Revitalization of Rivers in India Draft Policy - Isha Guru Jaggi Vasudev

Revitalization of Rivers In India
Draft Policy Recommendation
ANNEXURE 3
CLIMATE CHANGE AND BUILDING RESILIENT
COMMUNITIES
Swayamprabha Das, Ph.D. 1
ABSTRACT
Environment being a complex web of functional ecosystems that criss-cross and
interweave across geographic, physical and biological peripheries, it is important
for the communities to protect their livelihoods in the wake of climate change and
emerging climate crisis.
Climate change affects the balance of natural ecosystems (i.e. forests, river basins,
sea level) and socio-economic systems (i.e. agriculture, fisheries, irrigation and
power projects). The impacts arise through changing temperature, precipitation,
rising sea levels, and the increase in the number and intensity of natural disasters.
Such occurrences affect water and food security, and leave behind a long term
impact on agriculture, water resources and sanitation, forests and biodiversity.
Challenges from climate change can be reduced if the communities are supported
with scientific evidence and suitable technological advancement for uptake of
climate adaptive practices.
This paper attempts to present a glimpse of the food-water/river-climate change
nexus from a common man’s perspective. It is important to note that river bank
plantation and horticulture tree plantation are to be understood in the context of
safeguarding the communities at risk from extreme weather conditions that leads
to breakdown of economic-social-cultural fabric.
1. INTRODUCTION: CLIMATE CHANGE, FORESTS AND WATER
Climate change 1 is perhaps emerging as one of the greatest environmental
challenges of the twenty-first century, that is further intensified due to
population growth, economic development and increased demand on the natural
1
Development professional (Policy and programmes) and Isha volunteer
Indian Rivers
359