We all always crave for social, political as well as for
economic justice at some point of our lives, if not always. This is quite
natural, since these issues are the burning issues in our lives. But, we hardly
think that a day will come when we all, irrespective of caste, religion, nation
and even economic status will have to raise our voice for Climate justice.
Unfortunately, those who are least responsible for the changing climate across
the world are falling prey and also the most sufferers of the changing climate.
As popularly described, Climate Justice is a vision to
dissolve and alleviate the unequal burdens on the people as a consequence of climate
change. It is a movement that emphasizes non-violent direct action and public
education to mobilize for effective and just solutions to the burning climate
crisis. It aims to offer fair treatment to all people without any kind of
discrimination while creating and supporting policies and projects addressing the
ill effects of climate change and the
systems that create climate change.
Global Climate Change mainly
affects the poor indigenous communities, immensely affecting their financial as
well as health condition. All human beings have equal right to live and work in
a healthy environment. The delicate balance between sea, air and land is
greatly threatened by various human induced climate changes and so we need to
fight against this menace together.
Sundarban, the largest delta in
the world, is one of the worst affected areas by global climate changes. The
negative impacts of climate change like extreme natural disasters, heat related
illness and death, spreading of infectious diseases, increasing energy costs
are fast affecting the coastal communities living here. So, it has also become
an ethical issue as these worst affected people are least responsible for the
changes in climatic conditions. It is their right and our duty to provide them
environmental justice along with social justice.
The problem of Indian Sundarban
will not only affect the coastal community per se, but it will have its effect
on the people living in nearby metro cities including Kolkata. As a direct
effect of Global warming and consequent sea level rise, mangrove islands of
Sundarban are under considerable erosion. Added to this, consistent and
continuous people’s interference has already destroyed a large number of
deltaic mangroves. As a result, the mangrove forest of Sundarban has become sparse
and that way weaker to protect against the cyclones and storms. If this trend of
destruction of mangroves continues, the city of Kolkata lying near the Bay of
Bengal, will soon face the wrath of huge storms as it will intensify
potentially and millions will be affected considerably. Rising sea level will
lead to higher tides along the adjoining Hooghly River and thus welcoming a
dreaded danger of frequent flooding within the city. So, time has now come when
we have to decide and take appropriate actions and steps to keep the ecologically
rich Sundarbans in the map and save the people of Kolkata and as also those
living in Sundarbans.
Climate change and the rising sea
level has already taken toll on two islands of Sundarbans - Supari Bhanga and
Lohachara Islands, which have been submerged into the sea. More than 60% of
another island, namely Ghoramara, has been eroded out due to stronger waves and
river current, also an effect of sea level rise. The homeless inhabitants of
these islands have migrated to Sagar Island and they are the environmental
refugees now working as landless labourers.
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| Flood affected Sundarban in the mid of 2014 |
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| Flood affected Sundarban in the mid of 2014 |
According to a recent report of
the School of Oceanographic Studies, Jadavpur University with World Wide Fund for
Nature (WWF), approximately one million people would turn climate change
refugees by the year 2050 if the present condition persists. This is an
alarming indication for all of us to be prepared for the upcoming worst
situation in near future.
Climate Change is now affecting our environment, social
routines as well as our daily lives directly or indirectly. Considering all these
issues, SEED (Society for Socio Economic and Ecological Development) has joined
hands with people of different strata to make it a bigger joint mission through
a forum titled “People’s Alliance for
Climate Justice Network in Sundarban’’ to create awareness about climate
change and its effects and how can we adapt in a changed scenario to save our
life and livelihood through adaptation and at the same time to take part in
mitigation measures also.
On 6th October, 2014, SEED invited some environment
scientists, social workers, artists, doctors, students from various districts
of West Bengal and several CBOs (Community Based Organizations), Sundarban
coastal community members, who are the greatest sufferer of the coastal climate
change effects. The aim of bringing people of all strata together under this
forum was to create a Climate Justice Network in West Bengal, with main focus on
Sundarban coastal region. Dr. Kalyan Acharya, Vice President of SEED, who is
also a renowned physician and social activist, addressed the gathering and
explained the importance of creating a Climate Justice network in the state.
