There is a story in today’s newspaper that so many of major coastal cities in the Asian sub continent might go under water by the year 2050. The cities mentioned are Mumbai, Kolkata, Hongkong, Shanghai, Bangkok, Dhaka, Osaka, Ho Chi Minh City and few more. The main reason cited in the story is that part of these cities are below the high tide level, presently more than 250 million in the world people are living below the high tide levels in these cities, which might increase to 350 millions by the year 2050. 70% of this population live in Asian countries like India, China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Thailand, Bangladesh, Philippines and Japan.
These findings are based upon the research carried by Climate Control , a New Jersey (USA) based organisation, which is a non profit news organisation comprising of scientists and journalists who analyse and report on the climate related issues. This report’s findings are very disturbing for Mumbaikars, as Mumbai city & suburbs are built on series of islands, the southern area of the city is the most vulnerable.
This research report has cautioned the coastal communities worldwide, and suggested that the people living in the coastal cities in Asian region should prepare themselves for much more difficult times in the future than what is anticipated if current trends of greenhouse gas emissions continue. This situation would also imply that huge population would migrate and stay away from hazardous areas, and which in turn will put pressure on economy.
The research team by using artificial intelligence known as neutral networks, has indicated that the present ground elevation is not corrected for a long time, and after correcting ground elevation data of major cities around the world, the estimated rise in correct ground elevations, will leave to serious flooding in the coastal cities. By using this data the research team computed that there will be more people living in these vulnerable zones, than the earlier estimation. As the tide line rises higher than the ground level where people’s home are , nations will increasingly face the questions about whether how much and how long coastal defences can protect them.
This report has taken into consideration that Global population is set to increase by 2 billion by 2050 and will increase by another 1 billion by 2100; majority of population will be forced to adapt and move away from the flooding zone; Global sea levels are projected to rise between 2 and 7 feet; Ice sheets atop Greenland and Antarctica that have shed more than 430 billion tonnes per year over the last decade and since 2006 water line has gone up nearly 4mm a year, a pace that could increase 100 fold by the end of this century, if carbon emissions continue.
Now let us talk about Mumbai (I being Mumbaikar), a city based organisation Conservation Action Trust’s MD commented that findings of this report does not surprise him, as he has been cautioning the govt for last 25 years on this issue. His organisation got a landmark order in 2006 for protection of Mangroves, as the mangroves are frontline defence when it comes to the interface between the land and the sea. He further commented that that it is very apt for our ministers/CM/PM to make statements about climate change at various world level forums, but no action is being taken to tackle this issue.
Now, no wise person knowing that part of city might submerge in water by 2050, will like to go ahead for coastal road in the city. But our so called planners and politicians have gone ahead for coastal road of 10 km costing Rs 13,000 Cr or Rs 4000 Cr on Shivaji’s statue in the island near Mumbai’s coast line. What will be the fate of underground Metro which is going to run from Colaba to Seepz, knowing the southern part of city is the most vulnerable area of the city. Henceforth, any future planning for the city should consider this fact of water rising problem. Some experts have started saying that in the future if this issue really takes a bad turn then it won’t be surprising that present airport and airport being build in Navi Mumbai will be become redundant, so the govt should seriously consider planning of one new additional airport at a place which will be least effected by the water rise.
But do our state govt and Central govt, and people who are controlling them have even iota of idea that this problem may take gigantic form and by then there will not be enough time to tackle this issue. It is high time that the effort should start now so that when the time comes we are ready.
Awaiting for your views/comments/feed backs.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
31st Oct 2019.
There is a story in today’s newspaper that so many of major coastal cities in the Asian sub continent might go under water by the year 2050. The cities mentioned are Mumbai, Kolkata, Hongkong, Shanghai, Bangkok, Dhaka, Osaka, Ho Chi Minh City and few more. The main reason cited in the story is that part of these cities are below the high tide level, presently more than 250 million in the world people are living below the high tide levels in these cities, which might increase to 350 millions by the year 2050. 70% of this population live in Asian countries like India, China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Thailand, Bangladesh, Philippines and Japan.
These findings are based upon the research carried by Climate Control , a New Jersey (USA) based organisation, which is a non profit news organisation comprising of scientists and journalists who analyse and report on the climate related issues. This report’s findings are very disturbing for Mumbaikars, as Mumbai city & suburbs are built on series of islands, the southern area of the city is the most vulnerable.
This research report has cautioned the coastal communities worldwide, and suggested that the people living in the coastal cities in Asian region should prepare themselves for much more difficult times in the future than what is anticipated if current trends of greenhouse gas emissions continue. This situation would also imply that huge population would migrate and stay away from hazardous areas, and which in turn will put pressure on economy.
The research team by using artificial intelligence known as neutral networks, has indicated that the present ground elevation is not corrected for a long time, and after correcting ground elevation data of major cities around the world, the estimated rise in correct ground elevations, will leave to serious flooding in the coastal cities. By using this data the research team computed that there will be more people living in these vulnerable zones, than the earlier estimation. As the tide line rises higher than the ground level where people’s home are , nations will increasingly face the questions about whether how much and how long coastal defences can protect them.
This report has taken into consideration that Global population is set to increase by 2 billion by 2050 and will increase by another 1 billion by 2100; majority of population will be forced to adapt and move away from the flooding zone; Global sea levels are projected to rise between 2 and 7 feet; Ice sheets atop Greenland and Antarctica that have shed more than 430 billion tonnes per year over the last decade and since 2006 water line has gone up nearly 4mm a year, a pace that could increase 100 fold by the end of this century, if carbon emissions continue.
Now let us talk about Mumbai (I being Mumbaikar), a city based organisation Conservation Action Trust’s MD commented that findings of this report does not surprise him, as he has been cautioning the govt for last 25 years on this issue. His organisation got a landmark order in 2006 for protection of Mangroves, as the mangroves are frontline defence when it comes to the interface between the land and the sea. He further commented that that it is very apt for our ministers/CM/PM to make statements about climate change at various world level forums, but no action is being taken to tackle this issue.
Now, no wise person knowing that part of city might submerge in water by 2050, will like to go ahead for coastal road in the city. But our so called planners and politicians have gone ahead for coastal road of 10 km costing Rs 13,000 Cr or Rs 4000 Cr on Shivaji’s statue in the island near Mumbai’s coast line. What will be the fate of underground Metro which is going to run from Colaba to Seepz, knowing the southern part of city is the most vulnerable area of the city. Henceforth, any future planning for the city should consider this fact of water rising problem. Some experts have started saying that in the future if this issue really takes a bad turn then it won’t be surprising that present airport and airport being build in Navi Mumbai will be become redundant, so the govt should seriously consider planning of one new additional airport at a place which will be least effected by the water rise.
But do our state govt and Central govt, and people who are controlling them have even iota of idea that this problem may take gigantic form and by then there will not be enough time to tackle this issue. It is high time that the effort should start now so that when the time comes we are ready.
Awaiting for your views/comments/feed backs.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
31st Oct 2019.
R. N. Mungale.
It is a very serious problem but both state government & central government seem to not recognize the seriousness.