Are we on track to building a knowledge-based economy here? It may sound a bit far-fetched but scientists at the 94th Indian Science Congress, held last week in the temple city of Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, expressed the need to address development needs for poverty alleviation, while at the same time ensuring sustainability of natural resources. For the Indian industry at large, the message was to tap the vast scientific and technology potential for development, especially in the knowledge economy.

Predictably, the theme of this year’s gathering centered on the theme ‘Earth Planet.’ It was a stock taking exercise to help the scientists to develop appropriate technologies for various sectors like energy, water resources, mineral resources, ocean exploration and for mitigating natural hazards on account of the ongoing global climate change. Scientists in the country have responded in time to the call of the United Nations which have the triennium—2007 to 2009—an international year of Planet Earth. Concurrently, International Polar Year, International Heliophysical Year, and Electronic Geophysical Year have been declared in the period.

The global call to scientists and policymakers to put in efforts to halt further damage to the Planet Earth is also in response to the recent forecast of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that by the end of the 21st century mean global temperature may rise between 1.4 to 5.8 degree Celsius. It is also estimated that in the 20th century, mean global temperature rose by about 0.5 degree Celsius. Several parameters monitored over the past five years of the current century have shown trends that support IPCC forecast.

No wonder, Indian scientists are equally determined to go along with the global call. And, the next Indian Science Congress is scheduled to take place at Andhra University campus, Visakhapatnam next year, centering on the theme of sustainable development.

Indian Science Congress general president Harsh Gupta cautioned that there would be tremendous pressure on Planet Earth’s resources as the present trends show doubling of global population—which may stabilise at around 10 billion by 2050.

Global energy consumption alone has recorded a six-fold increase over the last five decades. In 1951 when global population was about 2.6 billion, energy consumption was 1,075 kg of coal equivalent per capita, amounting to a total consumption of 2, 710 million tonne of coal equivalent.

By 2003, when the global population increased to 6.3 billion, energy consumption increased to 2,402 kg of coal equivalent per capita, amounting to a total consumption of 15,178 million tonne of coal equivalent.

The answer to this situation should be found from generating energy from alternative renewable sources. Undoubtedly, the use of biomass for power cogeneration and production of bio-fuels from plant materials is an eco-friendly process. But the Nobel Laureate, Hartmut Michel in his address, cautioned that extensive use of biomass for power cogeneration would deny the soil for its use as organic manure. Extensive cultivation of plants and trees for production of bio-fuels may encroach upon natural forests and lead to shrinkage in area for cultivation of food crops and cause a food insecurity problem.

Thus, he suggested harnessing solar energy through photovoltaic cells and solar ovens as the most efficient way. Photovoltaic cells can store about 20% of solar energy, while plants can store only 1% by photosynthesis. The energy of the sunlight hitting the Earth is 10,000 times the energy consumption of mankind, he said. Michel also estimated that usable wind power potential is only five fold of the global energy consumption or 40 times the electricity demand.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urged the developed nations to cut down their emissions of greenhouse gases. He asked scientists to study the link between global climate change and the monsoon rains and make accurate weather forecasts. India has a gas reserve of 40 to 120 trillion cubic metre in gas-hydrates located in water depths of 2,000 metres along the coastal exclusive economic zones (EEZs). This can take care of India’s energy needs for several tens of decades. But removal of gas from these regions may cause problems of earthquakes and Tsunamis in future, if not done carefully. Earthquakes are caused due to movements of plate tectonics.