We must adapt ourselves for the future and be resilient enough to face climate change.
When you can’t reverse it, you must adapt to it. That is what the world has come to believe as climate change wreaks havoc and countries are pushed into standing up and recognising that something needs to be done. This also means, through extension, that the responsibility also lies with each of us, in whatever part of the world we live. In our case it is India.
Last month Brazil hosted the Conference of Parties (COP30) on climate change which involved taking stock of what nations across the world are doing to bring down global temperatures and weather shifts that are creating difficult conditions and often disaster situations. India too was a participant at the COP 30 meet. Simply put, climate change is caused by human actions, and the worry is that this in the long term will adversely impact the health of citizens, flora and fauna, and bring irreversible damage to planet Earth.
In India too we have felt the harmful effects of climate change and have seen several extreme weather events taking place over the past few years. These include landsides, melting glaciers, increasing heat, unprecedented rain, floods, cloud bursts, cyclones, hurricanes, and unprecedented air pollution. It is believed these will only increase in frequency as the Earth warms up.
India is rated as the seventh most vulnerable country to climate change. These disasters are bringing terrible hardships to our people, and going forward, are only going to increase in number. So, what can we do as citizens, especially those for whom the environment is an important issue?
The buzz word now is ‘climate adaptation’. In simple words, it means getting ready to face these disaster events and helping people around us to adjust to actual or expected future climate crises. This can only happen by taking appropriate action in advance to stop, prevent or reduce the damage that disaster events can have on our lives and that of others.
To arrest landslides the most important activity would be the re-greening of mountain slopes and growing trees that get entrenched in the soil.
The action we take for reducing the impact of climate change will depend on where we live. If we live in the hills, what we need to do is totally different from if we are living close to the sea. Ditto for living in a city in a high-rise apartment, in a bungalow, cottage, slum or even a village hut. The intention of this column is to help you understand how to be prepared to face the upcoming weather changes or adapt to them so that you are not caught unawares.
Let’s start with living in the hills. Though we rave about the cool climes and the beautiful vistas that you can witness, high altitude areas are the most vulnerable to climate-induced landslides and avalanches. These bring with them unbelievable suffering with broken down houses, injuries to people, even deaths. The economic setback to a family is sometimes so extreme that it takes a lifetime to build back the same lifestyle.
To try and arrest landslides the most important activity would be the re-greening of mountain slopes and growing trees that get entrenched in the soil. These help in retaining water and nutrients and holding back the erosion of land on the hill slopes. It also ensures the survival of water bodies, an important component.
To arrest landslides the most important activity would be the re-greening of mountain slopes and growing trees that get entrenched in the soil.
Living in the hills also means designing your home in a way that suits the climate and brings comfort in summer, winter and the monsoon months. Environmentally conscious citizens should urge local governments to study and opt for ecosystem-based adaptation to contain the climate crisis.
In contrast, living near the coast is an altogether a different experience. Many of the coastal areas have mangrove forests that serve as natural sea defences. Alas, they are brutally done away with in India to build ports and industry. With the Earth heating up due to climate change, it is best for people to leave the coastline with as much natural vegetation as possible as these act as a deterrent and reduce the height and strength of sea waves, protecting the shore from storm surges. Leaving mangroves untouched is also much cheaper and more sensible than building massive seawalls to keep away flooding. It is our duty to ensure this happens.
Now for the landlocked city dwellers who are increasingly facing terrible bouts of air pollution, don’t take it lightly because the assault is directly on your lungs. See to it that the local administration cuts down on petrol-based transport and encourages or even incentivises public transport and the use of bicycles and e-vehicles.
If you are building a house or looking for a flat, ensure that the design is based on future climate projections so that the extreme temperature situations are taken care of. With the climate crisis, adapting to what is to come is the best way forward, as also readying yourself for it.
For instance, when it comes to food, you can make a big difference. Just make it a point to never waste food as it has been grown using energy and many resources. If your thrown food reaches the landfill, it rots and produces a greenhouse gas and deadly pollutant — methane. It is of grave importance what food you buy, how much you buy, consume and throw away. So, being conservative in purchasing food and composting food waste so that it mingles back with the soil is the way to go.
City residents, town dwellers, and villagers as well have one duty in common. They all need to keep an eye on their energy footprint. Small things like switching off an air conditioner or a fan or even avoiding using them is an obvious plus point. But most of us ignore the smaller points like replacing an air filter for more efficiency, buying star labelled gadgets for reducing energy usage, or unplugging gadgets when not in use.
A simple decision like opting for a newer energy star gadget model can reduce energy consumption from anywhere between 10 to 50 per cent every year. It is said that an average person, across the world, produces four tonnes of carbon dioxide through their activities annually. But if you live in a highly developed country like the US, you produce 16 tonnes of carbon dioxide, and if you are in India, you produce around two tonnes. But the trouble is that India has that many more citizens and this statistic for India is going up every year. So, it is time we halt the increase of our carbon footprint, become resilient and adapt for a future where we will have to live cautiously.
The writer is a senior journalist who writes on environmental issues