Compensation for Climate Change?

Location: Chennai, India.                                                                                    Information Source IRIN website at http://www.irinnews.org/analysis/2015/12/11. November 2015 Chennai received an unprecedented amount of rainfall. The result was tens of millions stranded, over 1,000 injured and nearly 300 dead. This article correlates with environmental justice, which we learned about in this week’s lesson. The devastation wrought by the flooding is being highly debated by many and the issue of compensation and liability is being raised by the Indian Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar. Minister Javadekar is looking to have the terms ‘compensation’ and liability’ re-entered into COP21 accord dealing with climate change and how it will be dealt with. On the other hand, Sunandan Tiwari, with the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives states that while climate change was a factor, other factors such as filling in drainage canals and natural lakes along with bad governance played a role as well. This disaster only adds to the emphasis on the UN-led negotiations, in Paris, regarding an unprecedented climate accord.
Location: Thailand                                                                                              Information Source: The Climate Institute at http://www.climate.org/topics/international-action/thailand.htm                                                                                                        The Thai government has enacted an aggressive plan to reduce greenhouse gasses and lower pollution and dependency on fossil fuels in general. Thailand’s plan comes from multiple environmental disasters and changes over the years. Most notably is the research done showing that Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is sinking by 10 centimeters annually. The Thai government has come up with a plan to reduce fossil fuel dependency by upgrading the transit system and bike lanes to encourage people to leave their vehicles at home. These plans and ideas reflect what we learned about Sustainable Development in this week’s readings. With Thailand being known as the ‘rice bowl of Asia’ it is vital they take these actions to ensure their agricultural heritage can continue for future generations to come.
Location: Anza, Ca                                                                                                Southern California has been in a drought crisis for a few years now. We lived in the high desert and drew our water from an aquifer. I relate the first story to how over the last few years there was fierce debate between the government and farmers who could not grow their crops. The farmers wanted compensation, much like India, but the government didn’t see that as a viable option. Farmers were left to find other viable crop options that required drastically less water. The second story relates because during the drought everyone had to actively participate, they are still participating, to reduce water use as much as possible. From the time we moved into our home until we moved a few years later the difference was drastic, our two acre pond had all but dried up, we had to rely on what little water we got from rainfall (not much!) to keep the fish alive. Most of the trees had died all over the area we were in and most golf courses were dried up. Only those that could afford to pay the stiff penalties were still in operation. Conclusion, you cannot change the effects that were set in motion decades ago. We all need to make changes to live in a more sustainable manner and reduce pollution as much as possible so future generations are able to survive and thrive.

One thought on “Compensation for Climate Change?

  1. Hi Brian! Climate change is a concept that I also have a lot of interest in and often talk about. I never expected rainfall to be an issue that occurred because of climate change. I always thought climate change mostly affected the Earth’s temperature. I can also see how low rainfall does contribute to other problems such as the loss of plants that do not get the water they need.

    Here is a link to my blog: http://geog030.dutton.psu.edu/2016/02/26/the-development-of-one-of-the-earths-largest-resources/

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