Welcome to Donate Your Sweat

Changing Patterns of Water Resources- Impact of Climate Change on Water

Climate Change- A Vicious Circle
Just a few days ago, we were all boiling, hot and bothered by the heat and humidity of the rising temperatures of summer. India was declared to be the hottest land on earth with temperatures rising above 50 degrees Celsius and swarms of locusts migrating from the deserts of Rajasthan due to notwithstanding heat. This is the situation we are living in right now. We have learnt to battle viruses, locusts, cyclones and earthquakes in just a few months of this New Year. Why is it that we have had to endure so many disasters at the same time? Do we blame it on astrology or destiny or just simply accept the fact that earth has had enough of us misusing its resources and it has now decided to fight back? Climate scientists have been reporting again and again that climate changes are happening due to the disruption of the water cycles.

It is an entire vicious circle that started from us craving economic growth and abusing earth’s resources and can only be stopped if we decide to change our living habits.

The Relationship between Climate Change and Water Resources

The relationship between water, energy, agriculture and climate is as important as it is complex. Climate change has the potential to tip out of balance the relatively stable climate in which civilization has been built and jeopardize the security of water, food and energy systems. Due to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, we have seen a rapid rise in temperatures in the last 20 years. These rising temperatures have led to severe global warming which in turn is affecting our water resources. The rising temperatures are melting the arctic snow caps or in this matter the snow glaciers in the Himalayas which are the flowing sources for most of the major rivers flowing across India. As the core of the earth heats up, we can see shifts in water beds which cause major tsunamis and cyclones across the vast coastal area of India. These cyclones severely affect the coastal areas destroying houses, agricultural lands and disrupting people’s lives immensely. Due to increasing demand for domestic, industrial and agriculture use, most river basins are water-stressed. This is further accentuated by the fact that water demand is unevenly distributed across the country. Increasing demand from a growing population, coupled with economic activity, adds pressure on the already stressed water resources.  Every year alternative we deal with severe drought in some areas whereas floods in the other due to the fluctuating temperatures. It is the earth’s way of fighting back and telling us to stop abusing the environment, the resources and poisoning the planet with industrial expanses and technological advancements at the cost of the ecosystem.

There is no real right or wrong answer here. The simple fact is that we need to rethink our lifestyles and incorporate the ecosystem and the impact of climate change on water resources in our yearly agendas and future plans.

Though most of us are now consciously making an effort to save water on a personal level, this problem goes way beyond individualistic efforts. We need to come together as a community and create awareness regarding climate change, global warming and the disappearing water resources. We will be leaving a horrible world behind for the next generation if don’t act now. Donate Your Sweat believes that we need to be the change we want to see in the world. So let us all pledge to spread awareness regarding the impact of climate change on water resources and dedicate some time and effort of our lives to make a change.