INDIAS CLIMATE DIPLOMACY FOR INDOPACIFIC PORTS Anirudh Ramakrishna
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INDIA’S CLIMATE DIPLOMACY FOR INDO-PACIFIC PORTS Anirudh Ramakrishna Phadke
INTRODUCTION Several critical ports in the Indo-Pacific region are hubs of international trade and at the same time vulnerable to typhoons, taller waves and erosion. India hosts several vital commercial ports – responsible for over 90 percent of India’s trade by volume – that are vulnerable to climate change. In fact, the majority of ports in the Indo. Pacific region, carrying heavy traffic, are in a similar state India’s climate diplomacy at the regional level could activate climate-resilient pathways for port development and management.
INDIAN PORTS’ INCREASING CLIMATE VULNERABILITIES • A 2018 study on Paradip port has could result in taller waves, sand deposition and erosion by next 25 years. • Probability of intensified climatic conditions • A NASA study in 2017, revealed that many port cities in India likely to be inundated in the next 100 years.
INDIA’S PORTLED NATIONAL AND REGIONAL STRATEGY The Indian government strives to enhance port-led development of the country by boosting port linked industries. A 2500 km long east coast economic corridor linking Kolkata to kanyakumari which almost connects all the ports in eastern coast of India. Further more India and Japan are jointly developing ports which is a counter-strategy to China’s MSR.
A REGIONAL STRATEGY THROUGH CLIMATE DIPLOMACY
DEVELOP A CLIMATE ACTION STRATEGY AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL SAGAR- SECURITY AND GROWTH FOR ALL IN THE REGION • While India attempts to tap into its blue economy potential along with its regional partners in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), it also needs to undertake elaborate steps-technical, logistical, technological and regulatory – to develop climateresilient ports in the region, an effort that could be steered by climate diplomacy.
PROMOTE RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR PORTS AND SHIPPING INDUSTRY Conversion of ports • Into renewable source • Climate resilient ports Strategy aimed at streamlining regulations by IMO, SDGs, Paris agreement. Shipping accounts for 3% of the world’s green house emissions.
REDUCE COSTS OF CLIMATE SOLUTIONS Through climate diplomacy, countries of IOR can work towards sustainability and reducing costs by promoting initiatives like the world ports climate initiatives. • All countries rich or poor- will be affected by climate-realted impacts. • $31 -49 billion is the projected cost of upgrading asia-pacific’s biggest ports to cope with the effects of climate change. • These above estimation was analyzing ports in Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Singapore.
