PREFACE

Burning of Fossil fuel, mass destruction of forest and effluent of various

Industries has lead to the rise in global temperature. Preventing this
global warming is the biggest challenge to the mankind.
This book deals with the scientific aspects of Green house effect and
climatic change, explains why this issue is important, and shows that
there are measures which, if implemented soon, can reduce the social,
economical and environmental impact of changing climate.
 Acknowledgement

I wish to thank all the people who have contributed towards the successful
completion of the book. I also thank my friends and colleagues who have
helped to get necessary facts and figures for this serious topic. Last but
not the least I wish to thank Prof. Kaushik Das, my guide, for his
invaluable advice and guidance throughout the process of writing this
book and without his support, encouragement and patience, this book
writing would have not been possible. I thank him for the inspiration he
gave to me and highly indebted to him for life.

2
INDEX

Chapter 1.................................................................................................................................................................4
What is global warming?.....................................................................................................................................4

Mechanism of Global Warming:...........................................................................................................................5

Chapter 2.................................................................................................................................................................9
IS THE CLIMATE CHANGING?........................................................................................................................9

Chapter 3 ..............................................................................................................................................................17

Who Is Responsible?.............................................................................................................................................17

Chapter 4...............................................................................................................................................................21
WHAT WILL IT DO?.........................................................................................................................................21
INTERNATIONAL HEALTH IMPACTS...................................................................................................21
Effect of global warming on Biological Diversity........................................................................................22

Chapter 6: Countries at Risk...............................................................................................................................23

Bangladesh....................................................................................................................................................23
Belize.............................................................................................................................................................24
.......................................................................................................................................................................24
Bhutan..........................................................................................................................................................24
Brazil.............................................................................................................................................................25
.......................................................................................................................................................................25
Cambodia......................................................................................................................................................25
.......................................................................................................................................................................25
China.............................................................................................................................................................26
Egypt.............................................................................................................................................................26
.......................................................................................................................................................................26
Ethiopia.........................................................................................................................................................27
.......................................................................................................................................................................27
Ghana............................................................................................................................................................27
.......................................................................................................................................................................27
Indonesia.......................................................................................................................................................27
.......................................................................................................................................................................27
Jordan............................................................................................................................................................28
.....................................................................................................................................................................28
Kenya............................................................................................................................................................28
Kyrgyzstan....................................................................................................................................................29
.......................................................................................................................................................................29
Maldives ..........................................................................................................................................29
Nepal ...........................................................................................................................................................29

3
 Peru...............................................................................................................................................................30
Philippines.....................................................................................................................................................30
.......................................................................................................................................................................30
Vietnam.........................................................................................................................................................31
.......................................................................................................................................................................31
Zambia...........................................................................................................................................................31

Chapter 5...............................................................................................................................................................32
How does Global Warming affect India?..........................................................................................................32
Bengal will suffer:.........................................................................................................................................33
Rising sea-levels will be a disaster................................................................................................................33
Orissa will also suffer....................................................................................................................................33
HOW WILL GLOBAL WARMING AFFECT INDIAN ECONOMY?................................................................34

Chapter 6...............................................................................................................................................................35
WHAT CAN WE DO?........................................................................................................................................35
CONSERVATION:.......................................................................................................................................36
ENERGY EFFECIENCY:............................................................................................................................38
GETTING TO ZERO....................................................................................................................................39
Making a Difference as an Individual ..........................................................................................................40
Go Green.......................................................................................................................................................42

Conclusion: .......................................................................................................................................................43

...............................................................................................................................................................................44
Bibliography

Chapter 1
What is global warming?

Global Warming is defined as gradual increase in the

temperature of the planet earth. Measurements indicate the increase
in earth temperature by one degree Fahrenheit over the past century.
This increase in temperature is because of human activities which
lead to increase in CO2 level and other green house gases.
All the scientists believe that this rise in global temperature will
further lead to global warming, but uncertainties prevail about the
time and severity of the climate change. On the other hand, many
are now convinced that human activities are majorly responsible for
long term warming of the earth by emitting green house gases.
Scientist believes that there is enough evidence to justify a
sensible approach towards minimizing potential consequences of
global warming.

