Thiruvananthapuram: Ladakh is a place where you expect stupas, but now it is attracting world attention because of a different kind of stupas. The ‘ice stupa’ on the premises of Phyang Monastery, designed by an engineer Sonam Wangchuk, is an adaptation measure against climate change.
The structure shaped like a stupa helps slow down the melting. If it were not for this, ice would melt faster and would go to waste. The adaptation strategy developed by him with his team at SECMOL Alternative School has been widely reported. Journalist and Climate Action Network South Asia advisor Shailendra Yashwant says, “I will be going there in the hotter months to understand how effective the ice stupa is.”
Closer home in Wayanad, a panchayat is getting ready for a carbon audit. The Meenangadi panchayat is planning to conduct an analysis of carbon emission. “Domestic consumption of fuels, domestic electricity consumption, emissions from small –time factories and number of cars plying into the village will all be taken into account. The idea is still in the concept stage,” said Dr Thomas Isaac MLA.
Once they calculate the carbon emissions and the number of trees and plants in the village, trees will be planted to make the village carbon neutral. Another idea here is a business model which they plan to introduce to encourage planting of trees. For trees that turn five years, the local bank will provide a loan. The timber of the tree will be the security.
All over the world, scientists and technocrats are thinking up new ideas to deal with a changing climate. Max Adam, an atmospheric scientist who is in Thiruvananthapuram now, says, “governments are thinking of introducing coastal buffer zones, since there will be sea-level rise. Weather-related events will be more powerful in the future. Research is on to develop drought-resistant crops.”
The government will have to actively engage with its farmers and encourage them to cultivate crops which suit the climate. Shailendra says, “In Thekkadi, they grow cash crops like cardamom and pepper which are highly sensitive to heat and pestilence. As the heat increases, pestilence also increases as insects won’t remain dormant. Cardamom is no longer the cash crop that it used to be, with international prices dropping. Should they not start growing food crops rather than cardamom in this rich soil?” he asked.
The government should take due measures to ensure food security and should therefore protect the farmers and fishermen. “Farmers and fishermen will be the worst victims of climate change. Growing organic gardens on rooftops alone will not ensure food security. The people who provide us food will have to be provided with enough support so that they can continue with their livelihood,” says Shailendra.
When one talks about adaptation measures, one often forgets measures which need to be taken at the local level, says Dr Thomas Isaac. “For example, if a whole street rather than a few houses starts using LED lights, the savings will be huge,” he says.
