Wed Sep 03 18:54:00 UTC 2025: **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

**Global Action Urged to Save Sundarbans at COP30 Curtain Raiser in Kolkata**

**KOLKATA, INDIA – September 4, 2025** – At a curtain raiser event for the upcoming COP30 climate conference in Belém, Brazil, Kolkata Municipal Corporation Member Mayor in Councils (MMIC) and MLA Debasish Kumar issued a stark warning about the urgent need for global action to protect ecologically vulnerable areas like the Sundarbans and Darjeeling in West Bengal. The 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference, scheduled for November 10-21, will focus on implementing tangible changes on the ground and bolstering climate finance.

Kumar emphasized the dire situation in the Sundarbans, a vast delta region shared between India and Bangladesh, stating, “If climate change continues and we take no action, our capital city itself stands a chance of vanishing under water.” He stressed that local governments and climate groups require robust support from international platforms and the central government to effect meaningful change.

Highlighting the disparity between climate change discussions and on-the-ground action, Kumar called for advanced technological, financial, and logistical assistance from global stakeholders. Climate activists and scientists at the event echoed his concerns, advocating for a special status for the ecologically sensitive mangroves of the Sundarbans. They noted that the region, home to millions, is often overlooked in international forums despite its extreme vulnerability to rising sea levels and erosion.

Panel discussions underscored the hope that COP30 will prioritize action in the Sundarbans, safeguarding its fragile ecosystem and vulnerable communities. Professor Abhijit Chatterjee further urged a holistic approach to environmental policy, emphasizing the interconnectedness of climate change and air pollution, which are often addressed as separate issues.

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