The cultural performance of the students which included many songs and poems on
environment and Sundarban was well appreciated by the audience. It is a matter
of great pride that the songs and poems were all composed by Dr. Acharya himself.
The students also shared their thought about environment and their
understanding about climate change. Nevertheless to mention that It is
absolutely necessary to involve the student community to this Network as they
are the future generation who will take care of the environment and will also
motivate their families in doing the same.
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| Children are performing at the event |
The aim of this Network will be to strengthen and promote the
environmental rights of the indigenous as well as the affected coastal people
and to fight the climate crisis together. A regional movement will be started which
will later join and culminate into a national as well as international movement
for climate justice. It aims to encourage people at all level to take urgent
action so as to work together for mitigating the disastrous climate change.
Sundarban, which has been declared as the World Heritage site
by United Nations, is extremely rich in flora and fauna and is an ecological
hotspot. It is extremely popular in international level for wildlife
biodiversity. Unfortunately, the changing climate is taking its toll on the
mesmerizing biodiversity of the 104 islands of Sundarban too. The Climate
Justice Network will highlight these issues and will make aware local people
about the same and motivate them to protect their surrounding biodiversity.
For a complete and systematic transformation of the society,
the core socio economic, political as well as ecological issues will be
addressed to improve our understanding of the climate crisis. Without any specific
political inclination and bias, the Network will work peacefully towards these
goals.
It was indeed a pleasure to have renowned professional
painter and installation artist Mr. Rupchand Kundu at the event. One of the themes
of his works, namely ‘In search of Nature’, took him to the coastal Sundarban. Mr.
Kundu has been creating awareness among the general masses through his artistic
works with ecofriendly materials. He aims to take back people closer to the
nature again who are knowingly or unknowingly constantly destroying the
richness of the Mother Nature. He gave a clear message to the admirers of his
work that we should avoid using non-degradable items while preparing our art
works and most importantly nature is the most beautiful thing which we should
protect with all efforts.
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| Mr. Rupchand Kundu with other participants at the event |
With
everyone’s support and insistence, Mr. Rupchand Kundu was declared as the
Convenor of this forum “People’s
Alliance for Climate Justice Network in Sundarban’’.
Mr. Bhabananda Chatterjee, Director of SEED, discussed on the
adverse effects of climate change in Sundarban and how we can fight it together
in organized manner. He requested everyone to be a part of different awareness
programmes which the organization is going to start very soon. The social
activists and environment scientists present on the occasion pledged to
contribute on their part to aware people about the dreaded effects of climate
change and their bleak future in the backdrop of climate change. The general
masses will also be motivated to participate in various programmes for
effective adaptation and mitigation of the climate change, which is going to
affect their locality, life and also livelihood very dearly in near
future.
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| Mr. Bhabananda Chatterjee addressing at the event |
It was proposed and resolved that SEED with the help of the
local social activists and environmentalists will organize school level
awareness campaigns at various parts of Sundarban. Later, this will be taken to
other districts of West Bengal and more people will be associated with this
Climate Action Network in West Bengal. This will be open to people of all
strata starting from students to professionals who have keen interest and zeal
to work for the Climate Justice in their localities.
Professor Jyotiranjan Naskar, President of SEED as also former
Head, Department of Zoology, Sreerampur College, who has been working in the
field of biodiversity conservation since last two decades, presided over the
programme. He shared his valuable experiences of working in the field of
biodiversity conservation with the audience. He remarked that the biodiversity
conservation and fighting against climate change are interrelated since both
the issues affect each other. He also pointed out that the Climate change is
already forcing biodiversity to adapt either through shifting habitat, changing
life cycles, or the development of new physical traits and in extreme case, get
extinct. Mr. Naskar added that biodiversity can support efforts to reduce the
negative effects of climate change also. So, if we conserve surrounding
biodiversity, it will automatically add to our efforts for reduction of climate
change effects.
It is an initiative to provide a platform to all
environmentally conscious people to work for its protection. We hope this will
motivate others to protect and act for saving their surrounding environment
which as a result will help in the mitigation of global climate change in the
coming years. We welcome people of all sections to join hands with us in this
mission to save our climate and our people. Recently, Indian government has
also reconstituted its Climate Change Panel and started active involvement at
the global level. So, we can hope for a better policy in the coming days to
fight against the climatic menace.
