Earth for all the damages that we have done to her?

India and developing countries are indeed making significant progress in limiting greenhouse gas emissions through policy adjustments. India for example has taken positive steps in improving the efficiency of energy and industrial production capacity apart from removing subsidies and rationalizing prices. Government also has to act so that carbon emissions are reduced. There is no ‘one shot’ solution to climate problem. Time and effort from the government and people can reduce the impacts of climate change.

                                                                        Rajeev Mavani and Lakshmi Priya