Climate change is real and it’s happening right now
One easy and effective way to bring down global warming is to increase green cover
Gowhar Fayaz
Climate change is the biggest environment emergency that the earth faces today. This inevitable disaster has multitude of serious implications for both the environment and human Society. The climate change has very serious repercussions on the economy as we still are an agricultural economy.
Agriculture and its allied sectors are the mainstay of Jammu and Kashmir’s economy providing livelihood opportunities for 70% of its population and contributing around 27% to its income.
During the last few years because of climate change there has been dismal production of paddy every year and farmers of different areas of valley are adopting horticulture as an alternate source.
Agriculture and its production or output has been always at the mercy of unpredictable weather, but a rapidly changing climate is making agriculture production an even more vulnerable enterprise.
With change in rainfall pattern, farmers feel dual threats from flooding and droughts. Both extremes can destroy food crops. The changing climate will create havoc in future. With increasing water crisis, population explosion and climate change, the import of grains is going to be an uphill task in future and will further widen the already stressed fiscal deficit.
According to news reports the western Himalayan regions comprising Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh could heat up to catastrophic level by end of the century due to climate change. This phenomenon will have a far reaching impact on one of our most prized possessions and that is glaciers.
Increase in temperature will increase in melting of glaciers. The places in Kashmir like Gulmarg and Pahalgam where one feels cold even in July or August will no longer be a reality.
The temperature climate zone in Kashmir might not exist by end of the century. Rise in the global temperature have been accompanied by changes in weather and climate. Many places have seen change in rainfall resulting in flooding or droughts. Over the past century human activities have released large amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
The majority of greenhouse gases are coming from burning of fossil fuels, industrial processes and other disastrous activities. These gases act like blanket around the earth trapping energy in its atmosphere and causing it to warm up to alarming levels.
The warmer it gets the worse climate will be. In Kashmir we have highest per capita water availability. But as per, the projections, we will have to face water crisis. Water will be rationalized as the availability reduces by end of the century.
The projections also show a harsh impact on agriculture, horticulture and tourism sectors. We are rice eating people; we might have to start importing rice. Similarly the winter Tourism might reduce because of little snow and summer tourism might also reduce because of too little rain and warm temperatures.
We have to keep in mind how climate change has already impacted us over the past few hundred years. If we allow this situation, 84% of our glaciers will not be there. As a matter of fact, Kashmir which used to produce sufficient agriculture produce like rice or wheat will now meagerly produce cereals.
Kashmir will have be dependent on imports for all its food requirements and every bit of food which the people of Kashmir will consume will be coming from the neighbouring states.
Though climate change is a global phenomenon but our actions now will help it reduce its impact on human civilizations. We need to act, both globally as well as locally.
One easy and effective way to bring down global warming is to increase green cover. Development is okay, but we need to strike a balance between the environment and fulfilling our developmental needs. We can take the lesson from Bhutan or from Japan as both the countries have 68% of their geographical areas under green cover.
(The writer is a student)
KV Network
