The forgotten : 30 Millions of refugees by 2050
The Bengal delta is certainly one of the regions of the world most affected by the consequences of global warming.
The melting of the Himalayan ice is causing an increase in floods and avalanches in the whole region of West Bengal.
Many dams built since India's independence (1947) are all upstream of the Delta and significantly reduce the supply of fresh water to the rivers.
The rise in sea level and the increase in natural disasters are causing worrying soil erosion. The sea is invading the agricultural territory too quickly, increasing the salinization of the land. Soils are degrading, several islands have already been submerged.
In addition, the dams retaining alluvial deposits, the agricultural soils are impoverished, pushing farmers to seek new land to cultivate. It is estimated that the area available for cultivation will be reduced by more than 30% by 2050.
The Sundarbans region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, is home to the largest mangrove forest in the world.
It is a natural barrier of 10 000 km2 that acts against tides, storms and cyclones. The forest abounds in wood, honey and fish. It is also the habitat of the main tiger population.
The coal industry employs over 13 million people. Despite the extreme pollution caused by the exploitation of this fossil energy, India continues to open thermal power plants. A new project will soon be built on the edge of the Sundarbans (Bangladesh side), which could further endanger this unique ecosystem.
The whole ecosystem is disturbed, weakened, and climate refugees are estimated at 30 million (India and Bangladesh together) by 2050.
![Barrage de Farakka, bengale occidental, inde, fevrier 2022, Farakka dam, west bengal, india, february 2022](https://format.creatorcdn.com/55359057-daef-4dfd-b6ab-5cbdfa18aa5d/0/0/0/0,0,2000,1334,2000,1200/0-0-0/5d48bfc9-727d-4d24-84b1-29340029e6c6/1/1/Rechauffement-Climatique-Inde-Alexandra-de-Dives-3.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037548456~hmac=553b019851cc3465b70593fd58fb5408ffd18277baf827d6286904b0cdf16c51)
Farakka dam West Bengal, India, february 2022
![Barrage de Farakka, bengale occidental, inde, fevrier 2022, Farakka dam, west bengal, india, february 2022](https://format.creatorcdn.com/55359057-daef-4dfd-b6ab-5cbdfa18aa5d/0/0/0/0,0,2000,1334,2000,1200/0-0-0/69862590-2d54-4916-b7f6-884c71edc1ed/1/1/Rechauffement-Climatique-Inde-Alexandra-de-Dives-1.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037548456~hmac=553b019851cc3465b70593fd58fb5408ffd18277baf827d6286904b0cdf16c51)
Farakka dam West Bengal, India,February 2022
![Barrage de Farakka, bengale occidental, inde, fevrier 2022, Farakka dam, west bengal, india, february 2022](https://format.creatorcdn.com/55359057-daef-4dfd-b6ab-5cbdfa18aa5d/0/0/0/0,0,2000,1334,2000,1200/0-0-0/c84d7a33-c605-436c-8713-327fc045d5f2/1/1/Rechauffement-Climatique-Inde-Alexandra-de-Dives-2.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037548456~hmac=553b019851cc3465b70593fd58fb5408ffd18277baf827d6286904b0cdf16c51)
Farakka dam West Bengal, India, February 2022
![Scenes de vie le long du Gange, pecheurs, enfants qui jouent, ablutions parmi les detritus, et les degats causes par l'erosion des sols, bengale occidental, inde, fevrier 2022, life on the banks of the Ganga river, fishermen, children playing, ablutions a](https://format.creatorcdn.com/55359057-daef-4dfd-b6ab-5cbdfa18aa5d/0/0/0/0,0,2000,1334,2000,1200/0-0-0/35c833e8-fd6d-4173-98a2-c9b462b46bdd/1/1/Rechauffement-Climatique-Inde-Alexandra-de-Dives-13.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037548456~hmac=553b019851cc3465b70593fd58fb5408ffd18277baf827d6286904b0cdf16c51)
Soil erosion, Dhulian, West Bengal, India, February 2022
