Climate Justice Network in West Bengal initiated by SEED

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.

Flood affected Sundarban in the mid of 2014

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.

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.

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. 

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.