The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) recently published the ‘State of India’s Environment 2020 in Figures’ report, highlighting the environmental challenges that India faced in 2019. The report underscores that India experienced approximately five million internal displacements due to disasters and extreme weather conditions such as floods, cyclones, and droughts.
Internal Displacement in India: Highest Globally
Internal displacement refers to forced relocation within one’s own country due to conflict, violence, development projects, natural disasters, or climate change. Notably, this figure pertains to the number of movements rather than individuals, as a person can experience displacement multiple times. In 2019, India topped the global chart in terms of internal displacements.
Such displacements were primarily due to flooding resulting from the south-west monsoon, followed by Cyclones Fani, Vayu, and Bulbul, along with drought conditions. This has triggered a significant wave of migration for employment from one state to another.
The Impact of Covid-19 on Displacement
The Covid-19 pandemic and its resultant lockdown further exacerbated the situation. Lack of employment opportunities and food scarcity compelled many migrant workers to return to their hometowns.
Based on the 2011 Census data, India had over 450 million migrants at the time, with most migrating within their own state. Among these, over 17 million new migrants had moved for employment purposes, predominantly from rural to urban areas.
Additional Findings
The report also provides insights into various areas including sustainable development, livestock, forests, water, waste, air, land, wildlife, other natural resources, environmental crimes, and the global economic risk.
India faces major hurdles in attaining all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG1 (No Poverty) and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). It is alarming that the forest cover has diminished in 38% of districts, and five out of 21 river basins are now subjected to absolute water scarcity. Only Punjab managed an average national ranking in water resource management.
Status of Tigers
The report revealed a silver lining concerning tiger conservation. There were 747 more tigers in 2018 than in 2014. However, the net area allocated for tiger conservation decreased by 179 square kilometers.
Environment Crime and Global Risk
In 2018 alone, India recorded a staggering total of 35,196 environmental crimes. The majority of these cases are still pending police verification and court proceedings.
The global risk refers to an uncertain event or condition that can significantly impact multiple countries or industries over the next decade. The top four global risks in terms of probability are all environment-related: extreme weather, climate action failures, natural disasters, and biodiversity loss. Failure of climate change mitigation and adaptation is ranked as the top risk in terms of the severity of impact over the next ten years.
Looking Ahead
The report serves as an eye-opener about the pressing issues related to the environment and biodiversity, development, poverty, and internal migration. It offers a deeper understanding of their impacts and aids in better decision-making to address these problems.
There is an urgent requirement to initiate efforts towards environmental conservation, expedite resolution of environmental crimes, offer livelihoods to migrants, and achieve the SDGs. To prevent any further harm to the environment and humans, both the central and state governments must collaborate effectively.