1.4.3 Fossil Fuel Use
The per capita carbon footprint of these people is quite low. They use wood or coal
fired stoves for cooking. Since they do not have grid electricity, the better of
households have installed solar powered lights. In fact, a lot of them have been
using solar lights for almost three decades now. However, a lot of them cannot
afford solar powered systems, they thus use kerosene lamps.
Some of the pumps used for extracting water are diesel or kerosene driven. But
then again like I have already mentioned not everyone can afford them. Most of
their lands are ploughed by hand or animals; it is only a handful who have
diesel-driven ploughs (Energy Survey 2012).
The diesel-driven auto rickshaws are the only mode of transport on the islands
apart from bicycles. Some NGOs tried to introduce environment friendly electric
vehicles (EVs) and do away with these rickshaws. The problem which arose were
that the mud or brick roads were proving to be difficult to navigate by these EVs
and also their prices were too high. The places where there are only mud roads,
even the cycle-vans cannot ply, the only option is then to walk. Thus, we can say,
carbon emission from fossil fuel usage is not very high in these islands anyway.
There is no industrial water discharge occurring from these islands in the
neighbouring rivers or the sea for there are no heavy industries.
These islands are surrounded with water on all sides. Since that water is saline,
neither can they drink it nor can they use it for irrigational purposes. Thus, they
depend on rainfall and groundwater. However, with the underground aquifers
dipping at a very first rate, these people should be made aware of that fact and
taught to use water economically. For most of the villages the drinking water comes
from the mainland via pipes, while for the rest they use groundwater.
1.5 Adaptation
Global Adaptation strategies include switching over to flood resistant paddy,
moving to higher grounds specially in low lying settlements, starting to use cleaner
energy; moving away from fossil fuels, building smart cities and use of smarter and
sustainable form of transport. Technological development is required in order to
reduce poverty and improve life on earth yet if “Bussiness as Usual” goes on with
fossil fuel use going up almost on a daily basis, adding on to the GHG emissions
further, draining of global fresh water reserves drastically then it would be
impossible to stay within the planetary boundaries (Sachs 2010).
The people of Sunderbans have started adapting to the changing climatic conditions in various ways.
They are shifting the farming time in anticipation of shifting of the monsoon
season. However, this will lead to lowering of market demand and price. Many are
Is There a Tomorrow?: The Story of Survival …
369
The per capita carbon footprint of these people is quite low. They use wood or coal
fired stoves for cooking. Since they do not have grid electricity, the better of
households have installed solar powered lights. In fact, a lot of them have been
using solar lights for almost three decades now. However, a lot of them cannot
afford solar powered systems, they thus use kerosene lamps.
Some of the pumps used for extracting water are diesel or kerosene driven. But
then again like I have already mentioned not everyone can afford them. Most of
their lands are ploughed by hand or animals; it is only a handful who have
diesel-driven ploughs (Energy Survey 2012).
The diesel-driven auto rickshaws are the only mode of transport on the islands
apart from bicycles. Some NGOs tried to introduce environment friendly electric
vehicles (EVs) and do away with these rickshaws. The problem which arose were
that the mud or brick roads were proving to be difficult to navigate by these EVs
and also their prices were too high. The places where there are only mud roads,
even the cycle-vans cannot ply, the only option is then to walk. Thus, we can say,
carbon emission from fossil fuel usage is not very high in these islands anyway.
There is no industrial water discharge occurring from these islands in the
neighbouring rivers or the sea for there are no heavy industries.
These islands are surrounded with water on all sides. Since that water is saline,
neither can they drink it nor can they use it for irrigational purposes. Thus, they
depend on rainfall and groundwater. However, with the underground aquifers
dipping at a very first rate, these people should be made aware of that fact and
taught to use water economically. For most of the villages the drinking water comes
from the mainland via pipes, while for the rest they use groundwater.
1.5 Adaptation
Global Adaptation strategies include switching over to flood resistant paddy,
moving to higher grounds specially in low lying settlements, starting to use cleaner
energy; moving away from fossil fuels, building smart cities and use of smarter and
sustainable form of transport. Technological development is required in order to
reduce poverty and improve life on earth yet if “Bussiness as Usual” goes on with
fossil fuel use going up almost on a daily basis, adding on to the GHG emissions
further, draining of global fresh water reserves drastically then it would be
impossible to stay within the planetary boundaries (Sachs 2010).
The people of Sunderbans have started adapting to the changing climatic conditions in various ways.
They are shifting the farming time in anticipation of shifting of the monsoon
season. However, this will lead to lowering of market demand and price. Many are
Is There a Tomorrow?: The Story of Survival …
369