4
 “The intergovernmental panel on climate change, a panel of
2000 scientist convened by United Nations Environmental program
and the World Meteorical Organization determined that even if we
take steps to reduce our Green House gases, the planet could warm
up to a rate faster than it has in the past 10,000 years.”

Mechanism of Global Warming:

5
 The Sun rays in the form of Infrared rays fall on earth’s surface,
a part of which is absorbed by the atmosphere and the major part is
reflected back to the space. Due to the presence of green house
gases like Carbon dioxide and Methane this rays are absorbed in the

6
Stratosphere which are again reflected back to the earth’s surface.
This will lead to increase in temperature on the earth’s surface. This
process goes on repeatedly as the infrared rays are absorbed more
and more ultimately leading to increase in the temperature of the
Planet in whole.

Green House Effect:

The Sun which is in its Red Giant Phase emits heat from its
surface in the form of radiation with temperature as high as 5800 K
(Kelvin). The majority of the radiation is in the visible wavelength
region, 0.4-1.0 um, where the earth’s atmospheric gases absorb only
weakly. On the other hand, the low temperature earth emits

7
radiation at infrared wavelengths for which the atmosphere is highly
absorbing. In simple terms, the atmosphere lets shorter wavelength
radiation in, but does not lead longer wavelength radiation out. This
behavior is similar to the panes of the glass; the effect is called as
green house effect.
In the strongly absorbing infrared region, different molecular
species are responsible for the opaqueness of the atmosphere at
various wavelengths. Water molecules are major absorbers over
much of the region at which the earth radiates, 5-30um. The 12.5-
18um region is blocked by the carbon dioxide now present in the
atmosphere. The 8.5-12um interval is relatively transparent to much
of the radiation, to radiate back to the space. However, there is a
strong absorption by ozone at 9.6um wavelength in 8.5-12um
wavelength “window”. Increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide
and ozone thus reduces the transparency of the window leading to
increase in the temperature. In addition to this clouds and
particulate matter (aerosols) also contribute to this trapping.
Calculating the combined radiation trapping-effect of these
substances is a bit difficult task because addition of this trapping
cannot be done linearly as this absorption is sometimes overlapping
in the same region. Roughly, carbon dioxide accounts for 12% of the
trapped radiation, clouds trap up to 14% of it. Moreover this
absorption will increase three to four times if other gases are
removed from the atmosphere. The complexities of the radiative
processes are further underlined by noting that the upper layers of
the atmosphere leak relatively more radiation into space than they
trap, so that additional carbon dioxide leads to atmospheric cooling
than warming at layers above 20km.
Over, the last decade it has been found out that variety of
species have strong infrared absorption modes that lie in the window
of transparency (Ramanathan, 1975; Chamberlain et al., 1982).
Trace species that are capable of affecting the radiative balance
include nitrous oxide, methane, chlorofluorocarbons as well as ozone.

8
This entire species are increasing because of agriculture and
industrial activity, which in turn increases blanketing capacity of the
atmosphere.

Chapter 2
IS THE CLIMATE CHANGING?

9
10
The Long Term Temperature Record

11
 Source: IPCC, 2001
The above figure gives us information about the increase in
temperature over the period of 1000 years and in particular over the
past 140 years. If we compare the above two graphs, then we can
notice that the increase in temperature in last 140 years is the fastest
and this can be seen by the steep increase in the line from the period
between 1850 and 2000.
‘The past 100 years have been the warmest in the past
1000 years.’

12
Sea ice trends

The above figure gives us information about the volume of sea

ice in the year 1955 and what will it be in the year 2050. Considering
100% volume of sea ice in the year 1955, the volume of sea ice in the
year 2000 decreased to 79% of 1955 volume, and the future
predictions as shown in the above figure say that the volume of sea
ice will decrease to about 54% of the 1955 volume in the year 2050.
Sea ice is declining and will continue to decline
dramatically as per the above prediction.

