Dr Asangba Tzudir
Climate change and its associated issues have been a much discussed topic of discussion at the global level especially in the context of its impact on the global world. However, the issue of climate change has somehow remained an ignored theme, or not taken seriously. So in context, in order to draw attention on the issue, one may question whether climate change is for real.
In 2019, 11,000 scientists from 153 countries declared a climate emergency with indications of very troubling trends in the face of very little progress by humanity to address climate change. The troubling trends points towards catastrophic threat. Since this declaration, 2800 scientists have endorsed the climate emergency.
Since then, there has been an unprecedented surge in climate related disasters. The world has witnessed devastating flooding; record shattering heat waves; extraordinary hurricanes and devastating cyclones.
These are clear indications that we are nearing or have already crossed tipping points associated with critical parts of the Earth’s system. Given these alarming developments, the world needs to be constantly informed about this climate emergency.
The climate drivers and impacts find major indicators in food and issues of food security; reduction in forest cover; climate economics especially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic; growing energy use; greenhouse gases and temperature; rapid melting of ice; changes in the ocean waves. The effect felt by the human and animal population only attests not only of the climate emergency but the severity of dangers associated.
Now, considering India’s unique geo-climatic position, she has been a witness to various disastrous events of geological, oceanic and climatic. It only adds to the dangers associated with any form of climate change. Though India has a seasonal classification of climate – winter, pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon season, its geo-climatic position adds to the variations in climate and climatic conditions which has disrupted the Indian agricultural cycle.
In Nagaland too, as a proof that climate change is not simply a fictional story, or an issue of non-importance the recent years have practically attested to the severity of climate change. Forty to 50 years back, the colder districts of Nagaland experienced dew or frost during winters. Today it experiences snowfall. The agricultural cycle has also changed. There have been instances of sowing a second time in some places in Nagaland. Rainfall was not only scanty but the rainy season has also changed. Ground water even in Dimapur is fast drying up.
With the climatic changes, it only adds not just to the occurrence of disasters but also its severity. Comparatively, Nagaland has so far been spared of severely damaging disasters. However, the current pandemic situation has clearly highlighted for Nagaland to prepare for the issues related to food security, if at all, other forms of disasters are going to spare us.
As such, the various departments especially horticulture and agriculture needs to keep on doing contextual research towards providing proper information and to rightly educate the masses related to this activity. This will go a long way in preparing for livelihood in the face of food security challenges.
(Dr Asangba Tzudir contributes a weekly guest editorial to The Morung Express. Comments can be emailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
