The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has predicted a global sea level rise of about one metre by AD 2100. What would be its impact in India and the other countries in the Indian Ocean region?
1. IPCC projects roughly one metre of
IPCC projects roughly one metre of global sea-level rise by 2100 under high-emission scenarios. Thermal expansion of oceans and melting glaciers and ice sheets are the principal drivers.
2. India’s 7
India’s 7,516-km coastline and low-lying deltas face inundation, erosion and permanent land submergence. Sundarbans and the Mahanadi, Godavari-Krishna and Kaveri deltas are most vulnerable.
3. Coastal erosion accelerates
Coastal erosion accelerates, destroying beaches, mangroves and agricultural land, and displacing coastal communities. Fishing and tourism livelihoods suffer severe losses.
4. Saltwater intrusion contaminates coastal aquifers
Saltwater intrusion contaminates coastal aquifers, degrading groundwater and soil fertility. Drinking water and irrigated agriculture are directly threatened.
5. Megacities like Mumbai
Megacities like Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Kochi face intensified storm surges and coastal flooding. Ports, infrastructure and real estate near coasts face rising damage.
6. Indian Ocean island nations such as
Indian Ocean island nations such as Maldives, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh face existential coastal threats. Some small islands may become uninhabitable within decades.
7. Coral reefs
Coral reefs, mangroves and wetlands suffer bleaching, submergence and biodiversity loss across the Indian Ocean. Fisheries and marine ecosystems decline, hurting regional food security.
8. Adaptation demands coastal protection
Adaptation demands coastal protection, mangrove bio-shields and resilient urban planning. Mitigation keeps warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius to limit irreversible sea-level rise.
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