Opinion
India pushes for common responsibility
21 Oct 2009 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| Nature
Online collection
India expects a strong agreement at December\'s United Nations climate conference in Copenhagen for several reasons. First, the country is very vulnerable to the effects of climate change, both those projected to occur within its own territory and those in neighbouring countries. Bangladesh, for instance, with a population of 160 million people is extremely vulnerable to sea level rise. This, along with the growing intensity and frequency of cyclones and other extreme events could result in large numbers of migrants fleeing to India. Equally serious are the problems associated with glaciers melting in the Hindu Kush region. Most of the rivers in northern India originate in these glaciers, and a decline in river flows because of reduced glacial mass would lead to water scarcity for India and its neighbours. Climate change is also likely to directly affect agricultural production, because there is growing evidence that some agricultural crops are seeing a decline in yields due to climate change, most notably wheat crops grown in North India (H. Pathak et al. Field Crops Res. 80, 223–234; 2003). Consequently, India has a vital stake in the stabilization of Earth\'s climate system.
The climate is changing now
20 Oct 2009 |
Dr Leena Srivastava
| Financial Chronicle
In meeting after meeting in the international arena, Indian delegates have supported the stand of their government, articulated brilliantly in 1992 during the Rio Conference, that the developed countries are historically responsible for emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs), which have put planet earth at peril.
It is this historical degradation of our environment that has fuelled the economic growth of developed countries and given them their current income levels and, therefore, it is they who need to pay for the ‘clean-up’ — the polluter pay’s principle. We have also concurred with the equity principle that bestows an equal right to consume (or pollute) earth’s resources on every citizen of the world.
The disappearing deal: American obstacles in Copenhagen
16 Oct 2009 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| Newsweek
This December representatives from around the world will meet in Copenhagen under U.N. auspices to hammer out a new agreement for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions and taking other measures to tackle climate change. The deal is expected to include a commitment by developed countries to pay for measures in developing states to adapt to the impact of climate change and to cut emissions, as well as providing them with easy access to clean technologies.
Growing Technology: Drought-proofing India needs us to get moving on biotech
14 Oct 2009 |
Dr Vibha Dhawan
| The Indian Express
The initial failure of the monsoon in large parts of India, and the subsequent floods in the South, are seriously affecting production of our major crops. Sugarcane is expected to decline by nearly 30 per cent in Maharashtra. Incomes of small rain-fed farms in semi-arid Andhra Pradesh could decline by 20 per cent under harsher climate, forcing farmers closer to the poverty line. Today, approximately 20-30 per cent of our production is affected due to extreme weather conditions.
Teaching sustainability values
07 Oct 2009 |
Dr Leena Srivastava
| Financial Chronicle
In a recent conference in Istanbul, a delegate expressed wondrous surprise that her three year-old daughter displayed concern for water conservation while brushing her teeth. She said that she would not expect such behaviour from older children or indeed adults. Her wonder would come as a surprise to most in the poorer countries of the world where conservation is a way of life … conservation of water, of energy, of space, of paper and so on are values ingrained in us from childhood. Don’t waste food, take as much as you can finish - a common diktat in most households. Share your meagre resources – a common refrain.
Revamp environment laws
05 Oct 2009 |
Mr Sakarama Somayaji
| Financial Cronicle
The Awakening, a science fiction novel by Risto Isomaki published in the late 1990 had a very interesting storyline. In it, the West Siberian permafrost and offshore methane hydrate deposits started to melt, releasing huge quantities of methane into the air.
And soon, people started to suffocate to death when the atmosphere became too poisonous for them. Purely fictitious at that time, but less than a decade later, I am not so sure. A sentiment also echoed by the author of the novel.
CSR and sustainable development
21 Sep 2009 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Economic Times
Capitalism and the role of private enterprise are currently being questioned across the world, particularly after the last year's economic meltdown and the current economic recession, which has gripped the world. Criticism, which appears largely valid, focuses on the factors that led to the current crisis.
There is now widespread acceptance of the fact that a lack of effective regulation of private sector activity combined with unethical decisions at the leadership level in the corporate sector have been the main cause of the current impasse.
How to make good neighbours
08 Sep 2009 |
Dr Leena Srivastava
| Financial Chronicle
India seems to be in the eye of the storm perpetually - be it related to geographical tensions or around the issue of climate change or even vis-Ã -vis the trade negotiations. Of course, the key Indian stakeholders, as expected and as is probably right, are protesting loudly about the unfair accusations and the vulnerability of their population but seem less than successful in putting their point across.
A fluid situation
26 Aug 2009 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Hindustan Times
The current drought affecting several parts of India is merely a symptom of a growing problem that this country must address with forward vision. Lack of access to good quality and adequate quantity of water for the citizens of India renders meaningless progress in all other fields. There are varying estimates of total useable water resources in the country, but the consensus clearly points to a quantity below 1,000 billion cubic metres, which translates into water availability per capita far below the scarcity benchmark of 1,000 cubic metres. Demand in the future will grow rapidly with increase in irrigation, rapid industrialisation and greater household consumption, particularly with rapid urbanisation.