Lok Sabha Question No. 1950 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-29
Subject: Death of Marine Life due to Climate Change
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Dibyendu Adhikari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1950

TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.11.2019

## Death of Marine Life due to Climate Change

## 1950.   SHRI DIBYENDU ADHIKARI:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether  the Intergovernmental  Panel  on  Climate  Change  (IPCC)  has  warned  of  a widespread  death  of  marine  life  including  residents  of  incidence  of  coastal  areas  and  a recurring destructive cyclones in the coming years;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  melting  of  Himalayan  ice  and  glaciers  would  affect  renewable  supplies  of  fresh water; and
- (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  action  taken  and  the  time  bound  proposal  of  the Government to balance the normal ecosystem of the country and adjoining ocean areas?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

(a)  and  (b)  No,  Sir.  According  to  the  Special  Report  on  'The  Ocean  and  Cryosphere  in  a Changing  Climate'  released  in  September  2019  by  the  Intergovernmental  Panel  on  Climate Change (IPCC), since about 1950 many marine species across various groups have undergone shifts in geographical range and seasonal activities in response to ocean warming, sea ice change and biogeochemical changes, such as oxygen loss, to their habitats. This has resulted in shifts in species composition, abundance and biomass production of ecosystems, from the equator to the poles. However, in some marine ecosystems species are impacted by both the effects of fishing and climate changes.

(c) The Geological Survey of India (GSI) carries out an assessment of glacier mass balance and monitoring of change in glacier length using ground-based glaciological techniques in the parts of Indus Catchment in the Indian Himalayan Region. During 1974-75 to 2018-19 period, the  assessment  of  glacier  mass  balance  on  six  glaciers,  viz.  Neh  Nar,  Rulung  (Jammu  & Kashmir);  Gara,  Gor  Garang,  Shaune  Garang  and  Hamtah  (Himachal  Pradesh)  have  been undertaken. The studies have revealed overall negative average annual specific balance ranging from  0.11  to  1.47  metre  water  equivalent  indicative  of  a  considerable  mass  wastage  of

Himalayan glaciers.  In addition, monitoring of 68 glaciers during the last hundred years or so, have revealed that the majority of Himalayan glaciers are passing through a phase of recession, which is a worldwide phenomenon. The retreat of the glaciers is continuing but there has not been any alarming change in the rate of retreat of the glaciers during the last couple of decades. Some long-term data, however, do suggest a higher rate of recession after 1950s.

Further, according to GSI the water availability in a glacier fed river basin, is dependent on glacier melting, seasonal snow-melt, the amount of rainfall and the release of ground water. Of these, glacier melting is a major factor only in the upper most reaches of the mountains.

(d)  The  government  is  implementing  the  National Action  Plan  on  Climate  Change  (NAPCC) with a view to enhancing the ecological sustainability of India's development path and address climate  change  in  all  regions  of  the  country.  NAPCC  comprises,  inter  alia,  of  eight  National Missions  including  National  Mission  for  Sustaining  the  Himalayan  Eco-system  (NMSHE). NMSHE  is  aimed  at  evolving  management  measures  for  sustaining  and  safeguarding  the Himalayan glaciers and mountain ecosystem. The mission includes enhanced monitoring of the Himalayan ecosystem through establishment of the monitoring network, promoting communitybased management, human resource development and strengthening regional cooperation. The Government has prepared guidelines entitled 'Governance for Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem', (G-SHE), which has been shared with all the State Governments in the Himalayan region. All Himalayan States have also prepared their respective State Action Plan on Climate Change to address the state-specific issues.

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