13
Melting sea ice

• It is observed that the volume of sea ice is declining and

has become 23% smaller than the previous minimum and about 39%
smaller than the average ice.
• Ice has become 50% thinner than its initial density and is
continuing to become thinner and thinner at a very fast rate.
• If we consider the thickness of ice, then it is only 3 feet
thick at most locations.

In September 2007 an area the size of Florida (69,000 square

miles) melted in 6 days.
(Source: NSIDC 2007)
Humpback Whales were spotted in Arctic Ocean for the first
time in 2007. This indicates the catastrophic effect in the Arctic
region where initially fishes couldn’t survive or live in this region
because of the sea ice, but as this ice is vanishing at the tremendous

14
pace, it has opened the doors for these whales to migrate in this
region.
According to the report published by U.S Center for
Atmospheric Research, 2006, the Arctic Ocean could become ice
free in summer by 2040.

“Our research indicates that society can still minimize the

impacts on Arctic ice”.
(Dr. Marika Holland, National Center for Atmospheric
Research)

15
 The above Poster gives idea about the glacier recession around
the world. If we compare the posters in black and the same one in
color there is a drastic change in their physical appearance. In some
cases the entire glaciers have disappeared. This clearly signifies the
increase in global temperature and its impact at various places
through out the globe.

16
Chapter 3
Who Is Responsible?

We, the People

Human factors
only

In the above figure we can see how the graph or the frequency is
rising form 0-1 degrees over a time span of 150 years. If we compare
the Model result and the observations then we can easily interpret
that the cause for this is because of Human Factors only.

17
 Natural factors
only

Considering the above figure, if we compare the Model result

with that of the Observation then we can interpret that the Natural
Factors are comparatively less responsible than that of Human
factors. This can also be said by comparing the above to figures.

18
 Sources of Emissions

The above figure gives information about the global source of

emissions. We can see that the Emissions from the Industry and
Power stations are the highest, followed by burning of Transportation
fuels and Agricultural byproducts and so on. Considering the
Emissions, carbon-dioxide accounts for 72%, methane for 18% and
the remaining 9% is from nitrous oxide.

19
 Major Greenhouse Gas Emitters

The above figure gives information about the Quantity of Green

House Gas emitted by different countries. Major Green House Gas
Emissions comes from the developed countries. U.S and Australia
tops the list of such emissions. The U.S, with 6% of the world’s
population, contributes 25% of the total emissions.
Where will future emissions come from?
U.S and Western Europe are the current leaders in the emission
chart. Developing countries like India, China and Eastern Europe will
contribute a major share in future.

20
Chapter 4
WHAT WILL IT DO?
• Climatic changes will alter natural vegetation, wildlife
habitats, crop growing seasons, and distribution of pests and
diseases. This phenomenon is often referred to as
ECOLOGICAL BACKLASH.
• Accelerated rise in sea levels, threatening half of the
world's most critical coastal wetlands.
• Global warming will expose millions of people to new
health risks. About 30 new infectious diseases have emerged
in the past 20 years.
• Global sea level has increased by 10 to 25 cm in the last
100 years and will rise faster in the coming decades.
• Apart from this, world will face stronger tropical storms,
floods, heat waves, wildfires and landslides.

INTERNATIONAL HEALTH IMPACTS

 Increased epidemics of malaria in Africa; new cases in Turkey

and elsewhere

 Increased cerebral-cardiovascular conditions in China

 Increased heat wave deaths in Europe (52,000 in 2003),

typhoid fever, Vibrio Vulnificus, Ostreopsis Ovata, Congo Crimea
hemorrhagic fever

21
 Dengue Fever in SE Asia

 WHO: 150,000 deaths and 5 million illnesses per year is

attributed to global warming; numbers expected to double by
2030 (Nature, 2005)

