The preliminary findings of a global study by World Bank estimate the cost of adaptation to climate change for developing countries at around US$75-100 billion a year for the period 2010 to 2050. The cost is associated with huge additional infrastructure costs, controlling of drought, disease and for  supporting dramatic reductions in agricultural productivity. Developing countries need to be prepared for the adverse impact of climate change as the poor people in these  countries are most affected by it. The report says that the decision makers in developing countries have to assess the risks posed by climate change and formulate better strategies to combat climate change especially for the most vulnerable communities such as island and coastal people in developing countries. The International Fund for Adaptation for Climate Change has to be formed by developed countries to support the poor in  developing countries.

Tropical fishery hit by climate change

According to latest findings, climate change will have a major impact on world fisheries, affecting ocean food supply throughout the world. It is believed that climate change may lead to a 30% to 70% decrease in catch potential in high-latitude regions and a drop of up to 40% in the tropics. Many tropical island populations  rely heavily on the fish catch for their daily meals. The regions with the highest decrease in catch potential by 2055 include: Norway, Greenland, Alaska and the east coast of Russia. The regions with the largest expected loss include Indonesia, the United States (excluding Alaska and Hawaii), Chile and China. The major shifts in fish populations will create a host of changes in ocean ecosystems resulting in species loss and trouble for the people who depend on fishing for livelihood and food. The shift will occur as warmer waters drive new species to colder regions. The study also warned of  the loss of 1,066 species ranging from krill to sharks and stated that  70%  of the world’s catch is at  risk because of climate change. 

Affecting Ayurveda

Climate change poses a huge challenge for ayurvedic medicine and many medicinal plants are vanishing from India due to climatic shocks like floods and droughts. The All India Ayurveda Congress expressed concern, saying that climate change is gradually affecting the livelihood of 600,000 ayurveda practitioners who are very dependent on medicinal plants that are available naturally in the ecosystem.  The loss of biodiversity is causing a lot of medicinal plants to disappear. It is critical to categorise these vanishing medicinal plants and  make efforts to replant with them with the help of  institutions like National Medicinal Plant Board in India. Several herbal plants like Kutki, Atisha, Kasturi and Prabal are facing extinction. This problem is also affecting the growers of medicinal plants. A decision has also been taken  to support proper registration of ayurveda doctors so that those practising it illegally can be penalised  as well as promoting proper research in the ayurvedic medicine.

Added impacts

Scientists have found that the rate of climate change over the next century could be higher than previously anticipated when the requirements of plant nutrients are included in the climate model.  Until now  climate models ignored the nutrient requirements for new vegetation growth and assumed that all plants on earth had access to as much plant food as they needed. This however,  is not true. By taking the natural demand for nutrients into account, the researchers have shown  through the simulation, that plant growth over the coming century may be two to three times less than previously predicted. This will lead to  less absorption of CO2 by plants in the future. But this reduction in growth will be  partially offset by an increase in the availability of nutrients from the  accelerated rate of decomposition of dead plants and other organic matter resulting from the rise in temperature. However, even  these two effects, may not be able to  mitigate the reduced level of plant growth.