MEV 025: Unit 06 – Impacts of climate change on vital system security
UNIT 6: IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON VITAL SYSTEM SECURITY
6.1 Introduction
Climate change poses a profound threat not only
to natural ecosystems and communities but also to the vital systems that
sustain modern societies. These systems include water supply, agriculture,
energy networks, transportation, healthcare, and communication—collectively
termed critical infrastructure. Disruptions in any of these areas can
cascade into widespread societal and economic instability.
As the frequency and intensity of
climate-related hazards grow—ranging from droughts and floods to heatwaves and
sea-level rise—so does the risk to vital system security. It becomes essential
for governments, institutions, and communities to understand these
vulnerabilities and build resilient systems that can adapt to future climate
scenarios.
6.2 Objectives
- To understand the concept of vital system security in the context
of climate change.
- To identify the major risks posed by climate change to physical and
social systems.
- To analyze the effects of climate change on critical
infrastructure.
- To explore global mitigation efforts, including the Paris
Agreement.
- To outline adaptation strategies to ensure security of vital systems.
6.3 Risks of Climate Change
Climate change presents multifaceted risks to
human development and safety. These risks include:
- Increased frequency of natural disasters (e.g.,
floods, droughts, cyclones)
- Long-term shifts in climate patterns (e.g., changing
monsoons, rising temperatures)
- Rising sea levels threatening coastal
infrastructure
- Agricultural disruptions, food shortages, and
water stress
- Public health crises due to vector-borne
diseases and heatwaves
- Stress on energy supply and transport networks
These risks are systemic and often
interlinked—meaning a disruption in one sector (e.g., water supply) can affect
others (e.g., agriculture, health).
6.4 Impacts of Climate Change
on Social and Physical Systems
6.4.1 Impacts on Physical Systems
- Hydrological Systems: Glacial retreat,
changing precipitation patterns, and drying rivers reduce freshwater
availability.
- Soil and Land: Increased erosion, salinization, and desertification affect land
productivity.
- Biodiversity: Loss of species and habitat fragmentation affect ecosystems and
livelihoods.
- Urban Areas: Urban heat islands and overwhelmed drainage systems during
storms.
6.4.2 Social Impacts
- Food Insecurity: Crop failure and food price volatility affect low-income
populations.
- Water Conflicts: Water scarcity heightens inter-regional and international
disputes.
- Displacement and Migration: Climate refugees seek
shelter in already stressed urban zones.
- Mental Health: Anxiety, depression, and trauma increase post-disaster or during
prolonged exposure to climate risks.
- Social Inequality: Marginalized groups
face disproportionate exposure and have limited adaptive capacity.
6.5 Impact of Climate Change
on Critical Infrastructure
6.5.1 Water Supply
Infrastructure
- Risk: Reduced glacial melt and erratic rainfall affect water reservoirs
and dams.
- Impact: Urban and rural communities face seasonal shortages; increased
cost of water treatment.
- Example: Cape Town’s 2018 “Day Zero” water crisis highlighted
vulnerability even in developed cities.
6.5.2 Impact on Agriculture
Systems
- Risk: Changes in temperature, rainfall, and CO₂ levels affect crop
yields.
- Impact: Food supply chain disruptions, rural unemployment, increased
dependence on imports.
- Example: Droughts in India’s Vidarbha region have caused recurring
agricultural distress.
6.5.3 Public Health Systems
- Risk: Spread of vector-borne diseases (e.g., dengue, malaria),
heatstroke, malnutrition.
- Impact: Increased patient load, stressed healthcare services, need for
climate-resilient hospitals.
- Example: Heatwaves in Northern India (e.g., 2022) led to hundreds of
deaths and hospitalizations.
6.5.4 Energy Production and
Delivery
- Risk: Hydropower output is threatened by low water availability;
thermal plants face cooling challenges.
- Impact: Energy shortages, power outages, and higher electricity costs.
- Example: In Europe, several nuclear plants had to shut down or reduce
output due to overheated cooling water.
6.5.5 Transportation
- Risk: Floods and heatwaves damage roads, railways, and airports.
- Impact: Disruption in supply chains, increased maintenance costs, safety
hazards.
- Example: Mumbai’s suburban rail network frequently halts during monsoon
floods.
6.6 Reducing the Effects of
the Climate Change
Efforts to reduce climate impacts fall into two
broad categories: mitigation and adaptation.
Mitigation focuses on reducing greenhouse gas
emissions, while adaptation aims to make human systems more resilient.
6.6.1 The Paris Agreement
- Adopted in 2015 at COP21 in Paris.
- Aim: Limit global warming to well below 2°C, preferably to 1.5°C
above pre-industrial levels.
- Commitments include:
- Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
- Climate finance for developing countries
- Technology transfer and capacity building
- India has pledged to reduce emissions intensity of GDP and enhance
forest cover.
6.7 Adaptation Strategies for
Vital System Security
To secure vital systems from climate risks, the
following adaptation strategies are essential:
- Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: Building flood-proof
roads, elevated power stations, green roofs, and permeable pavements.
- Smart Water Management: Rainwater harvesting,
watershed development, and leak detection systems.
- Agro-Ecological Practices: Crop diversification, precision
irrigation, and heat-tolerant seed varieties.
- Early Warning Systems: Satellite and
sensor-based alerts for storms, floods, and heatwaves.
- Decentralized Renewable Energy: Solar and wind energy
reduce dependence on grid-based systems vulnerable to disasters.
- Public Health Preparedness: Climate-health
surveillance, mobile clinics, and awareness campaigns.
- Urban Planning: Zoning laws to prevent construction in flood-prone areas and
coastal zones.
6.8 Let Us Sum Up
- Climate change threatens the security of vital systems that
underpin human society.
- Water, agriculture, health, energy, and transport sectors are
particularly vulnerable.
- Both physical and social systems experience interlinked impacts,
often intensifying existing inequalities.
- The Paris Agreement provides a global framework for mitigation,
while localized adaptation is key for resilience.
- Governments, private sectors, and communities must collaboratively
implement strategies to secure vital systems in the face of climate
uncertainties.
6.9 Keywords
- Vital System Security – Protection of
essential infrastructure and services like water, energy, health, and
transport.
- Critical Infrastructure – Physical systems vital
to a nation’s functioning and public welfare.
- Climate Adaptation – Adjustments to reduce
vulnerability to climate impacts.
- Climate Mitigation – Actions to limit
greenhouse gas emissions and slow global warming.
- Agro-Ecology – Sustainable farming systems adapted to local environmental
conditions.
- Water Scarcity – Insufficient availability of water to meet demand.
- Paris Agreement – Global treaty to combat climate change by reducing emissions.
- Climate Refugees – People displaced by
climate-related factors.
- Vector-Borne Diseases – Illnesses transmitted
by mosquitoes, ticks, or fleas.
- Early Warning Systems – Tools and technologies
to forecast and alert about extreme weather events.
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