Sir — This refers to the article, “Renewed threats from rising sea levels (March 1) by Kota Sriraj. Reports indicating a rise in sea levels are could not have not come a day too soon. All naturally occurring phenomena, like global warming and extreme weather fluctuations, indicate trends where conditions are expected to be going bad to worse.
Sea-level rise will not only affect protective vegetation like mangroves causing further damage to the coastlines and economic loss, but cause unpredictable estuarine flooding in many areas around the globe. Countries like New Zealand have already made visa provisions for new refugees from the Pacific Islands which will be the first to face disappearance of their countries under the sea. Earlier, sea level rise predictions have placed Mumbai and Mangalore in vulnerable zone.
All new researches cannot be overlooked and for once, humanity has to decide if it wants survival or an apocalypse. The emphasis on saving our environment is no more a fad. The developing world has to have its development, but cost must be counted. Blame-game between developing countries, especially China and India, and rich economies must stop. Both a strong leadership in China and a dispensation with a massive support of the people in India may continue to lead the world in tandem with serious efforts from the European countries. The trend must be reversed.