Saving Planet Earth

Climate change and the threat that it poses to human existence is a major concern today. Even the youth have an important role to play to save planet earth

There are many lessons in human history which provide adequate warning about the chaos and destruction that could take place if we remain guilty of myopic indifference to the progressive erosion and decline of nature's resources. Much has been written, for instance, about the Maya civilization, which flourished during 250-950 AD, but collapsed largely as a result of serious and prolonged drought. Even earlier, some 4,000 years ago a number of well-known Bronze Age cultures also crumbled extending from the Mediterranean to the Indus Valley, including the civilizations, which had blossomed in Mesopotamia. More recent examples of societies that collapsed or faced chaos on account of depletion or degradation of natural resources include the Khmer Empire in South East Asia, Eastern Island, and several others. Changes in climate have historically determined periods of peace as well as conflict.

The Climate Change 2007: Synthesis report by IPCC gives enough evidence to show the changes in climate. Eleven of the last 12 years (1995-2006) rank among the 12 warmest years in the instrumental record of global surface temperature (since 1850). Not only this, the global sea level has risen since 1961 at an average rate of 1.8 [1.3 to 2.3] mm/yr and since 1993 at 3.1[2.4 to 3.8] mm/yr, with contributions from thermal expansion, melting glaciers and ice caps, and the polar ice sheets.

Climate change will have several implications, as numerous adverse impacts are expected for some populations in terms of access to clean water, access to sufficient food, stable health conditions, ecosystem resources, security of settlements. By 2020, in some African countries, yields from rainfed agriculture could be reduced by up to 50%. Agricultural production, including access to food, in many African countries is projected to be severely compromised. Climate change is likely to lead to some irreversible impacts on biodiversity. There is medium confidence that approximately 20%-30% of species assessed so far are likely to be at increased risk of extinction if increases in global average warming exceed 1.5-2.5 ºC, relative to 1980-99.

The implications of these changes, if they were to occur would be grave and disastrous. However, it is within the reach of human society to meet these threats. We have to adapt to the climate change. Societies have a long record of adapting to the impacts of weather and climate. But climate change poses novel risks often outside the range of experience, such as impacts related to drought, heat waves, accelerated glacier retreat, and hurricane intensity. These impacts will require adaptive responses such as investments in storm protection and water supply infrastructure, as well as community health services.

Adaptation is essential to address the impacts resulting from the warming which is already unavoidable due to past emissions. But, adaptation alone is not expected to cope with all the projected effects of climate change, and especially not in the long run as most impacts increase in magnitude. There is substantial potential for the mitigation of global greenhouse gas emissions over the coming decades that could offset the projected growth of global emissions or reduce emissions below current levels.

Bringing changes in lifestyle is an important part of mitigation measures. Greater cooperative efforts are required by both developed and developing nations for the mitigation of global greenhouse gases. We can't have two sets of standards of living. If on one hand there are nations that are contributing enormously in emissions of global greenhouse gases due to a standard of living that they maintain, there are countries like India in which rural areas do not even have access to modern forms of energy. Even at this stage, 1.6 billion people in the world do not have access to modern forms of energy. The cost of providing energy through solar lanterns would come to approximately $25 billion, whereas $15 billion is spent per-month on the Iraq war. Only two months of saving from this expenditure can light so many lives.

There is much that is happening in countries of Europe as well as in Japan towards protection of the environment and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. All this is to be admired. But India has to go a long way in protection of the environment and our natural resources. Our focus should be on attaining a path of sustainable development which would also have co-benefits such as improving energy security, local air quality and limiting the growth of greenhouse gas emissions.

India is facing a major challenge in maintaining a healthy rate of economic growth, which is essential for the removal of poverty, while at the same time protecting the environment. But if we continue to degrade and damage the environment then economic growth will also decline as a result. The basic definition of sustainable development requires that we meet the needs of the present generation without compromising on the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Degrading our natural resources will clearly reduce the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

The youth of today have a huge responsibility towards creating a brighter future and they obviously have a stake in it. They must, therefore, pursue the acquisition of knowledge by which economic progress can take place without damage to the environment and our precious natural resources. The change in value systems of Indian youth, who are so much more sensitive to environmental protection than was the case a few years ago, gives me great hope and optimism.