Northeast India's Climate Conundrum: Navigating the Impacts on Ecosystems and Communities

Climate Change is a buzzword that has been in the headlines globally for several years now. For us, here in Northeast India, it was not much of a priority issue till a few years ago. But over the course of the last decade, we have seen how climate change has impacted the ecosystem in this region.

Northeast India is a region that is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, given its rich biodiversity, fragile ecosystems, and high dependence on natural resources. The region is home to several important ecosystems, including the Himalayan mountains, tropical rainforests, wetlands, and grasslands, which provide vital ecosystem services such as water regulation, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity conservation.

With changing weather patterns, Northeast India is experiencing more frequent and severe floods and landslides, which are affecting agriculture, livestock, and human settlements. The severe flooding in Dima Hasao and Barak Valley in Assam in 2022 is a recent example of this. In three months, from March 2022 to May 2022, Assam witnessed an excess of 40 per cent of rainfall. These climatic changes are being caused by a combination of natural factors such as monsoons and deforestation, as well as human activities such as pollution and burning of fossil fuels.

Photo: Anup Biswas

A Report published in 2021 by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), New Delhi, mentions Assam as one of the most vulnerable states in India to the impact of global climate change. The Report, titled ‘Mapping India’s Climate Vulnerability: A District Level Assessment’, stated that 20 districts in Assam had been witnessing exponential increase in the frequency of extreme climatic events since 2010.

Climate change is also affecting the livelihoods and well-being of communities in Northeast India. Many people in the region depend on agriculture, forestry, and fishing for their livelihoods, and changes in temperature and rainfall patterns are affecting crop yields, water availability, and forest productivity. This can lead to food insecurity, economic hardship, and displacement.

It is also having an impact on the health of the people in the region. Changes in temperature and rainfall patterns can lead to the spread of diseases such as malaria, dengue, and other vector-borne diseases. Additionally, changes in air quality due to increased pollution can lead to respiratory illnesses. This is what is exactly happening in Northeast India.

Photo- NEZINE

A report titled ‘Climate Vulnerability Assessment for the Indian Himalayan Region using a Common Framework (2018-19)’, prepared by IIT Guwahati, IIT Mandi and Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, mentions Assam to be the most vulnerable State to climate change among the 12 States/ UTs of the Indian Himalayan Region. The same report also states that Assam has the least forest area available per 1,000 rural households among these 12 States/ UTs of the Indian Himalayan Region.

In fact, forest loss is another major issue in the northeastern region now. According to the data from Global Forest Watch, India lost 1.93 million hectares of its tree cover between 2001 and 2020. And the top five states that accounted for the highest tree cover loss during this period were all Northeast Indian states-- Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur.

A Report, titled ‘District-Level Changes in Climate: Historical Climate and Climate Change Projections for the North-Eastern States of India’, has predicted changes in temperature and rainfall patterns the Northeast Indian states over the next three decades. Published in June 2022 by the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), a Bengaluru-based think-tank, the Report states that all the eight states in Northeast India will witness an increase in temperature, an increase in the number of rainy days and a rise in the number of heavy rainfall activities over the next three decades (2021-2050) as compared to the preceding period (1990-2019).

Photo : Anup Biswas

Loss of biodiversity in Northeast India is another area of concern. The region is home to many endangered species of birds and animals, which are under threat due to habitat destruction, hunting, and other anthropogenic factors. As temperatures increase and rainfall patterns shift, many species are struggling to adapt to these changes. The changing climate is exacerbating these threats by altering ecosystems, reducing food availability, and increasing the spread of diseases.

Climate change is also having a significant impact on the region's tea production, a produce for which Assam is well known globally. Increased temperature and reduced rainfall is putting stress on the tea plants, affecting their growth and yield. Changes in weather patterns also affect the flavor and quality of the tea produced, as warmer temperatures lead to a decrease in the production of the compounds that give tea its flavor and aroma, resulting in lower-quality tea. Thus, climate change is having an adverse impact on our economy too, as the tea industry is a major contributor to our State’s coffers.

Photo: NEZINE

I currently lead a non-profit organization, called the Sabal Bharat Foundation, and as part of a Study being conducted by our organization, we recently sought opinion on environmental issues and sustainability in Assam. Majority of the respondents (81 per cent) were concerned about the impact of climate change on Assam's environment and 63 per cent of them said that they have witnessed negative effects of industrial development on Assam's environment. Majority of the respondents also states that Assam's forests are not adequately protected from deforestation. The respondents were also asked how often they used public transportation or walk/cycle instead of driving to reduce their carbon footprint. In reply, it was found that 5 per cent never use and 30 per cent rarely use these modes of transportation. Thus, even though we are concerned about climate change and our environment, on a personal level we are yet to take some steps to tackle the matter.

In order to address all these challenges and mitigate the impact of climate change, there is a need for comprehensive and coordinated action at multiple levels. This includes measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote sustainable land use practices, improve disaster preparedness and response, and enhance ecosystem resilience.

There is also an urgent need for policy interventions and community-led initiatives that focus on sustainable development and conservation of natural resources. This may include promoting renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and forest management practices that can mitigate the impacts of climate change, while improving the livelihoods of local communities. Additionally, there should be a greater emphasis on preserving indigenous knowledge systems and promoting community participation in decision-making processes to ensure that their perspectives and priorities are adequately represented.

Arunav Goswami

Arunav Goswami is an author, researcher and analyst. He is currently the Director of Sabal Bharat Foundation, a non-profit organization, based in Guwahati, Assam.