It is evident that global warming and the resultant climate change affects the global ecosystems negatively. Analyse the impact of climate change on coastal ecosystems. Elucidate the steps taken by the government to tackle this challenge.
It is evident that global warming and the resultant climate change affects the global ecosystems negatively. Analyse the impact of climate change on coastal ecosystems. Elucidate the steps taken by the government to tackle this challenge.
How vulnerable are Indian Coasts to Climate Change?
- Coastal Communities are vulnerable to disasters like Cyclones, Sea-level rise and Storm surges.
- Approx. 14% of India’s population reside within 50 Km of India’s coastline with important cities such as Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai
- Economic drivers like ports, nuclear power plants, oil and gas refineries etc are majorly present in coastal regions.
- Wide range of coastal ecosystems such as Mangroves, seagrass beds, salt marshes, coral reefs, lagoons, estuaries are highly vulnerable.
- Increase in variability and unpredictability of Monsoons affects agriculture along coasts, thus questioning food security of the nation.
Steps to reduce vulnerability:
- Introducing state of the art technologies for disaster prediction.
- Developing salt tolerant agricultural crops.
- Raising community awareness on coastal disasters and necessary action.
- Increasing the forest and mangrove covers in the coastal areas.
- Establishing Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.
- Weeding out illegal coastal encroachments.
- Reducing the unnecessary infrastructure projects near the shorelines.
Steps taken:
- Coastal Vulnerability Mapping: It has already been done by Institutions like INCOIS and ICMAM which helps in leveraging the mitigation measures.
- Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project: This World Bank supported project consists of four components: National Coastal Management Programme, ICZM-West Bengal, ICZM-Orissa, ICZM-Gujarat
- National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) has been established within the campus of Anna University, Chennai
- National Action Plan for Climate Change (NAPCC): It identifies several priority areas for coastal zones.
- Coastal Zone Regulations are periodically updated
Conclusion:
- The successful implementation of the above measures is cardinal for ensuring the vibrancy of our coastal ecosystem.
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