climate change

                                                       

                                                                                               

                            SHIFT FOCUS FROM ECONOMY TO CONTAINING CLIMATE CHANGE

                                                                                                                    -SANJOG MAHESHWARI

              The time has come now that even a common citizen should be concerned with the consequences of global warming. Torturously scorching long spell of summer with scanty rainfall -far short of the average- that follows cyclone Aila this year are indications enough, if at all they are required, that further disastrous consequences of our apathy towards the problem could be just round the corner.  While global warming will affect everyone, for the obvious reasons, our poor will have to bear the brunt more than the rich. As droughts, cyclone and floods stalk the land, these environmental refugees, forced to leave their huts and hearths in search of a squire meal, will flood towns and cities year after each year culminating in such phenomenon becoming a part of our existence. On a broader canvass, under developed and the developing countries will have to bear greater burden than the developed countries.  The demon won't hear the argument that we emitted lesser carbon dioxide in the world's atmosphere than the developed countries, and that our per capita green house gas emissions   still averages less than theirs.  Come what may, it sure will do what it invariably does: ruin our agriculture, eco-system and environment; endanger our very life and existence on this planet. The poor and the middle class that comprises above 70% of the population will suffer the most as their dependence on natural resources for survival is greater.  In India, this year alone, an estimated 7.5 million people are likely to be adversely affected by global warming.

            We will find it difficult, if not altogether impossible, not to accept the cap on our carbon dioxide emissions.

              At the domestic front we have no explanation   as to why we are keeping the vital interests of more than 70% of our population hostage to the greed and caprice of less than 10% of its rich and powerful?  It is high-time that we initiated proper action in this direction; cancelled all the big deals particularly pertaining to car-production and manufacturing, stopped the inflow of foreign capital into the country and shifted the focus from the economy to ecology, environment, forests, flora & fauna, and agriculture. We must also focus on developing and harnessing the non-conventional –renewable resources of energy in a big way. Another important plan on our agenda should be putting a very affective check on our burgeoning population by enforcing a package of the most severe penalties, punishments and disincentives on the offenders of the " one-family; one-child" norm as in China and scrupulously follow the Chinese way of tackling this" mother of the most,  if not all the problems".    Perhaps then we will have something to show to the world that we also mean business and are in  no way less concerned.  China with a decade long dedicated programme of population control will sure qualify for liberal concessions from the developed countries enabling it to give further impetus to its already accelerated industrial and agricultural growth whereas we, the prisoners of our populist policies, will be roughshod at every future climate-change meet.

              No doubt, these measures will grossly infuriate the rich and powerful in the country and our growth rate may also slow down.  But it would be a very small price to pay for warding off the total disaster and devastation.  Should we sacrifice the larger interests of 70% of the poor of this country which involves   their very survival at the altar of the insatiable greed and caprice of 10% of its rich and powerful?  Is the tag "bad boy of climate change talks" not too hot for our comforts? 

              As citizens it is our bounden duty to force the government to give up its populist policies and take affective steps to ensure that the water we drink is not contaminated, the air we breathe is not polluted and the food we eat is not adulterated.      

              Though the Copenhagen is behind us now, the US Administration under President Obama is most likely to push hard for an international agreement on climate change in future meets.  At home, the US Administration is pushing forward a 10 year ambitious programme for renewable energy resources with an investment of over $150 billion.   They are forcing the automobile industry to introduce very strict fuel efficiency norms to reduce vehicular emissions of the poisonous gases.  Of course, India and China must claim a commitment from the Industrialised countries to contribute certain percentage of their GDP to fund and finance climate action in the developing countries and  bring round the developed countries to share the green technology with them, but they must also make matching efforts to qualify for the favour and finances

              For the teeming millions of India, clean water to drink, fresh air to breathe and a green earth to walk on are far more desirable than the dubious distinction of being home to five out of ten richest persons in the world.

                                                                                                                      SANJOG MAHESHWARI