Effect of global warming on Biological Diversity

If the planet warms as projected, natural ecosystem will

change by large changes in temperature, moisture patterns,
evaporation rates, and other physical and chemical changes.
It is possible to predict the responses of plants and animals by
changes in temperature and moisture patterns. For example, it can
be said, if we know that race of dwarf birch, Betula nana, can grow
only in the temperature not exceeding 22 degrees, then we can
predict that this species will disappear from the areas where global
warming leads to temperature more than 22 degrees.
Ecologists can also observe the results of many small climate
experiments performed by nature every year. One can observe what
happens to birch trees if unusually warm weather occurs during a
particular year, infact some trees fail to set seeds. Some trees die if
there are continuous warm years in a row. Scientist have looked in
past to see how the ranges of plants and animals varied in response
to past climate change. A palynologist can count the types of plant
pollen found at different depths in the soil, each depth corresponding
to the time in which a particular layer of soil was laid down. If birch

22
pollen is found at a depth corresponding to 10000 years ago, birch
trees must have lived during that time. Similar inference can be
drawn form the fossils of the animals which lived long time back in
some specific temperature, which at present have become extinct in
the same area because of the change in the atmospheric
temperature.
From such observations, it can be inferred that plants and
animals are very sensitive to climate. Their ranges move when the
climate patterns change-species die out in the areas when they were
once found and settle in new areas where the climate becomes more
suitable. We also know from the fossil record that some species have
completely vanished because they were unable to find suitable
habitat.

Chapter 6: Countries at Risk

Countries at Risk:
Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Brazil, Cambodia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana,
India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malawi, Maldives, Nepal,
Nigeria, Philippines, Vietnam and many more.

Bangladesh

23
With one of the lowest per capita levels of energy consumption in the
world, Bangladesh is a major point of reference for the injustice of
climate change. Although alarmist media projections are typically
based on the rise in sea level well beyond the worst case 2100
scenario outlined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC), nevertheless there is a real risk that significant land mass will
be lost, forcing the migration of large number of people. Also the
melting Himalayan glaciers create great risk in the management of
dozens of rivers that flow through Bangladesh into the Bay of Bengal.
Severe monsoons, longer droughts and more violent tropical storms
are some of the future predictions for Bangladesh. Recent cyclone
Sidr in year 2007 killed 3,500 people and destroyed over half a
million homes.
Over and above, the loss of productive land by sea and river
erosion, and impact on food security is of major concern. The IPCC
has predicted 30% fall in wheat production by 2050 and a small fall in
rice production. This will lead to the challenge of finding new
livelihoods to many households.

Belize

Belize lies in the annual cycle of hurricanes and has

experienced 2 category 5 hurricanes in year 2007 only and never
before. Belize is home to one of the worlds largest coral reef, is also
suffering due to increase in ocean temperature. Rising sea levels
have lead to the increase in the risk of the countries like Belize which
are mostly surrounded by coastal region.

Bhutan
Biggest threat to Bhutan is floods caused by glacial lake waters.
At present 22 lakes are under high risk category and are on the verge

24
of bursting and two are under very high risk category. Efforts are
been made by National Environment Commission to access
technology needs in order to prevent this effect of global warming.

Brazil

There are concerns about the use of sugarcane and soya bean
for the production of Biofuels, as a part of Brazil’s high profile support
for renewable sources of energy (it is the world’s largest producer
and consumer of ethanol). On the other hand it is the world’s eight
largest producer of green house gases and third largest in the
developing world after China and India, depending largely on forestry
and unsustainable land use.
In the year 2005, Amazon was hit by severe drought the worst
in 40 years and the reason for this drought is the rising sea
temperature in the North Atlantic region infact there is a highly
sensitive issue regarding the interdependence of Amazon rain forest
and climate change. Also, Deforestation is an issue with Brazil with
almost 16% of the national territory at risk particularly in north and
northeast.

Cambodia

The National Adaption program of Action (NAPA) published in

the year 2006 mention unreliable evidence of increased incidence of
flooding from year 2000 but has little scientific evidence of the nature
of potential change and its consequences. However, it is recognized
that tropical climate change in this region is particularly volatile and

25
Cambodia is expected to experience more severe and larger floods
and drought.
Flooding and disablement of irrigation system causes loss in
rice production and as a result adaptation programs are provided to
the people who are indeed very less adaptable to change. Water
management has also been a point of concern because of the spread
of diseases like Malaria and Dengue, the later of which had been
dangerous in the year 2007.

