Back to the future

It is February 2060. The earth's temperature is 2 °C above the pre-industrial period. I am on Kosbad Hill with survivors of the sea-level rise in Dahanu, a coastal town 120 km north of Mumbai. About 25 years ago, the Arabian Sea was about 6 km from the hill, and is now touching it. We are in a mud-thatched cottage, keeping ourselves cooler from the scorching sun outside.

Fisherfolks have migrated to the hill but find no fish to catch in the sea. All the fish have migrated to cooler oceans in the north, near the Arctic. Most aquatic life has died because of low oxygen levels in the sea. Sea turtles, corals, and other flora & fauna have become extinct in the coastal regions. Ocean warming, acidification, and intense storms have affected aquatic and seaside life. Mangroves have disappeared. Poor people whose livelihood depends on agriculture and coastal resources are the most vulnerable.

Heat waves have become a regular phenomenon in South Asia, and thousands die every year. Drought in central India has caused starvation, deaths, and mass migration. Millions of survivors have tried to migrate to Eurasia and other northern countries. A lot of them face violent opposition from the local population. Sahyadri mountain range has stopped the Arabian Sea from going further inwards. However, the rainforests on the Sahyadri have almost vanished because of forest fires.

Food production has decreased due to droughts, forest fires, and the extinction of pollinating insects. Flooding has affected much of the land. Flash floods, cyclones, typhoons, and thunderstorms have disrupted the lives of millions worldwide. I have been volunteering to help people adapt to unpredictable situations they face every day.

I wondered if I had a time machine like Doc and Marty McFly of "Back to the Future," I would like to go back to February 2025 and change the course of the future. Suddenly, there was a thunderstorm, and I fell from the bed and woke up. Thank God, it was a dream; I am still in 2025 and can still change the course of the future! Together with Hyurja (https://www.hyurja.com/), let's build a greener future for all.