KOLKATA: The fragile ecosystem of the Sunderbans needs to be handled with care, said Nobel laureate Rajendra K Pachauri at the 100th Indian Science Congress on Sunday. The water level at the mangrove delta must be carefully monitored and innovative measures taken to save its river banks, felt Pachauri.
"It is important to look at new measures and innovate to conserve the Sunderbans. Perhaps, we can consider using dykes to prevent flooding and protect the banks, like they do in the Netherlands. It is equally important to ensure that the biodiversity of the Sunderbans is preserved," said Pachauri, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 as the chairperson of the Inter-Governmental Committee on Climate Change.
The 72-year-old environmental scientist also called upon the government to quickly set an agenda to minimize the impact of climate change in India. "India has a good action plan in place. We have eight separate missions on climate and energy, including one on solar energy. The need is to build new capacity in 10 years and implement the policies diligently. We also need to improve on efficiency and spend around Rs 25,000-30,000 crore on developing alternative energy sources and on preventing climate change. It is time, I believe, to move towards a bio-economic future. We need to develop a sustainable cycle and explore biomass for energy. While the government is doing its bit, it is also important for citizens to be conscious about fuel consumption. We need to restrict the carbon footprint," said Pachauri, the head of Yale's Climate and Energy Institute (YCEI).
Earlier, moderating a plenary lecture at the congress, Pachauri and Nobel laureate Yuan T Lee called upon India to stop looking at the West and "evolve our own model of prosperity". "Not only India, the whole world has to move to a bio-economic society. This is a challenge for scientists and engineers. There is a whole range of possibilities. A rise in productivity and yield is possible through scientific intervention. Tapping multiple sources is the solution to the energy crisis that we are heading for. Ultimately, we must fall back on solar energy," Pachauri said.
Lee, on the other hand, said it was important for Asia and India to chart out their own roads to prosperity. "Since World War II, we have been fed with this American notion of prosperity by Hollywood - car and a house with a garden. Overdevelopment is what we can't afford to aim for. Rather, I would be happy if the per-head electricity consumption in India rises to 3kw per year from the present 1kw. There can't be a sustainable future without a sustainable Asia and India. With her tremendous heritage, creativity and ingenuity, India can measure up to the challenges of the future. It is time for the scientific community in India to take a leadership role and chart out a course of action," said Lee.
Pointing out that actions were required across the board, Pachauri said efficient transport, a different set of industrial activities, alterations in lifestyle and agriculture were needed to conserve energy through judicious exploitation. "I agree with Lee that we shouldn't be setting our sights on the West, but develop our own model of prosperity," Pachauri said.