![Degats causes par le cyclone Yaas, ainsi que par l'erosion des sols, des sacs de sables sont installes pour prevenir de la montee des eaux, bengale occidental, inde, fevrier 2022, damages caused by the Yaas cyclone, as well as the soil erosion, sand bags](https://format.creatorcdn.com/55359057-daef-4dfd-b6ab-5cbdfa18aa5d/0/0/0/0,0,2000,1334,2000,1200/0-0-0/166e1f10-8bc4-45dd-aeb3-3ea6d01eb96c/1/1/Rechauffement-Climatique-Inde-Alexandra-de-Dives-10.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037548456~hmac=553b019851cc3465b70593fd58fb5408ffd18277baf827d6286904b0cdf16c51)
Sand bags to prevent from soil erosion, Kesarpur, West Bengal, India, February 2022
![Paysages montrant l'erosion du sol le long du Gange, bengale occidental, inde, fevrier 2022, landscapes showing soil erosion on the Ganga river, west bengal, india, february 2022](https://format.creatorcdn.com/55359057-daef-4dfd-b6ab-5cbdfa18aa5d/0/0/0/0,0,2000,1334,2000,1200/0-0-0/327db246-da25-440f-b3e9-dfc653117afa/1/1/Rechauffement-Climatique-Inde-Alexandra-de-Dives-14.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037548456~hmac=553b019851cc3465b70593fd58fb5408ffd18277baf827d6286904b0cdf16c51)
Soil erosion, Kesarpur,, Kesarpur, West Bengal, India, February 2022
![Paysages abimes par l'erosion des sols, bengale occidental, inde, fevrier 2022, spoiled landscapes with sol erosion, west bengal, india, february 2022](https://format.creatorcdn.com/55359057-daef-4dfd-b6ab-5cbdfa18aa5d/0/0/0/0,0,2000,1334,2000,1200/0-0-0/ccf447ba-c439-497d-914f-a2dd1a1d78c0/1/1/Rechauffement-Climatique-Inde-Alexandra-de-Dives-7.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037548456~hmac=553b019851cc3465b70593fd58fb5408ffd18277baf827d6286904b0cdf16c51)
Sand bags to prevent from soil erosion, Kesarpur, West Bengal, India, February 2022
![Des hommes parlent de l'erosion des sols, cet ancien maitre d'ecole a deja tout perdu par deux fois, bengale occidental, inde, fevrier 2022, men talking about soil erosion, this old school teacher has already lost everything twice, west bengal, india, fe](https://format.creatorcdn.com/55359057-daef-4dfd-b6ab-5cbdfa18aa5d/0/0/0/0,0,2000,1334,2000,1200/0-0-0/e3caa57c-8ae0-402b-9e04-685095d8c67f/1/1/Rechauffement-Climatique-Inde-Alexandra-de-Dives-6.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037548456~hmac=553b019851cc3465b70593fd58fb5408ffd18277baf827d6286904b0cdf16c51)
Rajendra Nath Monda talking about what used to be in this area before soil erosion, Kesarpur, West Bengal, India, February 2022
![Degats causes par le cyclone Yaas, ainsi que par l'erosion des sols, bengale occidental, inde, fevrier 2022, damages caused by the Yaas cyclone, as well as the soil erosion, west bengal, india, february 2022](https://format.creatorcdn.com/55359057-daef-4dfd-b6ab-5cbdfa18aa5d/0/0/0/0,0,2000,1334,2000,1200/0-0-0/5c4b8d9b-f9f6-494c-ba18-ce2df278030c/1/1/Rechauffement-Climatique-Inde-Alexandra-de-Dives-11.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037548456~hmac=553b019851cc3465b70593fd58fb5408ffd18277baf827d6286904b0cdf16c51)
Soil erosion, Kesarpur, West Bengal, India, February 2022
![Paysages montrant l'erosion du sol le long du Gange, bengale occidental, inde, fevrier 2022, landscapes showing soil erosion on the Ganga river, west bengal, india, february 2022](https://format.creatorcdn.com/55359057-daef-4dfd-b6ab-5cbdfa18aa5d/0/0/0/0,0,1334,2000,1600,2000/0-0-0/8f5f51b7-e63d-4395-9438-fd2a2f048b0d/1/1/Rechauffement-Climatique-Inde-Alexandra-de-Dives-16.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037548456~hmac=b0dcbdfec1604c67811373ceecbf04e4a96d6e90824058ec83e4b0bdb317179b)
Soil erosion, Hosenpur, West Bengal, India, February 2022
![Degats causes par le cyclone Yaas, l'ecole kulidebar a ete detruite en moins de deux heures, bengale occidental, inde, fevrier 2022, damages caused by the Yaas cyclone, the kulidebar school was destroyed in within two hours west bengal, india, february 20](https://format.creatorcdn.com/55359057-daef-4dfd-b6ab-5cbdfa18aa5d/0/0/0/0,0,2000,1334,2000,1200/0-0-0/cfaf48fd-5415-4dbe-acce-d934ed710e81/1/1/Rechauffement-Climatique-Inde-Alexandra-de-Dives-50.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037548456~hmac=553b019851cc3465b70593fd58fb5408ffd18277baf827d6286904b0cdf16c51)
