Rising temperatures are leaving footmarks not only on mountainous regions all over the world but also on oceans. In the recent past we have seen how small glacial lakes are creating mass destruction in the Himalayan Community, causing severe devastation to people living in the mountainous regions in Southeast Bangladesh and also in Myanmar. This is also affecting livelihood, health care and education facilities.
Recent reports emerging from Kathmandu, Nepal have drawn attention to how small glacial lakes can cause destruction, impacting on the livelihoods of entire communities. This is becoming the harsh reality that the people of Thame village in the Mt. Everest region of Nepal is now facing as they are trying to rebuild after the August 16 disaster when a devastating flood literally damaged the Sherpa village in the Khumbu region, damaging houses, local businesses, a school, a health facility, and the community's means of livelihood.
Initially, the cause was unclear, but now things are becoming clearer: Thame village was hit by a flash flood caused by a glacial lake outburst. Thabo glacial lake, located upstream of Thame, burst, sending floodwaters mixed with sediment down to the village. Dr. Arun Bhakta Shreshtha a senior Climate Change Specialist at ICIMOD observed that "it was the result of more than one event-ice/snow melt or an avalanche caused spills from one glacial lake, which then triggered an outburst of flooding from the lower Thyanbo glacial lake." The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) indicated that the area received relatively high rainfall in the week leading up to the event, and temperatures were also relatively high. According to them, it may have caused ice/snow melt or an avalanche at the upper lake, and the spilled water caused erosion, which ultimately triggered the lower lake to burst.
Experts are saying that this flood is the latest example of the causal impact of climate change and the level of impact that can be seen at the local level. Tenzing Chogyal Sherpa, ICIMOD's Cryosphere Analyst-who also belongs to the mountain Sherpa community and is from the Khumbu region-views this event as both personal and a stark reminder of the climate crisis.
Pashang Sherpa has observed that, "Thame is one of the main villages that is important in terms of trekking attraction, and the flood swept away the entire village. That will definitely impact our livelihood." An assessment of the damage by the local government--Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality in the Solukhumbu district--has reported that at least 18 properties have been destroyed, including seven homes, five hotels, one school, and one health post. Officials in the Municipality have also observed that "given the difficult geographical terrain, reconstruction efforts will be costly, and the local government's budget will not be enough".
Nevertheless, people of Nepal, living in the mountainous regions are known for their resilient abilities. Consequently, those affected have come forward with great belief in being able to tackle the emerging crisis. Many community leaders have observed that every disaster tests their suppleness, but it also strengthens it. They have also mentioned that as the mountain community, they will emerge united and determined to protect their homes and way of life. However, they have also reiterated that more than ever, that they must raise our voices to the global community so that their stories and struggles can be heard.
A similar scenario but on a far larger scale has been witnessed over the last three weeks in several Districts in the south-eastern region of Bangladesh. Contiguous areas near rivers and mountainous regions in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and the land adjacent to the sea shore near Cox's Bazar have been severely affected. More than a million persons with their families have had to leave their residences, badly damaged by the flood waters and also by landslides. It has not only affected their agriculture and fisheries but has also raised serious healthcare demands. Educational institutions have been transformed into sanctuaries.
We have watched how donations from private sources as well as institutional assistance are being utilised by local authorities to bring about some desirable solutions to tackle this emergency. At this point one can only hope that we in Bangladesh can take lessons from how matters are being tackled in Nepal. Our voices also need to be heard by the developed countries who seem to be completely overtaken by their national interests and their desire to spend more on arms and weapons rather than on assisting those suffering due to the impact of climate variability.
Attention has also been drawn by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to the threatening effects of rising temperature on the oceans. Analyst Oritro Karim has referred to the remark of the Secretary-General -"the ocean connects us all. Sadly, we have taken the ocean for granted, and today we face what I would call an "Ocean Emergency. We must turn the tide... We cannot have a healthy planet without a healthy ocean".
In this context it may be noted that human practices, such as unsustainable fishing, pollution, coastal development, and fossil fuel use have pushed the Earth's oceans to their limits. This has resulted in warmer, more acidic waters. As global temperatures rise yearly due to climate change, oceans continue to see significant losses in biodiversity, rising sea levels, and environmental damage.
While atmospheric temperatures tend to fluctuate, the ocean is steadily and constantly heating up. The State of the Ocean Report by the United Nations Educational, Cultural, and Scientific Organisation (UNESCO) has also indicated that the ocean is now warming at twice the rate it was twenty years ago. The ocean absorbs the vast majority of the greenhouse gasses emitted globally, causing ocean temperatures to rise at alarming rates. This causes a depletion of oxygen in marine environments, ravaging marine ecosystems.
We need to remember that biodiversity and ecosystem stability are crucial in ensuring planetary health. Without high levels of biodiversity, access to clean air, food, and water are severely compromised. Warmer waters, as a result of climate change, are making it more difficult for a host of species to survive.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also stated that deoxygenation of waters can lead to hypoxia, or "dead zones", in which marine life cannot sustain. EPA has added that small marine organisms, such as plankton, are particularly sensitive to changes in temperature and oxygen levels. Additionally, deoxygenation and overfishing have also led to alarming rates of coral bleaching. We need to remember that coral reefs are super-organisms that provide the fundamental building blocks for about one quarter of all marine life. They are crucial for ocean health, housing entire ecosystems on their own. In this regard, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has drawn attention to this evolving scenario by observing that "because of the diversity of life found in the habitats created by corals, reefs are often called the rainforests of the sea". It has also been asserted that about 25 per cent of the ocean's fish depend on healthy coral reefs. Fishes and other organisms' shelter, find food, reproduce, and rear their young in the many nooks and crevices formed by corals.
Environmentalists associated with the ocean scenario have also drawn attention to the fact that coral bleaching is particularly concerning as reefs rarely recover after they have been degraded. It has also been underlined that a multitude of ecosystems are dependent on coral reefs for survival. Consequently, ensuring proper coral health is imperative for biodiversity.
Rising temperatures due to greenhouse effect have caused ocean waters become significantly acidic over the years. According to EPA, ocean waters have increased in acidity by over 25 per cent since the Industrial Revolution. Acidity has a significantly adverse impact on a multitude of marine animals. According to the Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC), rising levels of pH, which contribute to acidity, impede the availability of carbonate, which allows mollusks to create shells and other important structures. This worsens the chances that mollusks have at survival and puts their predators at risk of starvation.
Losses in ocean biodiversity are a matter of serious concern for humans as well. According to the World Bank, approximately 58 per cent of the world's income comes from jobs in fish production. Additionally, over 3 billion people rely on fish as a crucial part of their diets. As a result, scientists have underlined during climate conferences that decreasing levels of biodiversity in the Earth's oceans threatens to cause widespread food insecurity.
Coastal communities, so far, have been most directly impacted by worsening ocean health. Rising sea temperatures have exacerbated the rise of sea levels and flooding. According to the EPA, exposure to sea water gives way to increased risks of contracting waterborne diseases. Additionally, coastal flooding causes great damage to critical infrastructures, such as housing and road communications.
It would be worthwhile at this juncture to note the efforts being made by Sierra Leone in meeting the challenges it is facing in handling increasingly severe weather patterns. Sierra Leone has launched a nationwide climate action campaign focusing on reforestation, improving drainage systems, and educating the public on the importance of the environment.
We all need to learn from the efforts undertaken by others in different parts of the world. This will assist our region to find sustainable solutions to a snowballing crisis.
Muhammad Zamir, a former Ambassador, is an analyst specialised
in foreign affairs, right to information and good governance. [email protected]
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