Jagannath Chatterjee

Photographs courtesy internet

Climate Change Impacts on Coastal RegionsClimate change: “Any change in climate over an

extended period of time, usually a decade or more, whether due to natural variability or as a result of human activity. Changes in climate may be due to natural processes or due to persistent anthropogenic changes in atmosphere or in land use.” – UNFCC

The coastal regions are experiencing the impacts of climate change in the form of rise in sea level and consequent sea surges leading to coastal inundation and excess salinity, changes in weather patterns, increase in frequency and intensity of cyclones, effects on marine eco systems, flora and fauna.

The various agents and processes affecting the Odisha coast are coastal winds, coastal waves, littoral drift, storm surges, flood discharges, tides, and human interventions. All the coastal resources, be they land, water, flora, fauna, and the beach are under threat. Various environmental problems have been noticed like increase in cyclones and storm surges, coastal erosions, loss of mangroves and the loss of habitat & biodiversity

Impacts of Global Warminghttp://planetsave.com/2015/06/02/global-warming-or-climate-change-whats-the-difference/

Global Warming vs Climate Change“I see them as different attributes of the same

phenomenon. ‘Global warming’ simply describes the surface warming of Earth due to increased greenhouse gas concentrations. ‘Climate change’ describes the fuller range of impacts (i.e., shifting rainfall and drought patterns, changes in ocean circulation, melting ice, sea level rise, etc.). But as for the ‘hockey stick,’ since it is indeed an estimate of surface temperature alone, ‘global warming’ seems the more appropriate characterization.” – Dr Michael E. Mann, who first drew the famous hockey stick curve in 1999, leading to the 2007 Nobel Prize for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change team

Ice Hockey Stick Graph (in blue) Mann, Bradley & Hughes 1998 (MBH98)

Oceans hugely affected

Vulnerability of Coastal OdishaOdisha has a coastline of 482kms which is 8% of

India’s coastline of 7500kms including island territory

The vulnerability of coastal Odisha impacts 7168 villages, 20 towns, 10.60 lakh households and 58 lakh people within 25 kilometres of the coastline

The coastline has been divided into the coastal zone from Subarnarekha mouth to the Mahanadi Mouth in the North which covers Balasore Plain, Bhadrak Plain, Brahmani Baitarani Delta, and Hukitola Bay; and coastal zone from Mahanadi Mouth to the Rusikulya Mouth in the South which covers Ersama Plain, Puri Plain and Ganjam Plain

Coastal characteristics differ from region to region but widespread erosion has been noted on around 187 km of the 482 km long coastline.

Impacts Observed On Coastal OdishaA baseline survey conducted by Think Ahead, Concern

Worldwide, and RCDC covering the Bay of Bengal Region, found evidence of the following impacts in 2 districts of Coastal Odisha (Jagatsinghpur & Kendrapara) and 4 coastal districts of Bangladesh

Sea level rise, increase in frequency and intensity of disasters (cyclones, sea surges, flooding, drought, coastal erosion). Sea tides –it was noticed- increased vulnerability to high impact hazards like cyclones and floods as they weaken embankments

Effect on communities observed to be widespread, affecting lives, livelihoods, and environment

Untimely rainfall, increased salinity of soil, changes in composition of water in sea and sea mouths, rising temperatures , cyclones, low pressures have affected agriculture and fishery leading to food and livelihood insecurity

Migration is heavy as people no longer find traditional livelihoods viable and profitable

Impacts observed...

Odisha – Disaster State Heat waves, cyclones, floods & droughts. Erratic

rainfall, increasing temperatures, shrinking winter,.

Faulty urban planning has left cities vulnerable to cyclones, flooding and earthquakes

Cities are hotter during heat wavesCoastal cities are at mercy of seaThe state has been declared disaster-affected for

95 years out of the last 105 years: floods have occurred for 50 years, droughts for 32, and cyclones have struck the state for 11 years. Since 1965, these calamities have not only become more frequent, they are striking areas that have never experienced such conditions before.  - Richard Mahapatra, 2006

Vulnerability of women and childrenThe baseline study revealed specific impacts on

women and children resulting from existing gender role and inequality.

Direct impact on available economic activities, increase in hardship, effects on reproductive health, lack of control over income & decision making, hardship on account of travelling long distances for drinking water & fuel wood – exposing them to dangers from reptiles and animals in forest besides encounters with forest guards, inconveniences and threats of sexual harassment during and after disasters

Health impacts on women are pronounced as they suffer from nutritional deficiencies consequent to monocultures replacing the traditional diversified basket. Food shortages mean women keep aside less food for themselves and facing drinking water crisis they consume less water as well. Access to health facilities is not easy in remote coastal locations adding to health woes.

What women share...The plight of women was vividly noticed in the

target area“We are burdened with responsibility before and

after disasters as we have to take care of children, the sick and the elderly besides meeting family needs like food and fodder.”

In the climate change era “we suffer health impacts from nutrition problems, the non availability of water for drinking and washing purposes, and working in saline conditions.”

“During stay in shelters we face problems if we are menstruating, are pregnant or have babies who require breastfeeding. We feel inconvenienced from unclean toilets and face sexual harassment during disasters.”

“We (women and adolescent girls) feel highly insecure at such times when electricity is cut off and we have to go out in the darkness.”

Vulnerability increases..

Situation is PrecariousUnknown to many, Odisha has recorded massive sea incursion– at

Satabhaya in KendraparaSea has advanced 6kms at Satabhaya since 1970. Of the seven

villages, only 2 survive now in a limited way fractured into hamlets.

“People started to migrate after the Cyclone of 1971,” says Brindaban Moi a villager of Satabhaya who was displaced from Kanpur. “The majority migrated to Okilapala hamlet of Gupti Panchayat which is at a distance of 8 km from the sea as it stands today. The rest settled at Kanpur. However, the Super Cyclone of 1999 saw the sea entering Kanpur and the villagers who had evacuated had no place to return to. In 2011 many more families relocated from the hamlet leaving only a handful behind as the sea was getting aggressive by the day. They have now settled in the newly formed hamlets of Barahipur, Magarkanda and Rabindrapalli around the older hamlet of Balisahi, which is what remains of the original Satabhaya, as this place has a sand dune that offers some protection from the sea.”

The remaining population will be shifted to Bagapatia in the same block by the administration. Satabhaya will cease to exist

Satabhaya, Pentha – At Mercy of Sea – Anthropogenic , aggravated by climate change?

What can be done? State ScenarioClimate change – not disasters – should be the focus

areaClimate change threats and impacts must be factored

into all development programsMitigation & adaptation are equally important There should be a nodal agency – preferably a

separate Ministry with an adequate yearly budget allocation which will initiate action , guide and coordinate departments

State should consider moving away from water intensive crops, integrate agricultural practices with emphasis on eco-friendly methods and go in for hardy diversified crops

Review of developmental activities along the coast lineEmphasis on non polluting, non exploitative commercial

ventures which have high employment potential Differences between state and non state actors must be

sorted out to ensure synchronized effortsThe voice of communities needs to be heard