Old school that was destroyed by the Yaas cyclone, Hosenpur, West Bengal, India, February 2022
![Degats causes par le cyclone Yaas, l'ecole kulidebar a ete detruite en moins de deux heures, bengale occidental, inde, fevrier 2022, damages caused by the Yaas cyclone, the kulidebar school was destroyed in within two hours west bengal, india, february 20](https://format.creatorcdn.com/55359057-daef-4dfd-b6ab-5cbdfa18aa5d/0/0/0/0,0,2000,1334,2000,1200/0-0-0/d6d21ff8-83c5-4d56-bd0e-5892687d0c64/1/1/Rechauffement-Climatique-Inde-Alexandra-de-Dives-44.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037548456~hmac=553b019851cc3465b70593fd58fb5408ffd18277baf827d6286904b0cdf16c51)
Old school that was destroyed by the Yaas cyclone, Hosenpur, , West Bengal, India, February 2022
![Portrait de Seema Khasel, geologue marchant sur la plage devastee par les depots de sel et d'aluvions sur la plage devenue inpraticable tellement le sable est devenu dur, bengale occidental, inde, fevrier 2022, portrait of Seema Khasel, geologist, walkin](https://format.creatorcdn.com/55359057-daef-4dfd-b6ab-5cbdfa18aa5d/0/0/0/0,0,2000,1334,2000,1200/0-0-0/f98c4777-a7e2-4d36-bf7c-bd55ca82f0bf/1/1/Rechauffement-Climatique-Inde-Alexandra-de-Dives-20.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037548456~hmac=553b019851cc3465b70593fd58fb5408ffd18277baf827d6286904b0cdf16c51)
Seema Khasel, geologist, Mousuni Island, West bengal, india, february 2022
![Erosion des sols, bengale occidental, inde, fevrier 2022, soil erosion, west bengal, india, february 2022](https://format.creatorcdn.com/55359057-daef-4dfd-b6ab-5cbdfa18aa5d/0/0/0/0,0,2000,1334,2000,1200/0-0-0/d70f6463-6a51-4858-9dc9-8dc0888d6ffc/1/1/Rechauffement-Climatique-Inde-Alexandra-de-Dives-23.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037548456~hmac=553b019851cc3465b70593fd58fb5408ffd18277baf827d6286904b0cdf16c51)
A chemical reaction between the aluvions and the sand made the sand very hard, the beach is no longer accessible, Mousuni Island, West Bengal, India, February 2022
![Erosion des sols, bengale occidental, inde, fevrier 2022, soil erosion, west bengal, india, february 2022](https://format.creatorcdn.com/55359057-daef-4dfd-b6ab-5cbdfa18aa5d/0/0/0/0,0,1334,2000,1600,2000/0-0-0/cd12624f-79c1-4b4e-919a-e9c37eac2b34/1/1/Rechauffement-Climatique-Inde-Alexandra-de-Dives-25.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037548456~hmac=b0dcbdfec1604c67811373ceecbf04e4a96d6e90824058ec83e4b0bdb317179b)
A chemical reaction between the aluvions and the sand made the sand very hard, the beach is no longer accessible, Mousuni Island, West Bengal, India, February 2022
![Portrait de Seema Khasel, geologue marchant sur la plage devastee par les depots de sel et d'aluvions sur la plage devenue inpraticable tellement le sable est devenu dur, bengale occidental, inde, fevrier 2022, portrait of Seema Khasel, geologist, walkin](https://format.creatorcdn.com/55359057-daef-4dfd-b6ab-5cbdfa18aa5d/0/0/0/0,0,2000,1334,2000,1200/0-0-0/c4faadb8-20b9-453b-86b4-8551d83c6480/1/1/Rechauffement-Climatique-Inde-Alexandra-de-Dives-21.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037548456~hmac=553b019851cc3465b70593fd58fb5408ffd18277baf827d6286904b0cdf16c51)
Seema Khasel, geologist, Mousuni Island, West bengal, india, february 2022
![Apres le cyclone yaas, les habitants se desolent de la foret de mangove disparue, ils n'ont plus de travail, bengale occidental, inde, fevrier 2022, after the yaas cyclone the inhabitants are sorry that the mangrove forest has gone, they don't have work a](https://format.creatorcdn.com/55359057-daef-4dfd-b6ab-5cbdfa18aa5d/0/0/0/0,0,2000,1334,2000,1200/0-0-0/516de2c2-1de8-4111-8df2-393b05bf7319/1/1/Rechauffement-Climatique-Inde-Alexandra-de-Dives-31.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037548456~hmac=553b019851cc3465b70593fd58fb5408ffd18277baf827d6286904b0cdf16c51)
Woman who has nothing left after the Yaas cyclone, Mousuni Island, West bengal, india, february 2022
