Climate Red - News and Views on Climate Change Issues.

In the earlier days people were living in harmony with the ecosystem surrounding them. They were less in
number, their needs were reasonable and hence the demands from Nature were within limits. Everybody
was taking care of the environment around him so much so that in some societies like India it has become a
tradition to worship trees, rivers, mountains and several other such elements of Nature. Humankind, being
the superior race on the earth, has the ability to think for the 'new and better' and this thinking power has
brought about tremendous progress in science and technology. In due course, several technological gadgets
have been invented for the safety, comforts and luxury of the masses and hence the people have forgotten
the style of harmonious living with Nature. Their ever growing needs have put a tremendous stress on the

environment leading to exploitation of Nature. This has ultimately created an imbalance against the climate
system consisting of the earth, atmosphere and ocean. The continuous flow of news about the alarming
changes in the climate system in different parts of the world and the concern of the scientists expressed
through the reports of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and several other scientific
publications today, raise a vital question on our life style and our unreasonable consumption of energy in
the name of growth.
There are a number of evidences for the climate becoming warmer at different places on the surface of the
earth. The melting of the North Pole ice-cap, the collapsing of the Antarctic ice shelves, the retreating of the
Siachen glacier, the flooding of the Himalayan lakes, the bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the
ozone hole and, in the recent past, the discovery of the Asian Brown Cloud are the most widely discussed
topics now-a-days. In India too, there are enough evidences of climate change and environmental
degradation. Less frequent snow fall in Shimla, the ablation of snow in Himachal Pradesh, prolonged fogs
and cold waves in north India, intense rain storms and tropical cyclones, sea level rise, degradation of
mangrove wetlands, deforestation and desertification are matters of concern for all of us. In addition, issues
of environmental pollution such as that of air and water, presence of pesticides in food materials, coastal
pollution and industrial and urban wastes also create apprehension in our minds about the future of the
environment.
We have accepted the concept of industrial growth with simultaneous environmental degradation as the
only path to march ahead with prosperity. Two centuries ago, when the industrial revolution began, the
situation was different. Then, nobody had visualized the magnitude of its growth and the consequent
adverse impacts on the climate system. Now that there are definite signatures of negative impacts of the
large-scale use of fossil fuels, deforestation, faulty practices of land use and environmental degradation, it is
time to question the whole concept of industrial growth we have been adopting so far. Being the most
intelligent living being on this earth, we have conquered the space, changed the whole scenario of
communication technology, invented many new medicines/therapies to cure deadly diseases and brought
about revolutionary developments in biotechnology. With such an immense power within us, it is not
difficult to follow the concept of development with simultaneous environmental conservation. What we
need is collective wisdom, cutting across nations and political thoughts.
Climate Change and the People
Prof. S. K. Dash
Centre for Atmospheric Sciences
Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India
Page 4
CEE
June 2007
Volume 1, Issue 3
4
The whole issue of climate change occurring due to human activities can be looked at from two broad
angles: emissions of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) and irreversible damages to the environment. The global
warming occurs due to the excessive release of GHGs into the atmosphere. Primarily, carbon dioxide (CO ),
2
which is released in excess due to the use of fossil fuels as the main source of energy for industrial growth, is
the culprit. In the current framework of industrialisation, reducing emissions of GHGs adversely affects the
growth of a nation and hence is a matter of global politics. This problem can only be handled through global
negotiations. The use of energy other than fossil fuels and the development of clean technology are the most
important steps for abating emissions of GHGs without worrying about growth. Thenational governments
across the world should formulate policies so as to encourage industrialists to invest in research and
development of bio-fuels, solar energy, hydropower, wind energy, geothermal energy, gasification of coal,
hydrogen energy, etc. In addition to these fuel sources, significant switch-over to nuclear energy will be a
giant step towards clean power. Besides, transfer of clean technology from developed countries to less
developed countries through technology partnerships should be encouraged.
It may be noted that climate is also affected by the over-exploitation of Nature. The pressure on the climate
system due to improper land use, deforestation, destruction of the ecosystems and environmental
pollutions also causes changes at the regional level. Negative feedback processes, in due course, affect the
global climate in the long run. This second category of adverse impacts on the climate system is equally
dangerous, since the recovery procedure may take much more time. Also the corrective majors for the
environmental damages are more complicated than those for the GHG abatement. Issues related to
environmental degradation are local and for their remedies, the direct involvement of the people is very
essential. Large-scale mass movements are necessary to tackle the issues related to this second cause of
climate change. No government alone can solve the problem by formulating laws. Realisation of the people
about the seriousness of the issues related to our survival and their willingness to contribute at the
individual level for the betterment of the environment are the real issues.
Efficient use of energy and energy management should be given utmost priority at all levels. Every
individual has a role to play in the adequate but careful consumption of energy. Individuals have an
equally important role in sustaining forests, adopting efficient agricultural practices, conserving water and
biodiversity, and using land traditionally.
It is well known that the study of climate change is full of uncertainties. There are uncertainties in the
assessment of the magnitudes of climate change at different places and also uncertainties in the climate
scenarios generated by various mathematical models. There are also disagreements on whether the current
climate changes are natural or due to human activities. In such a situation, the formulation of a mitigation
strategy is extremely difficult and may be meaningless. It is, therefore, essential to assess the uncertainties
in the magnitude of climate change at different places and then adopt a systemic approach to the solution of
climate change problems using regional models. Instead of creating hype about the whole issue of climate
change and politicising it, there should be attempts to educate the people properly and instill in them the
concept of development with simultaneous environmental conservation. The role of the people is vital in
formulating an effective interface between science and policy so as to maintain the health of the climate
system