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Climate change and bengaluru
Written By jennypinto - 25 March, 2009
Bangalore environment Trees Analysis climate change Everything else
prajagale,
i have recently joined CSM, (csmworld.org) an international org that addresses climate change issues.
under their umberella i am attempting to put together a"climate festival" that looks at climate change and bengaluru. (other cities will follow)
my impression is that not many people in our cities , even among the urban educated,
relate to climate change or can join the dots when it comes to issues of climate change and india's .
this could be the reason for or because of the GoI's indifference to climate change so far..and their refusal to come out with a comprehensive policy domestically and any commitments in the internatioanl fora. earlier this week there was a round table on climate change in Bangalore, and our scientific community collectively admitted that
"research on CC in india is in its infancy" (hindu, march 24, pg 5).
in fact , in the light of that statement, i wonder on what basis the GoI takes the stand it does !!
i just wanted to throw this subject open to all of you
just to get a feel for what all of you think on:
1. is climate change a "problem" in india yet?
2. is the time right to bring this subjcet closer to home? into the public fora?
3. what should GoI / state /local govts be doing ?
3. what should the scientifcic community in india be doing?
5. what is the role of civil society ?
6. the role of Corporate india?
7. any other thoughts or suggestion....
being a "thinking , doing" community, i thought praja would be the ideal place to start .
any suggestion/comments will be appreciated.
thanks in advance.....
jenny
COMMENTS
And just for the record - but they time we get the entire national to eat 3 meals there will be no food left!
:) you are beginning to sound like George Bush !!! Wasnt he the one who was complaining there was food shortage in US because we started eating more?
jennypinto - 5 April, 2009 - 10:25
this lok sabha election, no one has talked about climate or environment. neither candidates nor voters. (speaking of karnataka) . unless climate change becomes a poll issue, nothing will change.
this is an illuminating read
http://www.tehelka.com/story_main41.asp?filename=Ne040409f_for.asp
Naveen - 25 March, 2009 - 09:53
IDS - I have a copy of "An Inconvenient Truth" with me, too. You will recall that the figures quoted in the film were challenged in Britain as an exaggeration. Hence, I mentioned the stats that were shown by Fox News in USA (as best i can remember !).
air pollution-green house gases-climate change-health affects
blrpraj - 26 March, 2009 - 23:01
Undoubtedly the worst offenders are the US and EU..the big boys on the block as far as polluters are concerned. But, there are 2 bears around the corner that are barelling down at a rapid pace and will dwarf the big boys in 30 years if things stand currently where they are and nothing is done.
Particulate matter pollution amplifies global warming
http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=109712
I am trying to dispel any myth there may be about how particulate air pollution affects climate change. As far as global warming and climate change are concerned, Diesel&Kerosene engines are as much a culprit as clean burning greenhouse gas emitting petrol engines.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3786067/
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/health/ships-are-a-major-source-of-global-warming-pollutants_10010920.html
Excerpt from above link -
"Also, black carbon or soot, which is another pollutant released by ships, can warm the air hundreds of thousands of times more than the same amount of carbon dioxide. This is quite alarming as black carbon may be responsible for as much as 25% of observed global warming."
We in India and China are looking at nothing short of a health and climate change catastrophe if air pollution (particulate matter & greenhouse gases etc.) & deforestation are not brought under control.
I guess the bottom line is the US and EU have to mend their ways drastically and China&India have to literally do a 90degree or 180 degree turn in the way they do things in order for there to be any significant impact in global air pollution and climate change.
As far as direct actionable items in Bangalore, the following need to be done -
- Green cover needs to be protected as well as expanded on a war footing via proper&effectively enforced urban planning
- Stricter pollution control norms should be established and enforced on industries as well as transportation . Especially 2 wheelers,
autos, public transport buses & trucks as these are big time culprits hand in hand with cars.
- Provide effective clean burning pulic transportation & mass transit and encourage it's use as opposed to using private vehicles.
- Most importantly control Bangalore's expansion through effective zoning and bye-laws plus enforcement of those bye-laws. Explore development of self sustaining neighbourhoods complete with pedestrian/cycle facilities, public transportation hubs, shopping facilities etc. which reduces requirements for motorized transportation as far as possible.
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