Bridging the Monitoring Gap: Integrating Lightning and Salinity Metrics into Odisha’s Climate Strategy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36808/if/2026/v152i5/171028Keywords:
Salinity intrusion, Lightning, State action plan on climate change (SAPCC), UNFCCC, Nationally determined contributions (NDCs), IPCC, PRODES, Mangrove carbon flux.Abstract
Odisha, a coastal state in eastern India, faces escalating ecological stress from lightning strikes, salinity intrusion, and mangrove degradation, yet these drivers remain largely absent from its climate adaptation strategy. This commentary highlights a critical gap in the Odisha's State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC), particularly the lack of monitoring frameworks for lightning density and coastal salinity progression. Drawing on global systems such as UNFCCC's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), IPCC adaptation metrics, and PRODES-style disturbance mapping, the paper proposes a multi-tiered ecological monitoring framework tailored to Odisha's biophysical and socio-political context. The framework integrates satellite-based lightning detection, community-led salinity mapping, and mangrove carbon flux estimation to inform policy and enhance resilience. By embedding these indicators into future SAPCC revisions and leveraging local institutions for implementation, Odisha can pioneer a data-driven, ecologically grounded model of climate governance. The commentary concludes with a call for interdisciplinary collaboration and policy reform to ensure that overlooked stressors do not become irreversible tipping points.
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