Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Ensuring justice for climate refugees

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Speakers at a conference organised by fishworkers’ organisations in South India at Nagercoil on Friday highlighted the impact of climate change on the livelihood of marginalised sections of society and the need for government intervention to tackle the emerging threats. The meeting decided to launch a protest movement against the failure to rehabilitate the families displaced by heavy sea erosion.

Fisherfolk from the coastal areas in South India participated in the conference organised by Tamilnadu Fisher workers Union (TFU), Kerala Swathantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation (KSMTF) and Voices from the Margins (VFM).

T. Peter Dass, president, Tamilnadu Fish workers Union (TFU) pointed out that climate change was responsible for the worsening sea erosion all along the coast.

Inaugurating the workshop, M.Pakkirisamy, district revenue officer, said that sea level was rising over the last decade at an unimaginable rate of increase. Sea level is expected raise five meters over the next 50 years and it is going to affect the coastal communities. He stressed the need to change the consumption pattern to prevent further depletion of the ozone layer in the atmosphere.

K.P. Sasi, activist filmmaker, said the government was yet to come up with a strategy to minimise carbon emission. He called for a change in the production process in the industrial, agriculture and energy sectors to achieve this objective. “There has been no action to address the problems of the people affected by climate change and marginalized people who are becoming refugees as a result of ecological impacts thrust upon them.”

Dr. A.D. Shobana Raj, ecological researcher, highlighted the depletion of coastal areas caused by heavy sea erosion.

“Almost 80 per cent of the water resources in the coastal area have become saline and people are facing water crisis because of the intrusion of sea water. As many as 132 coastal sea weeds have disappeared over the last 10 years. If the global temperature rises 2 degree Celsius, it will impact on micro organisms, leading to several contagious diseases affecting coastal people,” he pointed out.

Dr. S.P.Udayakumar, social activist, called for a drastic change in energy consumption pattern. “The solution for climate change lies in shifting from fossil fuels to renewable sources. Our transportation pattern should move towards effective and efficient public transport system rather than promoting cars which will lead to increase in carbon emission and vehicular pollution,” he said.

Sathya Sivaraman, journalist and filmmaker stressed the need for a system to identify polluters.

“The United States is responsible for 25 per cent of carbon emission and it should take the responsibility to compensate the victims of carbon emission and climate change. Carbon emitting industries should be changed and if this is not possible all such industries should be closed.”

Calling for an end to chemical farming practices, polluting industries and carbon-emitting life style, T.Peter, president, KSMTF, said fisher people were the most vulnerable to the impact of climate change.

He exhorted the coastal communities to launch a mass movement demanding steps to tackle the threats.

In the concluding session, S.M.Prithiviraj, convener, Voices from the Margins, explained how heavy sea erosion, changes in pattern of fish catch, reduction in fish wealth, and loss of working days as a result of climate change and tidal waves had affected the livelihood of the fishermen community in south India.

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