Country heads at the convention on climate change in 1992 had expressed serious concern over the change in the earth’s climate and its adverse effects on mankind.
Though all the living beings are victim of the adverse effect of climate change, but man is primarily responsible for it. There is an urgent need to create awareness among people across the world to be cautious about it. Every nation has a responsibility to contribute to the campaign and protecting the environment.
The climate of the entire globe can be classified in to global climate, continental climate and regional climate. Similarly, the regional climate can be classified in to general climate and micro climate. The number of micro climate creates mega climate which always influences general climate of the region. The destruction of micro climate due to various reasons spells trouble.
Climatic disasters are seen in various forms like tsunami, tornado, cyclone, super cyclone and oceanic hurricanes etc. The oceanic countries are the worst victims. Indian States like Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka etc are regularly facing climatic hazards.
As world scientists forecast, the sea levels will rise 2 to 7 feet in height by the end of the 21st century. If it happens, the present world civilisation will witness worst deluge and especially, the island countries of the world will lose their existence. As it is experienced, 95 per cent of disasters of the world scenario are experienced within the developing countries. This happens due to carelessness dealing with the nature and with the natural resources. Nature does not recognize any political boundary.
The formation of new soils by natural process is at stake due to various types of pollutions and overuse of soil through application of chemical fertilisers and insecticides. Due to improper use of soil and soil degradation, the crop yield is under threat. The regular impact on climate system created by man will bring great changes within 2050 through climate change which can bring serous problems for the world civilisation.
Hence, there must be a balance between development and climate action. A climate action plan depends on the abilities of protection, conservation and restoration of natural eco-systems. For example, there are thousands of eco- systems in Odisha. Each eco- system has its own impact over the general climate of the State. Different kinds of bio diversities are noticed in each eco system.
Higher technologies should be evolved for harvesting of solar energy and air energy within minimum range of expenditure which can be accessible for common man at reasonable cost. This will save the human habitats from green house gas emissions.
Due to climate change, every year 63, 000 babies are meeting premature death in the world. Not only human babies, but of animals are also meeting death for the same reasons. A model shift on mode of transportation can help control and reduce air pollution. Now transportation of goods through river systems of the country and creation of river based ports and use of solar energy for running of automobiles and locomotives can help present civilisation minimise pollution to a great extent.
There must be a world carbon budget. Every developed and developing country should have its carbon budget also. India and its neighbouring States have to do it for checking emission of carbon. Similarly, Odisha has not yet properly assessed the sources of emission of green house gas. There must be adequate provision in the budget to tackle carbon emission.
The life saving items and technologies should be shared by the affluent States with the weak ones. Equitable global action in adapting with prevailing circumstances, financing on knowhow through technologies and capacity building is the need of the hour. There should be an international climate agreement for disaster reduction.
Development does not mean exploitation of natural resources without consideration of climate. Rather it means enduring, sustainable and balanced growth. The per capita carbon emission and consumption in a country should be estimated from time to time and kept for general information. Further, per capita energy consumption and fossil energy consumption should also be envisaged for general information. When the forest areas of most of the nations in the globe are vanishing fast and the use of firewood and fossil fuels are increasing, there is a pro rata rise in carbon emission.
It is time we laid stress on increasing use of renewable energy. In Odisha nearly 40 per cent of the population is using fire wood and fossil fuels for cooking. The trend should be stopped. The State Government ought to mobilise resources for production of renewable energy, its propagation and use by the public.
(The writer is a former senior forest officer and an environmentalist)