Monalisha Acharya
The discourse on climate change has conventionally centered around melting glaciers, elevated temperatures, and diminishing forests. However, one domain where its consequences are increasingly tangible—and critical—is maritime security. India, endowed with an extensive coastline of over 7,500 kilometers and a strategic position in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), stands at the intersection of this evolving environmental landscape.
As I delved into this subject during my research at the IMPRI, I discerned that climate change is not a remote, theoretical peril. It is unfolding here and now— reshaping shorelines, displacing communities, and challenging our traditional concepts of national security. My journey led me through coastal Odisha, where I observed firsthand how escalating sea levels and intrusion of saltwater are quietly yet resolutely transforming the lives of individuals who have relied on the sea for generations.
This blog encapsulates the crux of my discoveries and experiences: that climate change poses a direct threat to India’s maritime security and necessitates a more comprehensive, forward-thinking response that humanizes the implications of this evolving reality.
Coastal India: Where Climate and Security Intersect
India’s coastal regions are not merely significant for commerce and tourism—they serve as vital arteries for economic activity, military strategies, and food security. Ports like Mumbai, Chennai, and Visakhapatnam act as pivotal nodes for international trade, while the presence of the Indian Navy in these regions ensures a strategic balance in the IOR. Nonetheless, the increasing incidence of cyclones, coastal erosion, and rising sea levels are now jeopardizing these vital assets.
For instance, in Odisha, communities along the Bay of Bengal have witnessed their settlements being engulfed by the sea over the past decade. The infiltration of saltwater has left farmlands unproductive and rendered freshwater sources unusable. These incidents are not isolated; they indicate a broader pattern of environmental displacement and structural fragility.
Climate Change: A New Layer of Security Risk
Traditionally, maritime security has focused on threats like piracy, smuggling, illegal fishing, and territorial disputes. However, climate change is now functioning as a ‘threat multiplier,’ exacerbating existing vulnerabilities and giving rise to new challenges:
- Rising Sea Levels are jeopardizing ports, naval bases, and coastal infrastructure, rendering them more susceptible to floods and prolonged erosion.
- Extreme Weather Events, such as cyclones and storm surges, disrupt shipping lanes and naval operations, often necessitating urgent humanitarian interventions.
- Coastal Erosion is displacing populations, weakening natural protections like mangroves, and heightening the strain on disaster management systems.
- Alterations in Marine Ecosystems are imperiling fish stocks and food security, fueling competition over maritime resources.
- Salinity Intrusion is impacting both agriculture and military installations reliant on freshwater sources.
From a geopolitical standpoint, the melting Arctic is creating new maritime routes, reshaping global shipping dynamics, and intensifying competition among major powers. For India, this signifies that the Indian Ocean is transforming into a more contested arena, demanding not only naval prowess but also environmental insight.
India’s Response: Progress and Gaps
India has taken substantial strides to fortify its maritime posture. Initiatives such as the Integrated Coastal Surveillance System (ICSS), Operation Sankalp, and the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) underscore India’s dedication to safeguarding its maritime frontiers. Diplomatically, India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine and its active involvement in the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) advocate for regional cooperation and shared maritime governance.
Encouragingly, the Indian Navy has begun implementing eco-friendly practices, encompassing the utilization of renewable energy in ports and endeavors to curb carbon emissions in operations.
Nonetheless, my research reveals that these measures should further evolve to address climate-specific challenges. We must transition from reactive disaster responses to proactive climate resilience, including fortifying infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events, integrating climate science into security planning, and establishing robust early-warning systems.
Key Findings
My research highlights the critical intersection of environmental and security risks in coastal regions. The accelerating rate of sea level rise, which has nearly doubled since the previous century, poses significant threats to communities and infrastructure. Coastal states like Odisha, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu are particularly vulnerable, facing compounded challenges of poverty, environmental deterioration, and heightened security risks.
Geopolitical Implications
The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is experiencing escalating geopolitical turbulence, driven by emerging new routes and dwindling resources. This could potentially turn the region into a focal point for strategic tensions, underscoring the need for enhanced regional collaboration.
Collective Action
Climate change transcends borders, necessitating shared responsibility and collective endeavors. There is a pressing need for regional cooperation to address these challenges and mitigate the impacts of climate change on coastal communities and ecosystems. By working together, we can build resilience and ensure a more sustainable future for all.
Conclusion
India’s maritime domain is vital not only for trade and defense but for the millions whose lives intertwine with it. As climate change continues to mold our oceans, we must adapt our strategies and broaden our perception of what security entails.
Securing the coastline is no longer merely about defending borders—it encompasses upholding livelihoods, conserving ecosystems, and preparing for an uncertain horizon. The sea unites us all; let’s frame it within the context of human experiences.
Research Journey
My journey as a Research Fellow at the Impact & Policy Research Institute, New Delhi, has been marked by an enriching engagement with nuanced themes such as maritime security, climate change, and their intersection within the broader realm of national and regional policy. Steering discourse around these contemporary issues has not only deepened my academic perspective but also enhanced my understanding of India’s strategic imperatives in the Indo-Pacific.
Interactions with luminaries like Ambassador Shashank and Prof. Swaran Singh have broadened my intellectual horizon, offering me exposure to diverse schools of thought in diplomacy and foreign policy. From delving into India’s maritime strategy and blue economy prospects to understanding the climate-induced vulnerabilities of coastal regions and their implications on national security, this experience has significantly accelerated my learning curve in the domain of geopolitics and environmental diplomacy.
External References
About the contributor: Monalisha Acharya is a fellow at DFPGYF Diplomacy, Foreign Policy & Geopolitics Youth Fellow at IMPRI and is pursuing an MBA in Rural Management at KIIT School of Rural Management (KSRM), Bhubaneswar.
Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.
Read more at IMPRI:
Trump’s NATO Gamble Demands a Strategic Reset from India
Acknowledgment: This article was posted by Bhaktiba Jadeja, visiting researcher and assistant editor at IMPRI.
