Climate change puts Gujarat’s coastal cities at risk including Surat, Bhavnagar and Porbandar

A new climate report by researchers at Azim Premji University has raised concerns over the growing impact of climate change on India's coastline, warning that several coastal regions could face severe environmental challenges by 2040.

Based on an assessment of India's 11,000-kilometre coastline, the report highlights increasing risks of flooding, extreme rainfall, rising temperatures and sea-level rise across major coastal cities.

The report identifies Gujarat and its leading district capital Surat as among the cities in the country that have been declared highly vulnerable to climate change.

Due to increasing global warming, coastal areas of Gujarat and urban centers like Surat are facing weather hazards with the threat of flooding, rising sea levels and extreme heat.

3 major cities of Gujarat have been identified under this risk.

Potential impacts in Surat: Flooding, extreme heat, and risk of cyclones from the Arabian Sea.

Potential impacts in Bhavnagar: Coastal subsidence, increased salinity, and storm surge.

Potential impacts in Porbandar: Cyclone, sea level rise and adverse impacts on fisheries.

At the same time, stronger cyclones in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, along with melting Himalayan glaciers, are contributing to rising sea levels and greater weather uncertainty.

Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata in crisis

Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, Visakhapatnam, Kolkata, Mangaluru and coastal cities of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala are included in this list.

Mumbai: Sea level rise, storm surges and heavy rainfall will all pose a triple threat, causing flooding in low-lying areas.

Chennai and Tamil Nadu: Strong cyclones, heavy rainfall, urban flooding, coastal erosion and salinization of freshwater sources will be a problem.

East Coast (Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Puri, Paradip): Rising sea temperatures will increase the intensity of cyclones and the risk of flooding.

Kerala (Kochi, Kozhikode): 'Wet-bulb' temperatures will increase, along with heavy rains, flooding and sea erosion.

Bengal and Sundarbans: The risk of flooding due to rivers and seas will increase in Kolkata and Haldia, putting agriculture and human settlements at risk.

Researchers warn that climate change could severely impact fisheries, agriculture, tourism, ports and other coastal industries that support millions of livelihoods.

Critical infrastructure, including roads, power systems, ports and housing, may also come under increasing pressure from frequent natural disasters.

The report calls for urgent action through improved flood management, climate-resilient infrastructure, restoration of coastal ecosystems and better urban planning. 

Without timely intervention, India's coastal cities could face deeper flooding, more intense rainfall and dangerous heat conditions within the next 15 years.