Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability
Year : 2019, Volume : 7, Issue : 1
First page : ( 108) Last page : ( 117)
Print ISSN : 2320-6411. Online ISSN : 2320-642X.
Article DOI : 10.5958/2320-642X.2019.00014.0

Climate Change Impacts on the Ganga River Ecosystem Services: Challenges for the Well-Being of Millions

Singh Rinku, Singh G. S.*

Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India

*Correspondance: gopalsingh.bhu@gmail.com

Online published on 31 May, 2019.

Abstract

The Ganga river delivers a broad spectrum of ecosystem goods and services that sustain more than 500 million people. The declining Ganga river ecosystem services due to climate change are the concerns not only for the ecosystem health but also for the well-being of millions. The Ganga river basin is among the worst affected river basins to climate change. Climate change is one of the most influential drivers that affect the ecosystems and their capacity to provide ecosystem services. In present time, climate change is a reality that affects the hydrology of the Ganga river and consequently its structure, functions and services. Understanding the trends and projections of climate change in the Ganga basin and their impacts on the Ganga ecosystem services is the need of hour for informing decision-makers, local people and scientists. This article outlines the likely impacts of the climate change on the ecosystem services supplied by the Ganga river and their consequences on human well-being. We have also provided some examples of global studies related to the impact of climate change on river ecosystem services.

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Keywords

Climate change, Ecosystem services, Ganga river, Human well-being, Hydrology.

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