Climate change may even flood Delhi: Experts

The Paris conference on climate change on November 30 and the points to be raised by the Government of India will be significant for the country as well as the national Capital, point out observers tracking the event. 

“India is one of the most vulnerable places to be affected by climate change, the effects of which can already be felt in the rain pattern witnessed recently in Chennai and Bengaluru. India has a coastline spread over 7,500 km, so there will be a greater risk but more importantly it affects the farming sector of our country. Droughts significantly reduce crop yields, thereby leading to price rise,” said Rakesh Kamal, programme officer, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

He added: “Even though the release of carbon footprint of individual in India is less at 1.56 tonnes of carbon dioxide per capita compared with the USA at 15 tonnes, our gross usage because of our population makes us one of the largest emitters in the world.”

Observers said change in the weather pattern experienced in the Capital over the past few years proves that climate change is affecting Delhi.

According to experts, unseasonal rains, high temperature during summers and late setting of winters – all point towards climate change in Delhi. Many point out that in future the city might also witness floods because of the Yamuna’s rising water level. The surge in dengue cases in the city has also been somewhere attributed to the climate change pattern.

According to doctors, the change in climate is also leading to an increase in anti-resistant microbes, which cause severe health ailments. Doctors said swine flu has become an epidemic because of anti-resistant microbes.   

Kamal said: “I am not fully critical of the government towards its not doing anything to address the issue, but I expect it to work even more hard towards promoting clean sources of energy.” 

With respect to Delhi, Kamal adds: “To check climate change, citizens must strive to bring down the air pollution level and should also reduce the usage of biomass fuel.”