Living with a hotter earth

TR POUDYAL

Global warming, climate change or a hotter earth convey the same thing in terms of its application to the earth and its consequences. This is a happening phenomenon by which each one of us is impacted, and is aware of, but upon which we have a lackadaisical or passive focus to prevent its occurrence, mitigate its effects and bring down its large scale destruction of mother earth’s green raiment and sustain developmental gains.

 We are no more talking about climate change these days but climate crisis, climate emergency, such is the scale of its destructive dimension. No matter how much we develop materially, through different methods and modes, with the latest tools and techniques, applying the most modern knowledge of science and technology the assault by the forces released by changed climatic pattern is found to deluge the high ground gained by humanity, making a sheer mockery of our mammoth and monumental developmental edifices.

The beautiful rows of high rise buildings, transport roads network and communications, swathes of green farmlands, and countless human and animals decimating without a trace in a matter of hours under the spell of floods, fires, storms and hurricanes, tsunami and tornado without  differentiating who lives where, East to West,  North to South included, whether it is Americans or Japanese, South Africans or Indians, the effect and impact of the menace of climate change is one and the same viz, throwing mankind into deprivation, despair and despondency and extinguishing the human face from the theatre of earth in the long run.

If the juggernaut of destruction moves with so much force and fury and causes pain and panic to the residents everywhere we must analyse as to who contributes to bringing about such a situation.  It is none other than we through our accelerated zeal and blind pursuit of developmental goals that we want to implement and achieve that have brought us to the brink of dead end to the celebrated and dreamy destination of growth, progress and development.

The Amazon River is reported to be drying, in India river Saraswati has gone hiding, most glacial lakes throughout the world are melting faster than normal, farmlands are producing lower yields, drought and floods are more frequent than before, mountains are falling, land sinking, sliding, drinking water is becoming more scare, pollution levels are rising, Delhi is reeling under its spell, the example is not far off.

Food adulteration, water contamination are common; unheard, unknown diseases and epidemics are appearing due to altered climatic ecosystems. Surprisingly, hotter earth is the prime trigger of all environmental ills and evils. Nothing less, nothing more. So much is happening around us, still we seem to do nothing except to holding summit level meetings around mega cities in the world and decide to do, pledge to do, vow to do something, soon but latch on to the golden pursuit of developmental goals. More developmental loss is occurring than the planned development, without sustainability.

To straighten out theses aberrations and anomalies of climatic derailment there is no single individual, crusader, activist or a group who can handle the mantle. It is a common human agenda. It should resonate from Manipur to Sweden, from Uttarakhand to Brazil from your farmland to the forest, from the urban congestion to the industrial backyard. The covid19 was an eye opener. It taught us how a lethal epidemic can be battled with if we have discipline. We remained indoor throughout and nature outside was free from human shackles for a number of months. It healed, it regenerated, it revived during the rest period. Most of us saw, felt, experienced.

Sikkim is a silent sufferer of this climatic disequilibrium, imbalance. For no fault or role thereof, it is a mute witness to the entire amphitheatre losing its prime, raw nature with developmental wounds and scars.

Our rivers are muddy, dirty; our hills and mountains ravaged by landslides and shorn of beauty and majesty, brittle and fragile that cave in at the slightest disturbance. Water sources and small streamlets are either drying out or producing less volumes. And where are our dharas, natural spring water? Between Rangpo and Ranipool there might have been a dozen such water bodies. Where are they now? Elders and old timers may recollect. The loss of so many of our water sources going dry is a matter of environmental concern. This is a happening phenomenon that acts invisibly killing our principal pillars of environmental security.

Our answer to climate change, will be simple yet effective. Keep Sikkim green both through protection and refilling. Both these aspects are in order here. Existing forest cover is increasing, not declining, according to the Forest Survey of India. Infilling, refilling, regenerating are annual activities being implemented through public participation and the government. Sikkim has a major forest cover as its principal land use.

So much so. Domestically speaking. In fact, in 2011 when a massive earthquake hit the Sikkim hills, the damage was minimal and one of the reasons stated by seismologists from University of Ranchi was the presence of a thick forest cover. In spite of our house being in order climatically we fear the external factors to despoil our equilibrium.