‘Climate change’ is a global problem. How India will be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India will be affected by climate change? (15 Marks)

Climate change combines rising temperatures, altered rainfall, extremes and sea-level rise; India’s large population and climate-sensitive livelihoods make it highly vulnerable.

India-wide effects

• Heat stress, changing monsoons, floods, droughts and reduced agricultural productivity.
• Water insecurity, vector-borne disease, livelihood loss, migration and damage to infrastructure.
• Higher disaster risk for poor households and stress on energy demand.

Himalayan states

Glacier retreat, glacial-lake outburst floods, landslides, erratic snowfall and ecosystem shifts threaten hydropower, roads, springs, agriculture and mountain communities.

Coastal states

Sea-level rise, cyclones, storm surges, saline intrusion, coastal erosion and warming seas threaten cities, deltas, fisheries, mangroves and ports.

Response

Combine mitigation with climate-resilient infrastructure, early warning, ecosystem restoration, heat action plans, climate-smart agriculture and locally planned adaptation.

Keywords: climate change; Himalayan ecology; coastal vulnerability.