Though a rise of 20C in average temperature may appear to be small, it would result in a rise of one meter in sea levels by early next century. This would affect large portions of our coastal areas and millions of people would have to be shifted. They would lose their livelihood.
Nearly 200 squatter families living in Nonadanga in east Kolkata for the past few years are in the process of being evicted by the Kolkata Metropoliton Development Authority(KMDA). Many of the families came to Kolkata in search of work, after the 'Alia super-cyclone'ravaged Sundarbans in 2009.
On March 30, the slum was bulldozed amid heavy police presence and some hutments were set on fire. The recurrent thunderstorms over the past few days have meant sleepless and soiled nights for nearly 700 people who have been rendered homeless. They work as house helps, rickshaw pullers and construction labourers.
The other affect would be on rainfall. This is likely to be more erratic and lead to greater imbalances: some places are likely to receive excess rainfall whereas others would get less than normal. Hence droughts and floods are expected to increase. This would affect the agriculture pattern and people's livelihood to a great extent.
| Imagine how one would cope with the situation if millions of people were affected. Where would you find land for resettlement? What jobs would they do? |
The faster melting of Hima- layan glaciers would disturb the live- lihood of fresh water fisher folk as their natural habitat of fish is af- fected. Similarly, freak weather con- ditions that you read about are likely to increase. Climate change is something that happens at a global level.Therefore, it affects all of us.