Three dust storms in a span of 30 days
Unseasonal rains
Destruction of seasonal crops
Dust particles in the air
Rising cases of viral fever
Blatant tree felling
Unplanned urban infrastructure
Unprecedented heat in February
Readers, you can add to the list.
The impact of climate change has just raised its ugly fang in the commercial capital of India!
Mumbai has witnessed three dust-storms in the last month. The main reason for the the dust-storms was the dust winds that blew from southern Pakistan and the Arabian Sea. It is also a clear indication of the conflict between man and nature.
Alarm bells?
While the current developments ring an alarm bell and are a warning for Mumbaikars to take note of rapid developments in our city. Do not get me wrong. I completely support urban infrastructure because I have witnessed first-hand the positive role it plays in the day-to-day lives of Mumbaikars. Take the Metro network for example or the expanding railway network.
All the same, declining AQI, rising sea levels, heatwaves and dust-storms too are a reality—monsters we have to face, whether we like it or not. Turning our heads away from the problem cannot suffice. We cannot allow natural disasters to rule our lives. We do deal with one every monsoon—but the heavy downpour and water logging is not a result of climate change—but a manmade disaster led by arrogance, ignorance and shoddy work.
And yet, heatwaves and drastic changes in temperatures are clear indicators of how carbon emissions, greenhouse gases are adding to climate change and impacting not just the human lives, but marine lives and biodiversity as well.
The fix:
The present fix needs collective action. At its end, the government has set a target to make Mumbai Net Zero by 2050—20 years ahead of the national goal!
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)—our watchguard too has developed a policy document: Towards a Climate Resilient Mumbai as part of the Mumbai Climate Action Plan (MCAP).
The government and the city administration have the right intent. The target is ambitious, but achievable. Urban infrastructure will continue to expand as the city embraces more migrants and integrates them into the mainstream. Our social fabric is being stretched to the limit, is shrinking, but will never break!
I love this chaos that gives us our distinctive character. But what am I doing for my city? All it takes are small deeds. For instance, setting a timer for the AC; minimizing the use of plastic and reuse or recycle it wherever possible, e-waste and waster conservation. These are individual deeds. I want to contribute to all endeavors that retain the old flavor of Amchi Mumbai and at the same time, am excited to see what the futuristic Mumbai looks like.
BUT NOT AT THE COST OF HER PEOPLE AND HER SWABHIMAAN!!!