Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy recently expressed concerns over climate change saying that it could trigger a mass migration to cities like Bengaluru, Pune and Hyderabad, reported The Economic Times. Speaking at an event in Pune, the septuagenarian industry leader highlighted how rising global temperatures and changing weather patterns could potentially force millions to migrate to urban landscapes.
According to Murthy, certain rural regions of India may become uninhabitable in the next 20-25 years leading to mass migration to urban hubs, stated an NDTV report.
The impact of such migration for cities like Bengaluru, Pune and Hyderabad would be far-reaching, considering that they are already burdened by traffic, overpopulation and pollution, said Murthy.
Collective Action Key to Tackle Climate Crisis
As a way to resolve the impending crisis, Murthy emphasised on collective action involving governments, corporates and bureaucrats. "We in India, particularly the corporate sector, have to cooperate with politicians and bureaucrats and ensure that there is no mass migration," Narayana Murthy was quoted as saying by The Economic Times.
Murthy further said that India could overcome challenges in meeting its climate targets and finding solutions to the potential migration crisis by 2030 with timely intervention and cooperation.
Murthy also acknowledged the youth as a driving force for addressing the crisis. He emphasised on the need for collective action and technological innovation to tackle the climate crisis, citing advancements such as improved battery technologies as potential solutions. Highlighting the role of companies like Infosys in meeting India's climate targets, Murthy called for an “all-hands-on-deck approach” while preparing to handle the challenges of the future.
The event recognised environmentalist Madhav Gadgil and entrepreneur Alok Kale for their contributions towards sustainability. Notable attendees included Raghunath Mashelkar, Pradeep Bhargava, and industrialist Jamshyd Godrej, who all expressed support for Murthy’s call for action on the issue of climate change.
Murthy's concerns over the challenges faced by rural and urban landscapes echo across regions in India. In cities like New Delhi, for instance, concerns over air quality have been growing over the past few years. Among other overlapping concerns impacting both urban and rural areas are rising temperatures and water scarcity, which experts say have been accelerated due to climate change.
