A Milestone Amidst Climate Crisis

We at WriteCanvas are thrilled to celebrate a milestone – our 50th newsletter!

But even as we celebrate, the news about climate crisis casts a dense shadow.

June marked one of the hottest months ever recorded, adding to a concerning year of rising temperatures worldwide. Globally, the last 11 months consistently recorded above-normal or warmer temperatures.

The goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius to the pre-industrial levels seems to be slipping further away, with temperatures consistently exceeding that benchmark. This isn’t just a number on a graph; it’s a stark sign of the URGENCY.

A Reality Check:

The first ten days of July alone have delivered a brutal wake-up call.

The delayed monsoon progression in June raised alarm bells across the agricultural sector, the economy, and the government.

Ten days in July, we are seeing intense rains. Mumbai in the past few days reported severe flooding. While the financial capital has been ravaged by floods, elsewhere in the country, chaos continues with landslides, earthquakes, overflowing rivers, and erosion eating away coastlines. The list is long and unforgiving.

The impact isn’t limited to the regions we traditionally associate with climate vulnerability – Maharashtra, Kerala, Goa, or the Northeast. Even Rajasthan, historically considered drier has also joined the flooding region list.

This calls for a mindset shift.

In multiple blogs, we have highlighted the urgent need for preparedness, resilience building, and increasing awareness. These are all crucial steps. But the situation demands a more fundamental shift. The stories and experiences shared by those affected by climate change, particularly women who are often the most vulnerable raise a troubling question: Are we transitioning from charting a course of resilient action or simply surrendering to the circumstances?

Here’s what we can do, both individually and collectively:

Let us concentrate on reducing our carbon footprint, opt for public transport, use energy-efficient appliances, and adopt a more sustainable lifestyle. Support sustainable businesses by choosing companies and products that are environmentally responsible and ethical. Accountability while implementing climate change solutions must be a priority. Talk to your friends, family, and community about the importance of climate action.

Hope and Action:

Despite the challenges, I refuse to believe that I am surrendering to the circumstances.

This is a battle we must fight, and win.

But victory hinges on our collective action.

We can’t afford complacency or skepticism any longer.

Pledge with WriteCanvas: Sustainability as a Way of Life

We at WriteCanvas pledge to make sustainability a cornerstone of our work. We will continue to amplify the voices of those on the frontlines of climate change and advocate for solutions. But change starts at home. We urge each of you to join us in this fight. Make small changes in your daily lives. Join our campaign.

Climate action is no longer an option, it’s a necessity.

Together, let’s write a new chapter for our planet!!!

This year’s World Environment Day feels different. The usual buzz is evolving into something more powerful – a collective voice for change. WriteCanvas, founded with the goal of fostering a positive climate narrative, this very shift, is heartened by these positive developments.

For example, newspapers are not just quoting celebrities but writing articles about how they are reducing their carbon footprint. I am happy to note that these celebs are genuinely advocating environmental protection and reduced carbon footprints, over paid endorsements. Similarly, the advertising industry is changing. Sustainability has found centre space in this segment. Real estate companies too are developing a green narrative as they announce new green projects whether commercial or residential.

These are steps in the right direction. However, there’s still room for improvement. While using plants and vertical gardens is a welcome move, some real estate companies still use excessive plastic and artificial plants for a “green” aesthetic (think vertical gardens made of plastic stacked on walls, which are noticed in some Mumbai malls).

However, the wider inclusion of green elements in conversations, advertisements, and celebrity statements is a welcome move.

WriteCanvas has been at the forefront of this narrative shift, facilitating discussions across various platforms, industry bodies, government forums, and community groups. We emphasize collective action, aiming to connect siloed efforts into a collaborative network grid. This World Environment Day, we have decided to emphasize not just on the policies, but the execution and impact of these policies on projects and people.

The biggest hurdle?

The biggest hurdle we’ve faced is lack of awareness and unpreparedness among stakeholders. Climate disasters are on the rise, with casualties now extending beyond rain/cyclone/hurricane-related incidents. Heatwaves, wildfires, and droughts are becoming increasingly common.

In India alone, 2024 has seen 165 heatwave casualties, and summer hasn’t even peaked in the hottest regions. This follows close to 200 climate deaths in India during 2023. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Asia remained the most disaster-prone region in 2023 due to extreme weather, climate, and water hazards.

The Need: Grassroots Action and Informed Communities

The crucial next step is driving the message to the grassroots. We need to prepare communities for climate-related disasters and ensure well-equipped administrations can respond effectively.

Here’s why this is crucial:

Why Focus on Grassroots?

Women Bear the Brunt: Women are disproportionately affected by climate disasters.

The double-edged sword: Lack of awareness can trap them in such situations.

The Power of Celebrities and Sports Figures:

Public figures can leverage mass psychology to drive climate awareness campaigns. Given their influence, celebrities and sports stars can be powerful advocates. They can champion climate action and drive impactful campaigns.

WriteCanvas’ Commitment: Leading the Green Talk

On this World Environment Day, WriteCanvas reiterates our commitment to shaping a positive climate narrative. We’re developing a physical and interactive platform – a community space for sharing best practices, training programs for green skill development. We will continue to lead the green conversations. We’re truly connecting the green dots…

In the last 30 days, we have seen floods in Hong Kong, Greece, Spain, India, Brazil, Bulgaria, Turkey, Oman, Guatemala, Mexico, Libya… The list continues.

While the world is busy pointing fingers at climate change, I am also noticing an alarming scare! Lack of potable drinking water in the climate disaster-affected areas. Take the case of Libya, for example. The death toll in the African country is reported to have crossed 11,000. What’s worse, the living face a severe potable water crisis.

Alarming data:

According to a UN SDG Indicator 2021 summary:

2.3 billion people live in water-stressed countries
26% of the world’s population lacked safely managed drinking water

According to UNICEF:

Four billion people — almost 2/3 of the world’s population — experience severe water scarcity for at least one month each year.
Half of the world’s population could live in areas facing water scarcity by 2025.
Some 700 million people could be displaced by intense water scarcity by 2030.
By 2040, roughly 1 in 4 children worldwide will be living in areas of extremely high water stress.

So far, the water crisis has been highlighted during droughts, dry spells and increased temperature levels. But drought is not the lone cause of water scarcity. Natural calamities, including floods, wipe out or contaminate water bodies and change water cycle patterns. The water scarcity in Libya is not an isolated case. The entire world will bear the brunt as the intensity and frequency of floods has increased.

Contextually, dramatic weather events over the last few years have brought about catastrophic changes in the lives of the people-especially at risk are women, children and vulnerable communities.

As per the UNICEF data, around 74% of natural disasters between 2001 and 2018 were water-related, including droughts and floods. The frequency and intensity of such events are only expected to increase with climate change.

And children bear the maximum brunt. “Water and sanitation-related diseases are one of the leading causes of death in children under 5 years old. Every day, over 1000 children under 5 years die from diseases linked to inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene,” the authors noted in the report.

The report further said that by 2040, almost 1 in 4 children will live in areas of extremely high water stress.

Yet another vulnerable sector, the women, also bear the impact. Historically, we have seen women struggling to fetch drinking water and water for hygiene and sanitation. When climate eventualities are on the rise, their struggles increase manifold. It is time we look at ways to address the water crisis.

Water and sanitation become very critical in a flood-affected area. Transporting potable water for daily use, reviving the water bodies and cleanzing the contaminated water infrastructure after a natural disaster is crucial. Till now, these were not the areas of focus. I think it is time for us to dig deep into this crisis and better manage our water resources.

In recent times, humanity has found itself in an incessant battle against the wrath of natural calamities, exacerbated by the escalating impacts of climate change and global warming. Heart-wrenching scenes from various corners of the globe, including India, the United States, Japan, and China, have inundated news outlets over the past couple of weeks. As the adage goes, it often takes a severe impact to provoke genuine concern. However, this year’s natural disasters have surpassed that threshold, compelling us to reflect and take climate action before it is too late.

Sadly, it may already be too late. Had the human race paused and taken sustainable measures earlier, we might have averted the dangerous consequences and climatic volatility we face today. Experts, drawing from historical data, warn that the intensity of disasters may further escalate in the future. I share this belief wholeheartedly.

The pressing question becomes:

How can we limit the impact of these natural disasters and address the underlying issues of sustainability?

Is our collective memory so short-lived that we forget the urgency once we emerge from the aftermath of a calamity?

Do we prefer to remain ignorant or wait for administrative intervention?

What heartens me is witnessing the changing mindset among my peers. Many now openly question whether we are leaving a habitable planet for future generations. Our childhoods were characterized by cleaner surroundings, greener landscapes, and abundant water resources. Today, these natural treasures have become scarce due to climate change and unsustainable practices.

Cloud bursts, torrential rains, floods, landslides, and soaring temperatures experienced during heat waves—I dare to believe that these events are nature’s way of curbing the man-made disasters we have inflicted upon Mother Nature. They serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for global sustainability efforts, climate action, and a commitment to combat climate change.

I rest my case here!

I am eager to participate in constructive conversations and contribute to meaningful change towards a sustainable future.

Tag: floods

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