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Rising Sea Levels (SLR) and its Impact on India
Context:
India’s vast and densely populated coastal regions are facing an escalating threat from rising sea levels, driven by climate change. This phenomenon is not just an environmental issue but a socio-economic and humanitarian crisis that demands urgent attention.
Causes of SLR:
- Thermal Expansion: Oceans absorb heat from a warming atmosphere, causing seawater to expand.
- Melting Ice Caps: Glaciers and polar ice melt, adding water to oceans.
- Since 1880, global sea levels have risen by approximately 20 cm. Projections suggest up to 1.2 meters by the end of the century if emissions remain unchecked.
Impact on Coastal Regions:
- India’s coastline, stretching over 7,500 kilometres, is particularly vulnerable to SLR. Key impacts include:
- Urban centres like Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata are at high risk of flooding, infrastructure damage, and freshwater contamination due to SLR.
- Coastal Livelihoods:
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- Fishing: Rising salinity and habitat destruction disrupt fish breeding grounds, affecting millions of livelihoods and food security.
- Agriculture: Seawater intrusion leads to soil salinisation, rendering land unfit for farming, threatening food production, livelihoods, and contributing to food price inflation.
- Coastal Communities: Displacement is already happening, such as in Odisha’s Satabhaya village, where 571 households have relocated due to erosion and flooding.
- Coastal Ecosystems:
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- Mangroves: SLR threatens vital mangrove forests, like those in the Sundarbans, which could lose up to 80% of their area by 2100, endangering biodiversity and protection against cyclones.
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- Olive Ridley Turtles: Coastal flooding and erosion threaten their nesting sites along Odisha’s coast.
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- Coral Reefs: Warming waters and rising seas threaten coral reefs, vital fish nurseries, and biodiversity, which could disrupt food chains.
Policy and Regulatory Framework:
- Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI): The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services has estimated the CVI for the Indian coastline, considering factors such as shoreline change rate, sea-level change rate, coastal elevation, and more.
- National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF): Under the 15th Finance Commission, a recovery and reconstruction window of ₹1000 crore is earmarked for resettling displaced people affected by erosion.
- Central Water Commission Guidelines: Published guidelines to provide preliminary design parameters for suitable coastal protection works.
Global Efforts:
- The Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification (1991) aims to protect ecologically sensitive areas, but implementation has been inconsistent. There is a need to revise the CRZ and disaster preparedness strategies to adapt to the realities of climate change and rising sea levels.
- Paris Agreement: Countries around the world have committed to achieving net-zero targets and limiting global mean temperature increases to mitigate SLR.
- Sea Level Rise Scenarios and Inundation Maps: Reports by organisations like the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) provide detailed scenarios and maps for selected Indian coastal cities, helping in planning and adaptation.
- Coastal Protection Measures: Countries are investing in sea walls, surge barriers, and other coastal defenses to protect against SLR.
Mitigation Strategies:
- Infrastructure: Building sea walls, improving early warning systems, and promoting sustainable coastal practices are essential.
- Natural Barriers: Restoring mangroves and wetlands can reduce wave energy and prevent soil erosion. Mangrove afforestation is cost-effective for coastal protection.
- Innovative Farming: Exploring floating agriculture and salt-resistant crop varieties can aid farmers in vulnerable areas.
- Climate Education: Increasing awareness and preparedness at the community level is crucial.
- International Collaboration: India must seek financial and technical support from wealthy nations to implement climate adaptation measures, including protective infrastructure and migration programs for affected populations.
