New York: The International Panel on Climate Change estimates that by 2050, sea level rise in the Ganges-Brahmaputra- Meghna delta could directly displace more than 10 million people in the region. Â
This year’s World Environment day theme ‘Raise your voice not the sea level’ hopes to bring this issue of rising sea levels to the forefront. Increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inevitably effects the oceans, culminating to the loss of life, property, food and economy.
Celebrated every year, on June 5, the global call for taking action in protecting nature and the planet rings loud and clear. Nowhere is the threat of rising sea level as prominent as it is in Asia, especially for low-lying coastal areas in South and Southeast Asia and small island developing states in the Pacific. Recent events bear witness to the high vulnerability of these regions to storm surges, coastal erosion, flooding, and inundation
The consequences are displaced people, loss of lives and millions of hectares of arable land. South and Southeast Asia accounts for 88% of world’s supply of rice much of which is for domestic consumption, under threat from rising oceans.
Policymakers and communities efforts to reduce such an impact on our world is essential now, more than ever. High impact adaptation measures are also needed to strengthen flood resilience, protect people and assets, and better plan future development in order to deter massive displacement, food insecurity, and damage to infrastructure in this part of the world.
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