Note: [+] Acknowledgement:The author is grateful to Prof. Bharat H Desai, Jawaharlal Nehru Chair and Professor of International Law, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, for very useful discussions and suggestions in the making of successive drafts of this article.
Abstract: Wetland ecosystems, freshwater, coastal and coral reefs, are important ecosystems as they provide many ecological services and ensure livelihood of people. The increase in carbon dioxide and global temperatures change in precipitation patterns, and acidification of oceans can adversely affect these ecosystems. It is expected that increase in temperature in lakes, reservoirs and coastal seas will affect flora, fauna and fisheries. The increase in sea level can erode shorelines and coastal habitats. Coral reefs can degrade due to increase in temperature, sea level rise and acidification. The ecological services provided by these ecosystems have economic value and thus any loss of these habitats can affect livelihood of communities. The global watershed and coastal management approaches such as the 1971 Ramsar Convention and 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide key tools to protect these ecosystems. A robust global wetland information repository system needs to be developed for providing necessary data to effectively model climate change impacts at local and regional levels. The knowledge about climate risks to wetlands, integrated with effective governance at national, regional and global levels along with informed people, are key elements for protection and sustainable future of wetlands. It is in this global context and decisions of the successive Ramsar Conference of Parties (COP), within the limits of time and space, this study has sought to examine the climatic risks to the wetland’s ecosystems. The data and the situation in the Indian sub-continent have been used as an example for the purpose. We need to look for concrete ideas and solutions to address the challenge of climate change risks to the wetland ecosystem at the juncture of Stockholm+50 (2022) and beyond.
