The biggest impact of climate change is likely to be felt along the coastlines across the world. Given that India has a very long coastline, examine the potential impact of climate change in the Indian coasts. (200 words)
Refer – The Indian Express
Enrich the answer from other sources, if the question demands.
Shankaranand 6 years
Please Review
Thank You
IAS Parliament 6 years
Good
work. Keep writing.
IAS Parliament 6 years
KEY POINTS
· With a nearly 7,500-km coastline, India has a lot to worry.
Impacts on Indian coasts
· Rising sea levels will likely reshape the coastlines and potentially inundate or even submerge many low-lying areas.
· Stronger wave currents induce greater transport of coastal sediment and it eventually results in shoreline erosion and led to overall coastal vulnerability.
· Winds are likely to intensify which will likely result in greater attack on our beaches, and coasts in the future.
· Sea-level rise and storm surges would lead to –
a) saltwater intrusion in the coastal areas contaminate drinking water, and possibly causing a rise in diarrhoea cases and cholera outbreaks, as the cholera bacterium survives longer in saline water.
b) impacting agriculture and aquaculture through decline in soil and water quality and inundation
· Loss of property and coastal habitats, damages to infrastructure
· Loss of tourism, recreation and transportation functions
· Degradation of coastal ecosystems, especially wetlands and coral reefs would result in loss of biodiversity, and also has serious implications for the well-being of the societies dependent on it for goods and services.
· Climate change will further complicate the challenges by affecting the productivity and thereby livelihood of marine fishery dependent communities.
· This can have far-reaching implications for the efforts to safeguard our coasts.
Way Ahead
· India is in the process of preparing a comprehensive vulnerability map of its coastline, which will be used to finalise a coastal zone management plan.
· Many more studies & using new and sophisticated climate models to be undertaken for a better assessment of the potential impacts.
· Until then, coastal embankments will need to be built where necessary and Coastal Regulation Zone codes need to be enforced strictly.
Abhishek Dandriyal 6 years
Kindly review.
IAS Parliament 6 years
Well diversified answer. Maintain word limit. Keep writing.
Shankaranand 6 years