Impact of global warming sooner than expected
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: April 20, 2023 -

THE hot weather condition gripping most parts of the state, the plains in particular, should leave nothing to doubt that Manipur too will inevitably face the effect of drastic climate change or global warming sooner than expected.

Compared to some 10-15 years back when the state had pleasant weather condition even during the summer months, normal monsoon and winter seasons devoid of extreme chilly condition; the state has been frequently experiencing flash floods, devastating landslides and temperatures soaring above the normal level in the last few years, all indicating that the adverse impact of climate change is already looming in the state.

Prior to the landslide in Noney district in late June last year that claimed the lives of over 50 and left scores injured, Manipur hadn't witnessed natural disasters of such a devastating scale though landslides used to occur during the rainy seasons.

However, the crisis of water shortage faced in February-March and the current heat condition are tell-tale signs of not only the global warming phenomenon but also intensity of the damage caused to the natural environment due to large scale clearance of forests.

While periodical incidents of landslides and flash floods are direct fallout of irresponsible anthropogenic activities, even more worrisome was the report that rainfall abundant northeast India recorded lowest rainfall in July last, one of the wettest months, in 122 years.

Such extreme weather conditions make is clear that the day is not far off when degradation of the natural environment-would be unsparing to all, the underprivileged section of the society in particular.

For instance, as temperatures surge so will the demand for cooling system, which majority of the state's population could not afford.

In a state like ours where two-thirds of the population are daily wagers and struggle for two square meals a day cooling devices from the most basic to the advanced systems are a luxury items available only to a few.

Apart from the perspective of expensiveness, many poor and marginalised communities must venture out of home for sustenance, thereby making them more vulnerable to extreme heat than the middle or elite class.

Moreover, aggravation of the global warming phenomenon also poses threat tafood security and public health security as such harsh condition will entail existence of reliable cold chain network, which the state is bereft of at this juncture, for transporting or storage of both food and pharmaceutical goods.

With the state's food crop production nowhere near the level of meeting the demand, it's obvious that prevalence of extreme heat will spoil the local fresh produce.

With the forest rejuvenation process, including eviction drives in reserved and protected forest areas encountering fierce resistant from certain section of the population, making no significant progress it could be safely stated that hoping for return of the pleasant weather will remain a wishful thinking.

As such few of the options left for at-least slowing down impending extreme weather condition and mitigate associated discomfort is to stop unrestrained denudation of the hill ranges, plant trees abundantly across the state, expeditiously execute rain water harvesting projects, effectively prevent logging and ensure undisrupted power supply.