Climate Change
- Vulnerability and needed flows in Manipur -

Amar Yumnam *

In order to feel the impact of climate change we need not have to think of the global warming scenario and the debates surrounding it. Climate change in Manipur is already so real and salient that the entire population of the State, whether in the valley or the mountains, have already started feeling the consequences of decline in climate quality.

Climate Quality: When we talk of climate quality and climate change in Manipur, we necessarily have to think of the forests, the mountains and the people living in and around them. The decline in environmental quality in Manipur necessarily impacts upon the people living in the mountains first and foremost.

Addressing the Climate Change in Manipur: The above reality implies the necessity of thinking contextually to address the pains of climate change in Manipur. Indeed climate change is one aspect of change where the interventions are to be done locally while the impact is felt globally.

This local intervention in Manipur to address climate change involves action at least three things. First, we have to think of action for adaptation to climate change. Secondly, we have to provide for financial resources to implement the interventions. Thirdly, we need to identify the priority areas.

Let me take up the third aspect first. Addressing climate change involves much more than climate related interventions as such. We have always to accompany the interventions with the livelihood and human security dimensions of human existence.

In other words, we have to identify the most vulnerable groups of population threatened by climate change pressures. In the case of Manipur, without going much into the dynamics of it, we can pronounce that the most vulnerable group of population consequent upon climate change are in variably the mountain people. Any instrument for addressing climate change has to be accompanied by elements for improving upon the livelihood opportunities of the people in the mountain areas of the land.

Then we have to enhance the adaptive capacity of the mountain people to the climate change impacts. This calls for adjustments in the livelihood practices, processes or structures of the mountain people. It also speaks of the capacity to moderate, offset or take advantage of the climate change taken place.

All these however depend upon the socio-economic status, technological level and infrastructure scenario of the mountain areas. We are already well aware of the low level of socio-economic status of the mountain areas. This further implies the low level of technology prevailing in the mountains. The same thing is true for all social and economic infrastructures existing or not existing in these areas.

These realities take us to the necessity of transferring funds to the mountain areas in order to enhance their adaptive capabilities, improve upon the existing infrastructure and technological levels. This transfer of funds to the mountain areas is a very tricky problem politically in two senses.

First it requires a shared vision, shared by both valley and mountains, for a common future. Secondly, since Manipur does not have the richness of resources to affect this needed transfer, we have necessarily to look for alternative sources of funds.

Having identified the above two critical aspects of an intervention policy for Manipur, we can now spell out the strategies needed of us so that the interests of the most vulnerable groups in the land are served while addressing the climate change impacts. To begin with, both the valley and the mountains need to evolve a vision for a shared future without further delay.

The tangential articulations of issues of the last two decades or so have not in any case served the interests of the vulnerable groups. We have to leave behind our fractionalisation thoughts for a more common future, which alone can address the climate change issues confronting the State.

As regards finance for technological change and infrastructure intervention to enhance the adaptive capability of the people in the mountains, we have to articulate and sincerely put forth before the world the necessity of funds being flowed into the mountain areas of the land in the interest of reducing and ultimately offsetting the negative impacts of climate change here as well as globally.

In fact, the future of Manipur lies only in retaining the quality of her climate.