May 08, 2007 12:23 AM
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On May 4, 2007, 105 nations met in Bangkok to come out with a report on Global Warming under the aegis of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a UN backed body. The bad news, global warming is a serious threat, and we have just 8 years to get it under control. In effect, emissions need to reduce by 2015 to prevent a 2 degree rise in the earth’s temperature. And no this is not a conference of loony environmentalists and doomsday crackpots. Many of them are respected scientists, experts in field of climate change, in short people who have dedicated their life for this mission.
And now the good news, about the report released by the document. Instead of just giving a doomsday scenario, the report has actually come up with suggestions to cut down on emissions and improve energy efficiency, without actually hurting the global economy. There would be a slowdown in growth, but not to an alarming extent. The target is to reduce emissions by 2010, in such a way as to limit emissions to a range of 2-2.4 degrees. More than that could lead to disastrous consequences. The report highlighted the need for factories to cut down on emissions, any delay would be only adding up to the risk factor.
One of the biggest problems is emission of CO2 into the atmosphere. CO2 has a tendency to stay in the atmosphere and accumulate like a bad debt. And the biggest culprits in this regard have beenUS, India and China. These 3 countries account for a large amount of CO2 emissions, and they are refusing to cut down, citing economic growth. The US needs to make it’s gas guzzling auto industry accountable. 80% of the world’s oil is consumed just by the US, why to feed it’s huge automobiles, and the lobby. Totally unacceptable. Public transport as a concept has been long forgotten there, except in some major metros like New York, Chicago and Detroit. Unlike Europe, where every city is well connected by a railway network, in US it has become non existent. India, China and Russia, in their quest for growth, are recklessly ignoring the environmental costs.
It can be felt back home in Bangalore, one of India’s coolest places, which is now reeling under a torrid summer, never felt before. It can be felt in hill stations like Ooty, Mussorie, Nainital, Simla which have become devoid of green cover, and are now like any other small town in India. I can give the best example of my home town, Vishakapatnam. When I was staying there, due to the green cover, temperatures rarely exceeded 35 even during peak of summer. But now most of the trees have been cut down, and temperatures of 40 plus are common there. I remember going to my college, along the beach road, it was a lovely drive, with the sea, sands, and the casuarinas trees. When I visited the same place recently, most of those groves have been cut down, and the whole stretch has become ugly.
More visible signs of progress can be found in Gurgaon, India’s mall city. Huge apartment buildings dot the skyline, and it is studded with malls. But the truth hits you, when you face water shortages and power crisis there. I am not anti development or anti progress, but we need to strike a balance somewhere. All over Bangalore layouts are built by developers to make a quick buck, many don’t even have a park. Our kids are growing up in cities where there are no playgrounds, no parks to relax. Do we seriously want to bring them up in such an environment? I am not anti industry. Let there be factories, we need them. But why on prime agricultural land, forest area and ecologically sensitive spots. There is so much waste land where the industry can be set up. But our businessmen and industrialists, are only interested in short term profits. Socially responsible business leaders likeJRD Tata are the need of the hour.
Do we really need to waste gallons of water in water parks, when we are suffering from a water crisis? I am not being a spoilsport, but its high time we thought it over. Now the trend is coming to exclusive communities where power and water are available 24 hours, for a price of course. Is it no wonder that such exclusive places, also witness the largest wastage of power and water? This is not an issue involving countries or business or industries. This is an issue, involving every one of us. We cannot allow a few privileged people and nations, to get away with sheer plunder. Achieving a balance between economic growth and ecological conservation is always going to be tough, but then the easiest thing in the world is to sit and crib.There are no easy answers for this, nor any easy solutions. We might have to make some sacrifices in the short term. We need to, we are running out of time. Let not our children turn to us and ask us what did we do to prevent this tragedy.
I am giving some suggestions, which we can do on a personal level. Mind you don’t think, that what can I alone do. Every one of us have a stake in the earth’s future. After all we are going to live on it. I have a request to all members, please don’t just read the review, and leave it. Put out your thoughts either as a review or as a comment. Please this is a serious and critical issue. I can only give my ideas, but we need more ideas, to combat this.
Here are some ways we can contribute as an individual in this cause, I feel.
§ Use the public transport more frequently. If you are working, please use the company bus.
§ Try to walk as much as possible, don’t use your vehicle even for simple tasks like going to the neighborhood store.
§ If you are having a car, maintain it properly, and check for the emission levels. Keep tuning it to ensure that the mileage is satisfactory.
§ Avoid buying those huge luxury cars just for showing off as a status symbol, they are the biggest gas guzzlers.
§ Use the air conditioner sparingly, only when needed. They are the biggest users of power and the biggest culprits.
§ Ensure effective insulation of appliances, to avoid wastage.
§ Save water, don’t waste it. Don’t leave running taps open. Every drop of water is precious. What I have given here are my thoughts, I would really want every one reading this to think it over, and come up with ideas and suggestions.
