There has a huge sense of confidence in the financial capital of India with the Economic Times and financial journals publishing updates about billions of dollars of long term investments being pumped into this metropolis. A wise acquaintance once laughed when I read out loud from one of these news updates of a multi billion dollar infrastructure investment which they expect would start to yield fantastic return in 25 years from now. I asked him why the chuckling and he replied “Isn’t it funny that people would make these massive long term investments in a city that is likely to be under the sea by the time they expect their investment to start turning a profit?”

As terrifying as his answer was…..he was right. Global warming, melting ice caps and the current direction of climate change don’t really care how invincible a mega city may seem. It takes no prisoners and Mumbai which is already seeing the signs of sinking is among the most vulnerable victims with low lands and no natural barriers to rising sea levels.

This report by CNN IBN on the sinking metropolis highlights the signs are there and Mumbai is on a disastrous path as a result of global warming, it’s low lying lands, lack of natural barriers and severe deforestation. Watch this!

So while the investments keep pouring in and the confidence levels that everything is on an upward path seem ever increasing one can’t help but think that perhaps some of this could be diverted into reversing the carbon emissions rate, afforestation, better planning, creating more awareness and preparing for what appears to be inevitable. More mangroves and green cover are being leveled to make way for more concrete, more roads for more cars and the lifestyles increasingly ignoring the effects on nature. The seasonal flooding is expected to increase, the erosion at the coast lines expected to worsen and the sinking of the city to become a more serious issue that the people need to think about.

The concern is : are the people of Mumbai willing to be the change, put their foot down, stop and say “we need to be a part of the solution and protect our city from going under”. If we have the resolve to drive the change it’s citizens could still be living there in the years and decades to come. If it’s ignored till it’s too late, it could be the fish who live there some time from now.