Experts warn of ‘climate refugees’

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Rise in temperature by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius will result in Kerala witnessing large-scale influx of ‘climate refugees’ from the coastal areas to the hinterlands, say experts. According to the ‘Thiruvananthapuram Declaration’ adopted by the Policy Makers’ Consultation on ‘Effective Community Management of Agro-biodiversity in an Era of Climate Change,’ organised under the aegis of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) here on Tuesday, any significant rise in temperature will present ‘mega threats’ to Kerala’s food and water security systems and, if the increase in temperature is by 2 degrees Celsius, there will be a one to two metre rise in mean seal level during the current century posing serious threat to the lives and livelihoods of coastal communities.
The declaration pointed out that besides posing serious threats to the coastal ecosystems and mineral wealth, an increase in temperature will affect production and productivity of plantation crops such as coffee, tea, spices and rubber and annual crops such as rice. Change in precipitation will cause drought, flood and soil erosion and result in decrease in soil fertility. It will also affect adversely Kerala’s forest biodiversity and medicinal plant wealth, disrupt ecosystem services and trigger a spurt in vector-borne diseases in plants, animals and humans. The day-long consultation, attended by experts from different parts of India and various major institutions in the State, felt that the State must go in for both anticipatory research using advanced technologies and participatory research involving local communities, including tribal communities. Even as it painted a gloomy picture, the declaration noted that Kerala had what was needed to become a world leader in managing the consequences of rise in sea level as it had experience in cultivating rice in below sea level conditions in the Kuttanad area, a biodiversity paradise in flora and fauna. Inaugurating the consultation chaired by MSSRF chairman M.S. Swaminathan, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan hoped that the deliberations would help the State find answers to the major challenges arising from climate change.
Source: The Hindu, Dated: 6.01.2010