Syllabus: GS3/Environment Degradation; Disaster Management
Context
- Global warming is raising sea levels and making flooding more common in some areas.
- Researchers have held them responsible for discouraging the growth of plants of many tree species in coastal areas.
About
- The study paper has reported that a rising sea and coastal flooding could actually enhance the resilience of some coastal tree species while being detrimental to others.
- One species in particular, the American holly (Ilex opaca), responded by increasing the rate at which it grew — while loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) and pitch pine (Pinus rigida) trees suffered under higher water levels.
- Cause: The tree rings consist of water vessels. When a tree is exposed to a lot of rain along with appropriate levels of sunlight and ambient temperature, it also develops more water vessels.
- But a heavy downpour and a deluge would disrupt this process altogether and prevent the plant from growing normally.
Sea-level Rise Accelerating
- Sea levels were increasing by around 2 mm/year in 1993.
- This rate has since doubled and climate researchers expect floods in coastal areas will increase threefold by 2050.
- Reason:Climate change brought on by fossil-fuel burning and greenhouse gas emissions has led to a steady increase in global temperatures.
- As a result, sea surface temperatures and glacier melting have increased, eventually rising sea levels and posing a major threat to coastal cities worldwide, including Indian coastal cities.
| Climate Change – Climate change refers to long-term shifts in global or regional climate patterns. – It’s primarily driven by human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes, which release greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane into the atmosphere. – These gases trap heat, causing the Earth’s temperature to rise—a phenomenon known as global warming. – Impact: It threatens the essential ingredients of good health – clean air, safe drinking water, nutritious food supply and safe shelter – and has the potential to undermine decades of progress in global health. |
Concerns with Increase in Sea Level
- Flooding: It leads to more frequent and severe flooding in coastal areas, threatening infrastructure, homes, and livelihoods.
- Displacement: Rising seas force communities to relocate, leading to displacement and potential conflicts over resources.
- Saltwater Intrusion: Salinity contaminate freshwater sources, affecting drinking water supplies and agriculture.
- Economic Impact: Coastal industries, such as fishing and tourism are severely impacted, leading to job losses and economic instability in affected regions.
- Biodiversity Loss: Ecosystems like mangroves and coral reefs are threatened, impacting biodiversity and the services these ecosystems provide.
- Health Risks: Flooding leads to the spread of waterborne diseases.
India’s Efforts to Combat Climate Change
- Renewable Energy Expansion: India has set ambitious targets for renewable energy generation, aiming to increase its capacity significantly.
- It has invested heavily in solar and wind energy projects, with the goal of reducing reliance on fossil fuels and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
- International Commitments: India is a signatory to the Paris Agreement, committing to reduce its carbon intensity and increase the share of non-fossil fuel energy sources in its total energy mix.
- It has announced its aim to meet 50% of its electricity demands from renewable energy sources by 2030.
- Afforestation and Forest Conservation: Recognizing the role of forests in carbon sequestration and climate regulation, India has initiated programs to increase forest cover, restore degraded lands, and promote sustainable forest management practices.
- Clean Transportation: India is promoting the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and has set a target of 30% EV market share by 2030.
- The government has introduced incentives and subsidies to support the production and adoption of EVs.
- Climate Resilience: India is investing in measures to enhance climate resilience and adaptation, particularly in vulnerable sectors such as agriculture, water resources, and coastal areas.
- International Cooperation: India actively participates in international forums and collaborations on climate change, engaging in initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.
Source: TH
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