Climate Change Impacts, Vulnerability, and Mitigation in the Indian Ocean Region: Policy Suggestions

Abstract

Climate Change is considered as the mother of many global concerns in the twenty-first century and is a significant driver of biodiversity loss leading to major threats to species, ecosystems, and people’s livelihood around the globe, in general, and the Indian Ocean in particular. Warming of oceans and ocean acidification can prove critical and challenging for the present and future generations. Oceans are one major realm that is impacted due to the natural climatic fluctuations and other anthropomorphic activities. The capacity of oceans to absorb carbon dioxide, a significant ecosystem service, is declining over time continuously with increasing carbon emissions. Thus, a reduction in greenhouse gases calls for alternate energy resources that are more secure, efficient, and environmental friendly. Moreover, the scenario of climate change vulnerabilities in developing countries is studied extensively. The unanimous call by a great majority of the scientific community is for a drastic reduction in greenhouse gasses particularly CO₂ as well as significant measures aiming at conservation of resources. The Indian Ocean climatic conditions and its variations are studied to arrive at climate mitigation measures. It also attempts to deliver constructive recommendations toward policy development. A good policy should account for alternative risk reduction strategies-mitigation, adaptation, and insurance.