Opinion
Towards a low carbon future
30 Dec 2007 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Economic Times
Indian business needs to understand how climate change may alter opportunities and specific tech demands in future.
The year 2007 has been dominated, among other global developments, by an expansion of interest related to climate change. Not only have governments and the public at large been gripped by concerns on what they may be required to do to meet this challenge, but business and industry round the world have also been trying to assess their own prospects, as they may unfold through multilateral agreements, national policies and the expectations of civil society.
Will the Rs 1 lakh car be an environmental nightmare
26 Dec 2007 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| Business Standard
The recently concluded Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change came up with a final declaration that highlighted the need for "deep cuts" in emissions of greenhouse gases to combat the problem of global climate change. The tone and content of the Bali Conference represented a perceptible departure from previous such meetings, in view of the major impacts of climate change assessed in great detail in the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (lPCC).
Essentially, the problem of climate change, which is the result of cumulative emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) since the beginning of industrialisation, represents only a part of the-much larger problem of unsustainable development. While the world has achieved remarkable success through innovation in providing the means for satisfying the needs of the human race, there are also several distortions which have taken place and grown as a result.
Let's go beyond Bali
24 Dec 2007 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Times of India
The recently concluded Thirteenth Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Bali, Indonesia, marks a watershed in action to combat climate change. Governments, and even some business enterprises, are in any case taking action within their own jurisdictions to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs).
Environmental Balihoo
20 Dec 2007 |
| Indian Express
The Indian approach prevailed because the arguments of the EU and US were unfeasible and indefensible
The recently concluded UN climate change conference at Bali ended with, first, the European Union, and then the US, backing down from a patently iniquitous formula designed to shift the onus of tackling climate change from themselves to developing countries; that is, from those who caused it to those who are its likely victims. The developing countries, on the other hand, pressed for an alternative presented by India, based on reciprocity. That while they would contribute to the solution, they must be enabled to do so by the developed countries, who are the polluters, through provision of technology, finance and capacity-building. The developing countries prevailed, but not before tumultuous scenes - of tension, despair, incredulity, and finally relief.
Clean tech for a better world
31 Oct 2007 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Economic Times
Technology has been the engine that has driven industrialisation and economic progress since the middle of the 19th century. One major innovation that not only brought about mechanisation of production facilities but also ease and speed in transportation was the steam engine invented by James Watt and developed further by Robert Stevenson.
The time to act is now
23 Oct 2007 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Times of India
Climate change could affect peace and stability
By awarding the 2007Peace Prize to former vice-president of the US, Al Gore, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Nobel Prize Committee has clearly signalled the importance of stabilising the earth's climate for ensuring peace and stability in the world.
As a scientific body involving thousands of the most qualified experts from all over the world, the IPCC has focused its activities on assessment of all aspects of climate change over the past 19years of its existence, and has naturally not drawn any linkage between the impact of climate change and the issue of peace among human societies across the globe.
A Humanitarian Approach to Tackling Climate Change
22 Sep 2007 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| Le Fiagro
On the 24th of September a major event took place in the UN with about 80 heads of states and heads of government meeting at the invitation of Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to discuss the subject of climate change. In his opening address the Secretary General said, “Climate change is a serious threat to development everywhere. Indeed, the adverse impacts of climate change could undo much of the investments made to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).†The former Secretary General Mr. Kofi Annan had brought about a remarkable consensus among world leaders to establish the MDGs, and for the world to meet these by the year 2015. It is now clear that climate change threatens the achievement of these goals, so vital to the well-being of human society and the elimination of widespread poverty. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has brought out three Working Group Reports this year which provide a comprehensive assessment of the extent and nature of climate change, the seriousness of impacts in various parts of the world and measures for mitigation of emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) which account for this problem. The final part of IPCC’s Fourth Assessment (AR4), the Synthesis Report, is due to be released by mid-November 2007 to provide a comprehensive policy relevant framework.
Caring for an angry earth
30 Aug 2007 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| DNA
The answers to the perils of climate change will come from intellectual innovation.
The environmental problems facing the world and the depletion of natural resources in different regions of the planet require solutions with a strong intellectual content. A good example of this is the fact that it took the world at least a century-and-a-half to realise the effects of emissions of greenhouse gases, most notably carbon dioxide, and to accept its influence on climate.
This delay was in spite of the fact that scientists as far back as the end of the 19th century highlighted the danger of increasing emissions of carbon dioxide on the earth's climate. The reason for this enormous delay lies in a lack of scientific analysis of the problem as well as gaps that existed earlier in the dissemination of information of a scientific nature.
Lead by example on climate change
10 Aug 2007 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Sydney Morning Herald
One of the most serious aspects of climate change is the equity dimensions of the problem. The largest responsibility for the increase in concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere lies with the developed countries, but the worst impacts and the highest vulnerability applies to several developing countries.
The Asian megadeltas, which include cities such as Dhaka, Kolkata and Shanghai, would be some of the most vulnerable spots against the projections of sea level rise, with prospects of coastal flooding and other serious consequences that would affect a large number of people and property.
What the climate change implies
17 Jul 2007 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| Business India
In the last few months, there has been an escalation of interest on the part of the public, relating to the global threat of climate change. This has been brought about by a series of developments and events, such as the impacts of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, as well as other extreme events in several parts of the globe, the advocacy of several political figures who have been at the forefront of defining the challenge of climate change and, of course, most recently, the release of three working group reports, as part of the Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC.