Kerala State Action Plan on Climate Change: Highlights

Kerala State Action Plan on Climate Change: Highlights

Question: Kerala has recently released the State Action Plan on Climate Change. Provide its main highlights.

- Kerala State Action Plan on Climate Change has found 4 climate change hotspots in the state namely Alappuzha, Palakkad, Wayanad and Idukki districts with more vulnerability to natural assets such as flood and drought while impacting human life as well as biodiversity

- Kerala is severely threatened by climate change

- SAPCC predicts increase in the following due to climate change:

- Increase in frequency plus intensity of forest fires

- Loss of biodiversity and habitat

- Species migration and decline

- Increasing man animal conflict

- New, unfamiliar infections

- Efforts are also on to tap the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change to implement the SAPCC

- Institute for Climate Change Studies at Kottayam will be developed with world class research facilities

- Institute has been allowed funds for studying paleo climate records in high ranges of the state and train functionaries in climate change disaster risk reduction

- Proposal has been set up to establish a mobile lab to monitor GHG emissions and research projects on urban heat islands at Thiruvananthapuram

- Studying the link between climate change and vector borne illnesses is also in process

- ICCS has sought Central Assistance for setting up a GHG monitoring station in Western Ghats and automatic weather stations for recording long term climatic and other environment indicators in mountain, midland and coastal lowland

- Project will be taken up under the National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change

- Entire network covering Kottayam, Palakkad, Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Thrissur districts will be studied to provide data for scientists to assess the following:

- Impact of climate change and human activities on eco system

- Reliable climate change models

- Adaptation and mitigation strategies

Facts and Stats

- As per the current scenario, atmospheric temperature across the state is projected to rise by 2 degree celsius by the year 2050

- Minimum surface temperature in Western Ghats may increase by 2 to 4.5 degree celsius

- Number of rainy days is likely to decrease across the entire Western coast

- If sea level rises by even 1 metre, 169 sq km of coastal region in and around Kochi will be flooded

- Report also estimates paddy production in Kerala would fall by 6% for every degree rise in temperature

- Crops such as coffee, tea, black pepper and cardamon were also likely to be impacted by greater temperature and changing rainfall patterns