'Climate Change Poses Risk to Socio-economic Activities'

The New Indian Express , Monday, June 08, 2015
Correspondent :
BENGALURU: Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) recommendations for the State Action Plan on Climate Change specifically focus on the need to move to an equitable, sustainable, low-carbon pathway to contain greenhouse gas emissions and the vastly increasing pollution load against the background of a high GDP growth rate.

These wide-ranging recommendations are based on multiple public consultations and internal studies that were held throughout the state between January and May this year.

Although the recommendations encompass every sphere of the state’s sectors, ranging from industry to agriculture, it does not set any targets or goals or even come out with specific cuts or standards for polluting industries or specify the need for 33 per cent of forest cover.

The KSPCB study states that climate change is projected to pose severe risk to all important socio-economic activities in the state, including agriculture and allied activities, health, fresh water availability, forestry and bio-diversity and coastal ecology. Hence, all possible efforts to minimise these risks have become essential. There was an overall consensus among the stakeholders that climate change is set to inflict “severe, widespread, and irreversible impacts” on people and the natural world, unless carbon emissions were cut sharply and rapidly.

The recommendation clearly states, “Karnataka has no option, but to take resolute steps to mitigate and adapt. Water stressed characteristic of the state and absence of fossil fuel reserve should determine the developmental pathway for the overall economic development of the state in general, and for agriculture and industries in particular.”

It further says, “Sustainable agricultural, horticultural and animal husbandry practices should become a norm. The Western Ghats, which is one of the eight hottest bio-diversity hotspots in the world, is critical for the welfare of the state, and hence must be protected and enhanced with utmost priority.”

“Air pollution, associated with the large number of vehicles in operation, and water pollution, associated with chemical contamination, cannot be ignored any longer, and hence should be addressed with adequate pollution control measures on a war footing. Traditional knowledge and the role of women in mitigation and adaptation should receive the attention they deserve.”

The report further outlines, “Anything less than a fully committed and comprehensive action plan should not be acceptable. It has become critical to examine the best practices already in vogue around the world and carefully consider and implement those which are relevant to our state’s requirements at an early date. Various government departments and agencies should embark on similar public consultation processes

reaching all taluks and all sections of the society in order to develop a people-centric action plan for the state.” The recommendations also indicate that the level of awareness and interest among the population on climate change is very low, and should be a cause of serious concern.

It may be recalled that consequent to the formation of the National Action Plan on Climate Change as also the State Action Plan, the KSPCB held a series of 21 consultations with stakeholder groups, individuals, civil society groups for formulation of an action plan to mitigate and adapt to the fast evolving climate change.

The objective of the consultations was to elicit opinion on action needed to minimise pollution of air, land and water and its impacts in particular, and to the state’s overall developmental imperatives.

The following areas of focus were identified in this regard: water and sanitation, land use and planning, waste management and air quality, energy, industries, transport and a host of other issues.

 
SOURCE : http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/Climate-Change-Poses-Risk-to-Socio-economic-Activities/2015/06/08/article2855201.ece
 


Back to pevious page



The NetworkAbout Us  |  Our Partners  |  Concepts   
Resources :  Databases  |  Publications  |  Media Guide  |  Suggested Links
Happenings :  News  |  Events  |  Opinion Polls  |  Case Studies
Contact :  Guest Book  |  FAQs |  Email Us