![Apres le cyclone yaas, les habitants se desolent de la foret de mangove disparue, ils n'ont plus de travail et le gouvernement n'a pas tenu ses promesses d'aides aux victimes, bengale occidental, inde, fevrier 2022, after the yaas cyclone the inhabitants](https://format.creatorcdn.com/55359057-daef-4dfd-b6ab-5cbdfa18aa5d/0/0/0/0,0,2000,1334,2000,1200/0-0-0/38c2d934-3941-4eba-85b9-bb62bec04ef3/1/1/Rechauffement-Climatique-Inde-Alexandra-de-Dives-32.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037548456~hmac=553b019851cc3465b70593fd58fb5408ffd18277baf827d6286904b0cdf16c51)
The population is still waiting for the governement's financial help, Mousuni Island, West bengal, india, february 2022
![Apres le cyclone yaas, les habitants se desolent de la foret de mangove disparue, ils n'ont plus de travail, bengale occidental, inde, fevrier 2022, after the yaas cyclone the inhabitants are sorry that the mangrove forest has gone, they don't have work a](https://format.creatorcdn.com/55359057-daef-4dfd-b6ab-5cbdfa18aa5d/0/0/0/0,0,1333,2000,1600,2000/0-0-0/96157254-fae0-4745-a905-49dbcb7fe86b/1/1/Rechauffement-Climatique-Inde-Alexandra-de-Dives-30.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037548456~hmac=8210b0b232f8e2a38879222c8a30a69136c526e576a8ad6a6586c99030cb0aed)
Woman who has nothing left after the Yaas cyclone, Mousuni Island, West bengal, india, february 2022
![Apres le cyclone yaas, les habitants se desolent de la foret de mangove disparue, ils n'ont plus de travail, bengale occidental, inde, fevrier 2022, after the yaas cyclone the inhabitants are sorry that the mangrove forest has gone, they don't have work a](https://format.creatorcdn.com/55359057-daef-4dfd-b6ab-5cbdfa18aa5d/0/0/0/0,0,2000,1334,2000,1200/0-0-0/bb7c83f4-67ab-40fa-8b00-2c6521ac4d61/1/1/Rechauffement-Climatique-Inde-Alexandra-de-Dives-28.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037548456~hmac=553b019851cc3465b70593fd58fb5408ffd18277baf827d6286904b0cdf16c51)
Before the cyclone Yaas, there was a mangrove forest, Mousuni Island, West bengal, india, february 2022
![Apres le cyclone yaas, les habitants se desolent de la foret de mangove disparue, ils n'ont plus de travail, bengale occidental, inde, fevrier 2022, after the yaas cyclone the inhabitants are sorry that the mangrove forest has gone, they don't have work a](https://format.creatorcdn.com/55359057-daef-4dfd-b6ab-5cbdfa18aa5d/0/0/0/0,0,2000,1334,2000,1200/0-0-0/7951ffff-eeeb-4f7e-b0f6-5fd539b4a636/1/1/Rechauffement-Climatique-Inde-Alexandra-de-Dives-27.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037548456~hmac=553b019851cc3465b70593fd58fb5408ffd18277baf827d6286904b0cdf16c51)
Before the cyclone Yaas, there was a mangrove forest, Mousuni Island, West bengal, india, february 2022
![Portraits d'enfants Bengales en train de jouer au milieu des detritus, bengale occidental, inde, fevrier 2022, Bengali kids playing in the garbage, west bengal, india, february 2022](https://format.creatorcdn.com/55359057-daef-4dfd-b6ab-5cbdfa18aa5d/0/0/0/0,0,2000,1334,2000,1200/0-0-0/3076f71d-a080-46cb-93a2-a33d9fdb2557/1/1/Rechauffement-Climatique-Inde-Alexandra-de-Dives-26.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037548456~hmac=553b019851cc3465b70593fd58fb5408ffd18277baf827d6286904b0cdf16c51)
Kids playing in the garbage, Mousuni Island, West bengal, india, february 2022
![Abri anti cyclone sur l'ile de Mousuni, l'eau est montee a plus de 3 metres pendant la derniere innondation causee par le cyclone yaas, bengale occidental, inde, fevrier 2022, Cyclone shelter center in Mousuni island, the water has level up to 3 meters du](https://format.creatorcdn.com/55359057-daef-4dfd-b6ab-5cbdfa18aa5d/0/0/0/0,0,2000,1334,2000,1200/0-0-0/96fbcda4-e6ec-4412-adab-ae3a1e0c183b/1/1/Rechauffement-Climatique-Inde-Alexandra-de-Dives-33.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037548456~hmac=553b019851cc3465b70593fd58fb5408ffd18277baf827d6286904b0cdf16c51)
