Kolkata one of the 8 most vulnerable megacities of the world to climate change; IPCC

Kolkata stands extremely vulnerable to future climatic impacts; pointed out the recent UN report on climate change that has sounded “dire warning about the consequences of inaction” to curtail carbon emission across the world.

An analysis of the 3676 page long final report, Working Group II part of Assessment Report 6 published by Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC), claimed that beyond 2040, climate change may trigger numerous risks and simultaneous occurrence of several climate hazards in coastal cities like Kolkata.

However despite such high climate risk, the city still remains hardly prepared, cautioned the report. “Evidence from Kolkata demonstrates the limitations of resilience plans to address underlying conditions of vulnerability … under-provision of informal settlements, and spatial segregation of the urban poor” said the IPCC report flagging the preparation concern of the city.

City mayor Firhad Hakim admitted high climate risk in the city and vowed to put in place a detailed roadmap to counter the threat. “In the current board, my priority is the environment, particularly climate change, and we plan to prepare a detailed plan soon with help of the experts” said Hakim; but the environmentalists point out that he has to walk his talk about his commitment.

The report has made several references about Kolkata that underline the city’s vulnerability to several climatic risks; as well warn about its lack of resilience in combating those risks.

“Of the eight megacities most vulnerable to disaster-related mortality, seven are in Asia, mainly Tokyo, Osaka, Karachi, Kolkata, Manila, Tianjin, and Jakarta” reads the report adding that the city also features “…among the 20 largest coastal cities with highest flood losses by 2050”. It further points out that out of 13 Asian cities, 9 including Kolkata – Guangzhou, Kolkata, Tianjin, Ho Chi Minh, Jakarta, Zhanjiang, Bangkok, Xiamen, Nagoya – run the “additional risk of subsidence due to sea-level rise and flooding”.

“The number of people exposed to 1-in-100-year storm surge events is highest in Asia … Guangzhou, Mumbai, Shenzen, Tianjin, Ho Chi Minh City, Kolkata, and Jakarta … It is projected that by 2050, without adaptation, the annual losses incurred in these cities will increase to approximately US$32 billion (INR 2.4 lakh crores)” warns the report.

Incidentally a recent report prepared by Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) pointed out that the cyclones, at a country benchmark, are most frequent in South 24 Parganas district, adjoining to city

Incidentally the UN report reminded that “Kolkata lost a substantial portion of its green cover due to Amphan”, and referred to reports that the estimated cost of Amphan triggered loss was around USD13.5 billion (about 1 lakh crores in INR).

The report also highlights the city’s high vulnerability to extreme heat waves and points out that “on average, Kolkata will experience heat equivalent to the 2015 record heat waves every year”. Incidentally, the heat wave killed 2500 people in the country during 2015. The report also states that Kolkata alongside Delhi and Karachi have high drought risk.

Earlier a study undertaken by the British Deputy High commission observed that “the drainage and sewer network in the KMA is sparse and not commensurate with its area of 1,851 km2”.

It also said that “where the network exists, it is mostly comprised of a century-old drainage and sewer system”, adding that “the sewer network in the KMC covers 55 % of the total area”.

“A city like Kolkata, which remains located close to the coast , stands extremely threatened” stated Anjal Prakash, an Indian scientist and the lead author of the chapter on cities; settlement and key infrastructure in the report.

“Significant warming of the Bay of Bengal region caters to the increase of high intensity cyclones in Bengal coast, which, in turn, are likely to affect Calcutta significantly” said Roxy Mathew Koll, a weather scientist and a former author of IPCC report to this reporter.

The city, known for its high malaria and dengue cases, may suffer further as a result of changing climate;. “Incidences of malaria, dengue and other vector borne diseases will increase” stated Chandni Singh, an Indian scientist who was a lead author on Asia chapter as well as contributed on cities.

Scientists point out that the city can still combat the trend if it seeks appropriate solution measures.

“Green & Blue Infrastructure needs to be conserved in Kolkata. While green infrastructure (urban greenery) will help the city in withstanding climate risk like warming and impacts linked to that; blue infrastructure, that refers to protecting and enriching waterbodies, lake systems, wetlands and rivers across the city, is also important in terms of climate resilience,” said Prakash.

“Preserving wetlands, river Hoogly and water bodies is a key to the city’s survival. Kolkata is a natural sponge city but unfortunately the sponge is getting increasingly encroached” observed AditiMukherji, the coordinating lead author for the water chapter.

Sanjay Vashist, director of Climate Action Network South Asia (CANSA) , said that the city administration and state government should include climate change adaptation issues in all the major development activities of the city.

“The architecture planning of the buildings in the city also needs a strong relook as the city has turned into a strong heat island, as another recent IPCC report shows that Calcutta’s average temperature has increased most at global benchmark in the last 6 decades till 2018,” said another.