Andhra Pradesh long 1,030-km coastline often seen as a driver of economic growth, is now emerging as one of its biggest climate challenges. A draft report of the State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) has projected that sea levels could rise by 20 cm by 2050 along districts such as Nellore, Guntur and West Godavari, posing a serious threat to agriculture and coastal communities.
Coastal Belt at Risk
According to the draft SAPCC 2025–2030 prepared with inputs from the India Meteorological Department and NASA, sea levels along the Indian coast have been increasing by nearly 3 mm each year. The report warns that if global temperatures rise beyond 2°C, sea levels could surge by 62 cm by the end of this century, submerging up to 43% of low-lying coastal areas.
This projection places 282 villages within 2 metres of elevation along Andhra coastline in danger, with the potential displacement of up to 1.29 million people in the coming decades. The study prepared in collaboration with the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) and KPMG, highlights that the West and East Godavari districts are already witnessing visible impacts from the encroaching sea.
Threat to Agriculture and Livelihoods
One of the most alarming estimates in the draft plan is that 35,000 hectares of fertile agricultural land across coastal Andhra Pradesh could turn saline due to the advancing sea. This shift would lower crop productivity cut farm incomes, and push vulnerable communities deeper into poverty.
The Krishna and Godavari delta regions are expected to be among the hardest hit given their dense population and dependence on farming and fisheries. Officials from the Climate Change Cell of the State Environment, Forests, Science and Technology Department stress that the impacts are “irreversible on the timescale of humans alive today,” calling for urgent strategies to mitigate risks.
As Andhra Pradesh finalises its climate action plan, experts believe that long-term adaptation measures ranging from building coastal resilience to safeguarding agriculture will be crucial in shielding the state’s economy and communities from the rising tide.