NEW DELHI, Jul 8 (IPS) – Cyclones and floods are becoming more frequent in many parts of India, posing a serious threat to the country’s people.
According to global data, India is the second most at-risk country in the world with 390 million people at risk of flooding due to climate change, including 4.9 million fishermen.
“For every boat out at sea, there are at least five to 20 people dependent on it,” said Venkatesh Salagrama, a Kakinada small-scale fisheries expert and independent consultant to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
From 2015 to 2023, Indians have faced the devastating effects of floods and heavy rains (see graph). Among the hardest hit are the ‘sea people’ or fishermen, whose livelihoods are increasingly at risk due to rising temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns.
They are already struggling with the government initiative known as the nationwide ‘Sagarmala Project’, which is a corporate form of coastal land for enhanced use of the sea for the blue economy and port development, which is further depriving them of their coastal land rights. This leaves fishermen’s rights insecure and there is no protective government law. Climate change is worsening their vulnerability and making their worst fears a reality.
For example, recently in December 2023, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh (south Indian coastal states) were hit by Cyclone Mitchaung, which caused widespread flooding. The cyclone brought extreme rainfall, with some parts of coastal Tamil Nadu receiving more rain in a single day than their average annual rainfall, a result of climate change.
Places like Kayalpattinam and Thoothukudi, where the average annual rainfall is 900-950 mm, received more than 1,000 mm in a single day. However, the cyclone was not the direct cause of the floods.
“The floods were mainly caused by human mismanagement. Over-urbanization and development on natural flood plains, combined with inadequate preparedness, worsened the situation. The state government failed to release water from reservoirs and lakes before the cyclone, leading to flooding when the rains arrived,” said S Sridhar, a coastal researcher and research scholar at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.
As a result, homes and roads were flooded, blocking access to many villages and delaying rescue and relief efforts. The state response was hampered by damaged infrastructure, and state and NGO relief efforts were delayed by inaccessible roads and train lines.
Even before the cyclone, fishermen were already suffering as they were unable to go out to sea due to cyclone warnings, which initially resulted in a loss of income. After the cyclone hit, boats anchored in the harbor and along the coastline were flooded and damaged, affecting both small and mechanized boats. Nets and other essential fishing gear were also damaged, resulting in significant financial losses as nets are essential and expensive. The fisher community suffered extensive damage, showing a serious impact on their livelihoods and resources.
Only one fisherman has identified Simhadri as a victim of the cyclone, and according to The New India Express, “Every fisherman in Golapudi has suffered an average loss of Rs 100,000 (about $1,200) as their nets, motors and boats have been damaged and some have drowned. The collector should visit and provide financial assistance.”
There was a significant failure in predicting the extent of the rainfall. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) was ill-prepared for not providing adequate warnings, and the Union blamed the state government and vice versa. The state requested over Rs 5,060 crore from the Union government for flood relief, but received only a fraction of Rs 450 crore. Restrictions such as the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) also limited the ability of NGOs to provide assistance.
“This highlights the need for a more participatory and democratised approach to meteorology, involving fishermen and mariners in modern scientific forecasting methods with their traditional knowledge of the ocean and weather,” S Sridhar added. Also, in terms of preparedness, preemptive measures like releasing water from reservoirs before the cyclone would have mitigated the floods. But the state government has not taken such measures, accusing the IMD of being inadequate in its warnings,” he added.
Sea people, namely fishermen, suffer losses every day and their plight is an obvious candidate for the ‘Loss and Damage Fund’. At COP27 and 28, world leaders recognized the need to support low-income developing countries in their fight against the devastating impacts of climate change.
As a result, the Loss and Damage Fund was created, a financial lifeline aimed at helping vulnerable countries recover from climate-induced natural disasters. A Transition Committee was established to ensure the effective implementation of the Fund, including representatives from 24 developed and developing countries. This collaborative effort underscores the global commitment to addressing the urgent needs of those most affected by climate change.
The attractive aspect of the Loss and Damage Fund is that it recognizes both economic and non-economic losses. Non-economic losses include injuries, loss of life, health, rights, biodiversity, ecosystem services, indigenous knowledge and cultural heritage. Marginalized communities are the areas most affected. For example, economic losses may include lost income due to a heat wave, while non-economic losses may include the displacement of communities from coastal villages due to beach erosion.
This highlights the serious vulnerability of fishers and marine-dependent communities who are severely affected by these environmental changes. Furthermore, some adaptation and response measures are beyond the capacity of fishers, as the economic and social resources available to fishers are limited.
Loss and damage funds may be allocated to the consequences of extreme climate events that are beyond the ability of climate adaptation practices (actions to prepare for and adapt to climate change) to respond, such as loss of life and cultural practices. These complexities make it more difficult for marginalized communities, such as fishermen, to assert their claims and access funds.
Despite these measures, the global response has often been more words than actions. Experts argue that the amount pledged is woefully inadequate, amounting to less than 0.2% of what developing countries need. The Loss and Damage Financial Environment report estimates that it is at least $400 billion a year. In response, members of the Transition Commission for developing countries have proposed that the fund should allocate at least $100 billion a year by 2030 to meet these urgent needs.
“Loss and damage funds should be considered not only for immediate relief and rescue operations but also for preparedness and knowledge dissemination. A participatory approach to meteorology can enhance forecast accuracy and disaster preparedness. Slow and persistent disasters such as coastal erosion and declining fisheries due to climate change also need attention. Fishermen in various areas have demanded compensation for “fish famine” similar to agricultural famine relief,” Sridhar said.
The Adaptation Gap Report 2023 states that “the lens of justice highlights that loss and damage are not a product of climate hazards alone, but are influenced by differences in vulnerability to climate change. These vulnerabilities are often driven by a range of socio-political processes, including racism and histories of colonialism and exploitation.”
As India continues to battle these extreme weather events, the call for concrete action and equitable solutions is more urgent than ever. The world is watching and waiting. Will the promises of climate justice be fulfilled, or will they remain empty words as the crisis escalates?
This article was published with the support of the Open Society Foundations.
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© Inter Press Service (2024) — All rights reservedOriginal Source: Inter Press Service