Cyclone shelter, Mousuni Island, West bengal, india, february 2022
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/55359057-daef-4dfd-b6ab-5cbdfa18aa5d/0/0/0/0,0,2000,1334,2000,1200/0-0-0/9d11a087-5491-4831-b2da-0a8353afb653/1/1/Rechauffement-Climatique-Inde-Alexandra-de-Dives-34.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037548456~hmac=553b019851cc3465b70593fd58fb5408ffd18277baf827d6286904b0cdf16c51)
Cyclone shelter, Mousuni Island, West bengal, india, february 2022
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/55359057-daef-4dfd-b6ab-5cbdfa18aa5d/0/0/0/0,0,1334,2000,1600,2000/0-0-0/53555d4b-32a6-4444-ab83-990506b2821b/1/1/Rechauffement-Climatique-Inde-Alexandra-de-Dives-37.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037548456~hmac=b0dcbdfec1604c67811373ceecbf04e4a96d6e90824058ec83e4b0bdb317179b)
Poluated river with chemicals from the coal activity, Dhapa area, West bengal, india, february 2022
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/55359057-daef-4dfd-b6ab-5cbdfa18aa5d/0/0/0/0,0,2000,1334,2000,1200/0-0-0/0345460d-91e8-421b-a724-db0e44f5f481/1/1/Rechauffement-Climatique-Inde-Alexandra-de-Dives-38.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037548456~hmac=553b019851cc3465b70593fd58fb5408ffd18277baf827d6286904b0cdf16c51)
Poluated river with chemicals from the coal activity, Dhapa area, West bengal, india, february 2022
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/55359057-daef-4dfd-b6ab-5cbdfa18aa5d/0/0/0/0,0,2000,1334,2000,1200/0-0-0/d5ae83c6-e155-479f-b46a-1cb9d1ae0ec0/1/1/Rechauffement-Climatique-Inde-Alexandra-de-Dives-45.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037548456~hmac=553b019851cc3465b70593fd58fb5408ffd18277baf827d6286904b0cdf16c51)
National park of the Sundarbans, West bengal, india, february 2022
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/55359057-daef-4dfd-b6ab-5cbdfa18aa5d/0/0/0/0,0,2000,1334,2000,1200/0-0-0/ddfa579c-87f4-4b6d-b7d3-06998bc92f4a/1/1/Rechauffement-Climatique-Inde-Alexandra-de-Dives-46.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037548456~hmac=553b019851cc3465b70593fd58fb5408ffd18277baf827d6286904b0cdf16c51)
National park of the Sundarbans, West bengal, india, february 2022
Les Oubliés
Le delta du Bengale est très certainement une des régions du monde la plus touchée par les conséquences du réchauffement climatique.
La fonte des glaces de l’Himalaya cause une augmentation des inondations et provoque des avalanches dans toute la région du Bengale Occidental.
De nombreux barrages construits depuis l’indépendance de l’Inde (1947) sont tous en amont du Delta et réduisent considérablement l’alimentation des fleuves en eau douce.
L’élévation du niveau de la mer et l’augmentation de catastrophes naturelles provoquent une inquiétante érosion des sols. La mer envahit trop vite le territoire agricole, augmente la salinisation des terres. Les sols se dégradent, plusieurs îles ont déjà été submergées.
De plus, les barrages retenant les alluvions, les sols agricoles s’appauvrissent poussant les agriculteurs à chercher de nouvelles terres à cultiver. On estime la réduction de l’espace à cultiver de plus de 30 % d’ici 2050.
La région des Sundarbans, classée patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCO depuis 1987 abrite la plus grande forêt de mangrove au monde.
C’est une barrière naturelle de 10 000 m2 qui agit contre les marées, les tempêtes et les cyclones. La forêt abonde en bois, miel et poissons. C’est aussi l’habitat de la principale population de tigres.
L’industrie du charbon emploie plus de 13 millions de personnes. Malgré la pollution extrême, causée par l’exploitation de cette énergie fossile, l’Inde continue d’ouvrir des centrales thermiques. Un nouveau projet va bientôt voir le jour en lisière des Sundarbans (côté Bangladesh), ce qui pourrait mettre davantage en péril cet écosystème unique.
Tout l’écosystème est perturbé, fragilisé, et les réfugiés climatiques sont estimés à 30 millions (Inde et Bangladesh confondus) d’ici 2050.