Extreme weather events have had a profound impact on human lives in India. The frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as floods, tropical cyclones, heatwaves, and storms, has increased in recent years, resulting in many negative social and economic consequences. As a result, India’s rank in the Climate Change Performance Index 2023 is 8 out of 64 countries, dropping from 7 in 2022.
According to the Centre for Science & Environment, India experienced extreme weather events on 86% of days in 2023, resulting in a high number of casualties, as well as crop damage, and destruction of homes. Close to 3,000 people were killed, over 80,000 houses were destroyed, 1.84 million hectares of crop area was destroyed, and more than 92,000 livestock perished. These events have a widespread impact across the country. According to a study published in the Indian Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, the social and economic costs of these extreme weather events, including their impact on household consumption, livelihoods, and migration, are a growing concern. It requires urgent attention and effective mitigation strategies.
1. The Ministry of Earth Sciences reported that 58% of all lives lost in India in 2022 were because of extreme weather events such as lightning and thunderstorms.
Figure 1: Total deaths due to extreme weather events in India in recent years
Source: Ministry of Earth Sciences
2. According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, climate change has led to significant migration in India. India is the fourth worst-hit country in the world when it comes to climate change-induced migration, with more than three million people forced to leave their homes in 2020-21.
By 2050, India alone will see 45 million people being forced to migrate from their homes due to climate disasters, which is three times the current number. A report published in December 2020 by ActionAid and Climate Action Network South Asia showed that across India, about 37.5 million people will be displaced by 2030, and an estimated 62.9 million by 2050.
These displacements have a pattern, the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) has found in their study, Connecting the dots: Climate change, migration and social protection, published in 2021. Their findings show that the majority of migrants are from low-income states like Uttar Pradesh & Madhya Pradesh. This migration is both seasonal and permanent in nature, mainly undertaken by marginalised populations, who depend primarily on agriculture. Climate impacts act as stress multipliers, particularly for those who are already socio-economically vulnerable, driving them towards distress migration.
The Pulitzer Centre study shows how heatwaves, droughts, and excess rainfall are destroying the livelihoods of millions of poor people in India, who suffer the worst consequences of global warming.
Figure 2: Internal displacement due to 176 extreme weather events experienced between 2016-2022 in India
Source: Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre
3. India, with its diverse geography and population density, faces multiple challenges from extreme weather events. To address these challenges, the Indian Government has undertaken certain initiatives.
For instance, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) set up a National Disaster Alert Portal called ”SACHET” in 2023. The portal puts out regular alerts for endangered people in areas that could be affected by extreme weather events. The SACHET portal has disseminated 12.73K alerts in various states of India during times of crisis.
The Council on Energy Environment & Water (CEEW) also published a statewise vulnerability score ranking in 2021. The ranking found that Assam is the Indian state most vulnerable to climate change. Several factors are responsible for Assam’s extreme vulnerability. chief among which is the presence of the expansive Brahmaputra and Barak river basins, and Assam’s fast dwindling green cover.
Figure 3: Statewise Vulnerability
Source: Council on Energy Environment & Water Report
4. One of the ways to address the impacts of climate change, including migration, is through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Under the Companies Act, 2013, certain companies are mandated to allocate a portion of their profits towards CSR, and some have done so by directing their efforts towards environmental conservation, climate change adaptation, and helping build resilience to environmental challenges. Some of these initiatives include projects supporting biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture, and renewable energy, all of which contribute to environmental sustainability and help mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Further, There is also a growing need to address climate-induced migration within the CSR framework. India, being one of the countries most affected by climate change-induced migration, has seen millions of people being displaced from their homes due to climate-related events. Humanitarian aid for climate refugees is being considered as part of CSR initiatives, aiming to provide support for those displaced by climate change, as reported by India Development Review (IDR).
This shift towards recognising and addressing climate-induced migration within the CSR landscape reflects an awareness of the need to support vulnerable populations impacted by environmental challenges. From 2019-21, however, there was no significant increase in CSR expenditure, due to the impact of Covid-19 from 2020 onwards.
Figure 4:The allocation of CSR expenditure for environmental concerns has been minimal over the years compared to total CSR contributions
Source: Ministry of Corporate Affairs
In conclusion, the impact of climate change on migration in India is a pressing and complex issue that requires urgent attention and comprehensive policy responses. Vulnerable populations, particularly those in low-income states such as Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, have been disproportionately affected by this issue, leading to widespread displacement. These populations encounter socio-economic challenges like having to learn new skills to be relevant in the labour market, continuing their education, and overcoming language barriers. Recent research recognises climate change as a major factor in driving migration, and underscores the need for proactive measures to address its vulnerable migrants.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives in India have started to acknowledge and respond to these challenges by focusing on environmental sustainability and supporting climate-resilient livelihoods. However, there is a need for enhanced collaboration between the government, private sector, and civil society to develop and implement holistic strategies that can effectively address the complex interplay between climate change, extreme weather events, and migration in India.
Tusharveer Singh and Bushra Ansari both work at ISDM DataSights, supported by Capgemini.
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