DISATSTERS OF CLIMATE CHANGE SOONER THAN EXPECTED.

“Changes in climate are now affecting physical and biological systems on every continent.” says a soon to be released report, written and reviewed by over 1000 top scientist from different countries. According to Patricia Romero Lankao (National Center for Atmospheric Research, US), a co-author of the report, “Things are happening and happening faster than we expected.”

The present problems attributed to global warming include increase in allergy inducing pollens, more acidified oceans, changes in the habits and habitats of many species, bleaching of coral reefs and loss of wetlands. It is predicted that within the next couple of decades, millions of people will face water scarcity and rising temperatures and sea level will result in floods rendering tens of millions homeless. There will be and increase I tropical diseases including malaria. By 2050, pests like fire ants will be rampant. Natural habitats of polar bears will almost vanish. Food scarcity will hit hundreds of millions by 2080.

Andrew Weaver, climate scientist at University of Victoria says, “This is the whole play. This is how it’s going to affect people. The science is one thing. This is how it affects me, you and the person next door.”

Some hope is there, the experts say, if greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are controlled and then reduced. Earlier this month the European Union leaders agreed to contain and decrease GHG by 2020. The plan to achieve this is to be presented to the leaders of other nations also.

(Based on an AP report in The New Indian Express, March 12, 2007)

BE INFORMED, INFORM OTHERS.

The hotter it gets...

The findings in two recent reports on climate change are foreboding. One, the 700 pages Stern Review by Sir Nicholas Stern, eminent economist and academic from the United Kingdom, was released on 30 October 2006. The other presentation is by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that was published a few weeks back. These studies confirm, much more authoritatively than the several earlier efforts from different quarters, the perils in store for the planet if the increases in Greenhouse Gasses (GHG), which lead to global warming go unchecked.

The prediction is that world temperatures are likely to increase by 1.1 degree C at the current rate, but could even soar by a disastrous 6.4 degrees C by the end of the century unless emergency projects are undertaken and sustained to contain GHG.

What would be the impact of such escalation in temperatures? Dr. Bill Kirkman, Emeritus Fellow of Wilson College, Cambridge, explains in an article titled ‘Time to act’ (The Hindu, February 11, 2007) explains: “Even an increase of four per cent [in temperature] could destroy hundreds of species, and cause devastating shortages of food and water, and floods which would displace millions of people.”

One of the several dire consequences of global warming is that sea levels will continue to rise. 70% of the Earth surface is water. According to one calculation, water would rise to an altitude of about 8000ft. if all the land on the planet were distributed evenly. Such an event is, of course, beyond the realm of possibility. But the point is that each hill, which is flattened as it is happening in many parts of the world for construction and other purposes, adds to the problem. This angle, it would appear, has not received the attention it deserves.

There is greater awareness today than ever before about the calamities that global warming can cause if it continues unchecked. The safeguards and corrective measures to be adopted to prevent them are also known. It is generally accepted that climate change is caused mainly by carbon emissions. Therefore the answer is to contain such emissions within tolerable limits. There is developed and developing technology to achieve this objective.

The core requirement, however, is the political will to take hard decisions now, and to implement and sustain them. Most governments seem to be reluctant to enforce steps that would be unpalatable to the business world. Fortunately, of late there are indications that this mindset is undergoing a transformation in many countries.

Can an ordinary citizen do anything about the impending doomsday? Yes, of course. Stop being a silent spectator. Write to your elected representative. Join an awareness campaign or start one. Bring up the topic in Parent-Teacher Association meetings at the schools where your children are studying and suggest that the students are informed about the perils of global warming and the means to ward off the dangers. You can think of more actions.

But, do not light candles for the cause. It could result in more carbon emission!

Ends.