Environmentalist stresses lifestyle change to check the menace of climate change

The Hindu , Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Correspondent : Staff Reporter
BHUBANESWAR: Rajendra K. Pachauri, who received Nobel Prize as chairperson of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), called for a change in lifestyle and reform in government regulations responsible for worsening climate change condition.

Delivering NALCO Foundation Day lecture on “Challenges of Economic Growth and Sustainable Use of Natural Resources,” here on Tuesday, Mr. Pachauri said high consumption of fossil fuel as well as dependence on fragile atmosphere was leading the globe to a terrible situation.

“As high as 1.2 billion people have already lost their lives. About 960 million people are remaining undernourished due to change in climate. The threat is likely to become more critical in days to come,” he said

Commodity and fuel prices would go up every year that would eventually influence behaviour of society, Mr. Pachauri said.

Impact on water

“Another impact of the climate change would be on drinking water. Around 700 million people in 43 countries will be affected by water-stress. By 2025, 3 billion people would feel scarcity of drinking water. It will lead to conflict situation. Parts of India could be classified as water-stressed,” the environmentalist warned.

At the global level emission of greenhouse gases had increased by 80 per cent between 1970 and 2000 and India was projected to become third largest carbon dioxide emitter by 2015, he said.

The impact would be disastrous. “Productivity of wheat in India could decrease by 5 per cent to 10 per cent per one degree rise in temperature. This will further lead to decrease in fresh water availability. Gross per capita water availability will decline from 1820 cubic metre per year by 2001 to 1140 cubic metre per year by 2050,” the Padma Vibhushan awardee said.

“We as a society need to bring a major change in the system and behaviour. There should be improvement in scientific understanding of the issue as well as promotion of research and development and transfer of technology,” Mr. Pachauri advised.

He underlined the need for streamlining environmental policies in decision making and internalising the environmental costs in economic activities.

“Effective carbon pricing is a step towards the goal.”

Disaster preparedness

The environmentalist said the Government should get ready to improve disaster preparedness and management including upgrading health care system.

He called upon the State government to carry out a study on impacts of climate change and based on the finding it should integrate adaptations in its wider policies.

 
SOURCE : Wednesday, January 07, 2009
 


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