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CASE STUDY
floods (LLOFs), as well as land disaster, absolving them of and practitioners are now
erosion and submergence, any responsibility to reduce recognizing that it is as much
often result in substantial the chances of flooding (Cook, a by-product of unequal
economic losses, loss of life, 2022). Heat waves, which are distribution of resources and
displacement of populations, one of the most direct impacts unjust systems of production.
and casualties. of a warming climate, in
particular, have also emerged The injustice of the climate
Climate change is altering as one of the most severe crisis is that marginalised
India’s disaster landscape meteorological hazards people contribute minimally
by increasing the frequency, during the last decade, to the emissions, yet are
intensity, and unpredictability leading to high mortality and forced to bear the brunt of
of extreme weather events. morbidity rates worldwide climate vulnerabilities (Islam
More than 80 percent of (NIDM 2021). & Winkel 2017). Further,
India’s population lives in there is almost no support for
districts highly vulnerable to 1.2. Climate Justice the impacts on their mental
extreme hydro-met disasters health, as their broader
(CEEW 2021). Moreover, 55 In recent years, several climate physical environment
per cent of tehsils in India advocates have declared that degrades (Parmar et al. 2022).
witnessed an increase and 11 while the effect of climate
per cent witnessed a decrease change is universal, the Heat waves, in particular,
in southwest monsoon responsibility lies exhaustively have emerged as one of the
rainfall in the past decade with those who are most most severe meteorological
(2012-2022), by more than 10 vulnerable to climate change hazards during the period
per cent each compared to the impacts (Schlosberg & Collins, from 2015 to 2019, leading to
climatic baseline (1982–2011). 2014). The concept of climate high mortality and morbidity
A statistically significant justice holds at its core the rates worldwide, specifically
rainfall increase was observed understanding that developed impacting the most vulnerable
in the traditionally drier countries contribute groups (NIDM 2021). Further,
tehsils of Rajasthan, Gujarat, disproportionately to global on studying the impacts of
central Maharashtra, and warming, while it is the least climate change, it is clear that
parts of Tamil Nadu (CEEW developed and developing flooding will only worsen,
2024). Shifts in rainfall countries that suffer the brunt more so in coastal cities, due to
patterns are leading to more of extreme weather events. increased cyclone frequency,
severe floods in previously Hence, the onus of reducing tidal action leading to
dry areas and exacerbating fossil fuel emissions, and prolonged inundation, along
droughts in regions with paying for losses and damages with industrial pollution;
reduced precipitation. that poorer countries are exacerbating risks for
already facing due to climate vulnerable populations living
With the global sea rise change, lies on wealthier in climate sensitive locations
predicted by one meter governments. (Glavovic et. al. 2022).
by 2100, coastal cities
face peculiar and urgent It is widely acknowledged 1.3. Legal Frameworks and
challenges of climate change that the climate crisis is the Routes
(Glavovic et. al. 2022). So result of a rapid increase in
far, governments have been global fossil fuel emissions. There are interlinkages in
treating flooding as a natural However, policy-makers plans and policies in India
October, 2024, Volume 25. No.1 - SHELTER 67
