“This phase of climate change necessitates a collective response from both the Government and the people particularly the civil society groups, economists and environmentalists in Jammu & Kashmir.”
Heat waves in peak summer periods is a new reality about a new phase of climate change in Jammu & Kashmir and as such combating the fast changing trends of climate change requires much greater attention than ever before in both the regions-Kashmir Valley and Jammu division. This phase of climate change necessitates a collective response from both the Government and the people particularly the civil society groups, economists and environmentalists in Jammu & Kashmir. As the temperatures soared over 36 degree Celsius for the first time in Kashmir Valley this year, the vulnerability of environment to increasing trends of residential and commercial constructions is catching the attention of both the environmentalists and as well as economists across Jammu & Kashmir. The heat wave is taking a heavy toll of the farming communities as both the paddy fields and as well as the apple orchards paint a gloomy picture of the yields this year. With crops showing a downsizing trend, the forecasts about the economic losses are panicking both the farmers and as well as apple growers across Kashmir. The economic losses in agriculture and horticulture sectors would obviously leave a bad impact on the lifestyles of people including health and education of children. This scenario of climate changes necessitates change in the patterns of farming and immediate restrictions on increasing urbanisation that has set the trends of high density population in cities and town across the length and breadth of Jammu & Kashmir. The record breaking heat waves witnessed in Jammu & Kashmir this year as such also necessitate a comprehensive change in the urban plans for the purposes of transforming the process of urbanisation across Jammu & Kashmir.
“Since the community engagement for all practical purposes is central to any change in the patterns of economic activities and urbanisation in Jammu & Kashmir, Wisdom demands that Government engages civil society groups into a serious debate over the fast increasing trends of ecological and economic imbalances taking roots year after year in Jammu & Kashmir. An initiative from the Government to collaborate with the civil society, research institutions and economist could be the beginning of a strong response to the climate change that is taking roots in Jammu & Kashmir.”
A reduced attention on the impacts of climate change could devastate the economy and consequently the accessibility of people even to basic human needs in coming few years. Wisdom demands that Government takes corrective measures for combating the environmental and economic imbalances much before the economic activities and accessibilities of people to basic human needs come under the stress of climate change in Jammu & Kashmir. Since the community engagement for all practical purposes is central to any change in the patterns of economic activities and urbanisation in Jammu & Kashmir, Wisdom demands that Government engages civil society groups into a serious debate over the fast increasing trends of ecological and economic imbalances taking roots year after year in Jammu & Kashmir. An initiative from the Government to collaborate with the civil society, research institutions and economist could be the beginning of a strong response to the climate change that is taking roots in Jammu & Kashmir.
