New Delhi: The rising heat index during the summer months in Bengal has led to a manifold increase in the cases of high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. stomach achesaid Purnamita Dasgupta, IPCC author and chair of environmental economics at the University of Delhi. Speaking at an event to mark the 50th anniversary of the IPCC west bengal pollution control boardIn his keynote address, Dasgupta emphasised the health impacts of climate change.

Heat waves and cyclones are increasing
“Bengal because of its historical importance geographic location”It is one of the most vulnerable states in India,” Dasgupta said. “The number of heat wave days and the frequency of cyclones have increased tremendously.” Dasgupta and his team analyzed morbidity and mortality data in Bengal, finding a significant correlation between the two. Rising Temperatures And Health complications,

Air pollution and climate change
Abhijit Chatterjee of the Bose Institute highlighted the dual threat posed by air pollution and climate change. “Both air pollution and climate change have the same sources. Fighting air pollution proves to be beneficial for reducing climate change,” he explained. Chatterjee’s study indicates that air pollution is increasingly threatening the mangrove ecosystem of the Sundarbans in West Bengal, which acts as a natural barrier protecting Kolkata from extreme weather.

“The study has shown that a large amount of pollutants, mainly black carbon or soot particles, are coming from Kolkata and the entire city.” Indo-Gangetic Plain “Due to pollution in the IGP area, the air quality of Sundarbans is deteriorating and its ecosystem is getting affected,” Chatterjee said.

crisis on water resources
Kalyan Rudra, chairman of the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB), addressed the severe strain on Bengal’s water resources due to rising demand and wastage. “With the growing population, per capita water availability is set to fall from 5,177 cubic metres in 1951 to 1,465 cubic metres in 2025,” Rudra said.

Since the mid-1960s India has moved from dryland crops to more productive crops. Varieties with high water consumptionIndiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is leading to overexploitation of groundwater and contamination of the food chain. Emphasizing the need for sustainable water management practices, Rudra said, “Harnessing every drop of rainwater is a national priority. We must focus on localized, decentralized water resource management, which is cost-effective and encourages community participation.”

International cooperation and future outlook
Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata Andlib Elias echoed Rudra’s concerns and highlighted the disproportionate impact of climate change on Bangladesh. Global greenhouse gas “Emissions in our country are negligible, yet we are bearing the brunt of climate change. With the current rate of temperature increase, it is not far when at least one-third of our country will be submerged in water,” Elias warned.

Both Ilyas and Rudra emphasised the importance of India-Bangladesh collaboration in research and data exchange to tackle the impacts of climate change. They advocated international support through a loss and damage fund to protect sensitive areas like the Sundarbans.

Rudra concluded his remarks by quoting ecologist Hubert Reeves: “We are at war with nature. If we win, we lose.” This sentiment underscored the urgent need for sustainable practices and resilient economic activities to protect both human health and the environment in the face of climate change.