The inauguration was held in a novel way. The elders and youngsters present at the event jointly poured water from a mud pot painted with the figure 350 around a fruit-bearing sapling to indicate that there is a need to protect carbon sinks and maintain a food chain for all other living beings. A number of elderly citizens of Mysore, students from SJCE College, NIE College, SDM Institute of Management Studies, scientists, retired bureaucrats, NGO representatives, resident welfare associations, members of the Institution of Engineers and the MGP participated in a lively debate about the impact of climate change and the need for coherent policies.

Vasanthkumar Mysoremath of the MGP and organiser of the Global Work Party, who conducted the programme, explained what 350.org is and its importance. According to him, 350 parts per million of CO {-2} could be held by the atmosphere surrounding the earth safely and all countries must join hands to bring it down to that level from the present 388.7 ppm, at the earliest.

Healthy debate

“A lively debate ensued and many of the young participants wanted human beings to be more responsible towards saving the delicate ozone layer; share the natural resources in an equitable manner; respect nature without embarking on the uncontrolled emission of GHG and destruction of the carbon sinks in the name of development,” said Mr. Mysoremath.

Many participants urged the developed countries to be role models and extend their scientific and technical expertise to other countries for containing the emissions of CO {-2} and other greenhouse gases.

All the participants agreed that the time had come for all nations to adopt reasonable climate policies that will be acceptable to all.

Mr. Mysoremath wants the policy makers to take note of the observations made by citizens at the grassroots and evolve necessary regulations and laws to clean development management with a futuristic ambience with regard to CO {-2} and other GHG emission standards.