Need For Climate change Institute
Question Pending
Climate change is no longer a global phenomenon, but it is very much a local issue. The devastating impacts are no longer confined to specific regions — they are widespread and indiscriminate, from coastal cities of Chennai and Mumbai to plateau areas of Sangli and Satara, and hilly regions of Himachal Pradesh.
Sea levels in Asia are rising faster than the global average, threatening cities like Mumbai which could be partially submerged by 2100. Mumbai witnessed two cyclones back to back, Nisarga in 2020 and Tauktae in 2021 whereas the last previous recorded cyclonic storms occurred over forty years ago, and still older ones dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. Natural disasters which were being witnessed once in a lifetime are now an annual occurrence, and yet, we are not preparing ourselves by studying these occurrences, their impact and what is required to mitigate the impact.
Facts and Reports
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Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change Report suggests a minimum 1.5°C rise in global temperatures is causing frequent heat waves, longer summers and shorter winters and threatening health and agriculture.
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NASA's sea level projections based on the IPCC Report show Mumbai could be 0.21m under water by 2050 and 0.82m by 2100 in the worst-case scenario. Even in the best case, sea levels may rise by 0.14m by 2050 and 0.28m by 2100. Tidal variations could range from 0.15m to 1.75m.
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The new projections suggest that much of Mumbai and Kolkata will be wiped out due to coastal floods by 2050 as it is at present permanently below the high tide line[6], and the landform in Mumbai will return back to seven islands.
Issues/Implications
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Extreme weather and climate events are increasing, and exposing millions of people to acute food insecurity and reduced water security.
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Vulnerable communities contribute least to climate change but are most affected by it as they have least access to resources.
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Higher rates of mortality and morbidity are occurring across regions due to extreme heat events and climate-related food-borne and water-borne diseases.
Strategic Framework proposed by UCM
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Need to establish a Climate Change Institute as a central authority which will draft specific policies that align climate trends with urbanisation, urban planning, industrial development and resource management for sustainable growth.
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Develop data-driven, interdisciplinary frameworks to guide government and private-sector decisions, ensuring climate considerations are embedded in all stages of planning and implementation.
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Create dynamic models that respond to evolving climate patterns, enabling policy-makers to proactively adjust strategies and mitigate long-term environmental risks.
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Facilitate partnerships between urban planners, scientists, economists, and policy-makers to ensure that decisions are cohesive, evidence-based and adaptable to changing climate scenarios.
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Implement mechanisms for continuous evaluation of decisions against climate projections, allowing real-time adjustments to minimize environmental impact and maximize efficiency.