China
The potential climate change has lead to the concerns about
food security in China. Uncertainties about droughts and floods and
the disruption in the fresh water availability caused by melting
glaciers have lead to ringing of alarm bells in government. China
overtook US in the year 2007 as the world’s largest emitter of carbon
dioxide years ahead of forecast. This is mainly because of the wide
spread coal based power stations emitting tons and tons of carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere.

Egypt

No ministry exists in Egypt which addresses the climate

change and there is lack of detailed research in potential areas and
very few plans of adaptation are undertaken. Global Studies have
shown that much of Nile delta lies below sea level and is vulnerable
to salt intrusions. One study has shown that one meter rise in sea
level will displace over 10% of Egypt’s population.

26
Ethiopia

Ethiopian government has done nothing in order to face

future consequences of climate change, although the country is least
adaptable to the change. Uncertainties in the pattern of rainfall have
led to thinking over food securities.

Ghana

Like most African countries Ghana is vulnerable to the impact

of climate change and in particular their poor farmers. Also there is a
strong concern over its dependence or link between its primary
energy supply and climate change. In the year 2007 the water level
in Volta Lake had gone to very low level, as a result the hydroelectric
power stations build on this lake was shut down affecting 60% of the
electricity supply of the country, resulting in fundamental economic
consequences. On the other hand the Exceptional rainfall had led to
severe flood causing short term food shortage and affecting about
400,000 people.

Indonesia

Indonesia is also affected by consequences of climate change

with more severe hot and raining conditions. There is a threat over
rice production from two crops a year to one due to less availability of
water for irrigation and household.

27
 Indonesia is also vulnerable to extreme weather conditions
because of the phenomena like El Nino. The rising temperatures have
led to increase in frequency of El Nino to once in three years from
four years causing more severe floods and tempests. Damage to the
human life and infrastructure is rising over the years and there is
very little room for the Indonesian government to tackle such serious
situation.

Jordan

Human development in Jordan has always been intricately

linked with the scarcity of water. This challenge is now aggravated
with the uncertainties in rainfall. Jordan is one of the ten poorest
countries in terms of water availability. Having experienced five
years of below average rainfall, the potential impact of climate
change on crop yield and water availability has added an alarming
new dimension to Jordan’s intricate natural resource management.

Kenya
The most severe environmental threat to Kenya is caused by
increasingly unpredictable rainfall patterns that are consistent with
the predictions of human induced global warming. This results in
uncertain food security, malnutrition and poverty and an increased
incidence of violence for land disputes as the people compete for
scare water resources.

28
Kyrgyzstan

The rivers of Kyrgyzstan are the major source of potable and

irrigation water for Central Asia region. The main sources of water for
these rivers are thousands of glaciers in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan,
which are very vulnerable to the impact of global warming. As the
glaciers begin to disappear, the vital source of irrigation,
hydroelectric power and household consumption is at risk in this
region, with Kyrgyzstan at the epicenter of this potential geo-
strategic minefield.

Maldives

Maldives is one of the countries that are most vulnerable to

global warming. 80% of land in Maldives is less than 1m above sea
level and 47% houses have distance of less than 100m from
coastline. With high tides and storms, which usually occur in the
month of may will clearly pose and ever increasing threat of
devastation for the country.

Nepal

The crop production in Nepal has been affected by extreme

monsoon conditions, the pattern of which has been unsettled due to
climate change. The monsoon floods of 2008 have displaced about
180,000 people and caused widespread destruction of crops.
Climate change, to which Nepal is the least contributor, also
threatens to melt Himalayan snow and glaciers with potential

29
disastrous results. Reports published by UN agencies in 2007
conclude that Himalayan region is warming at twice the average rate
and the glaciers are melting faster than anywhere in the world. As
many as 20 lakes in the mountainous region have been identified as
at risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF)
Nepal lacks resources and expertise in identifying and
evaluating the risk and is far behind other least developed countries
in preparation of NAPA.

Peru
Water management in Peru is vulnerable to the potential
serious impact of climate change. The country is home to the largest
tropical glaciers in the world, a vital source of fresh water during dry
season in largely desert coastal regions. Also, 60% of the electricity
is generated by hydroelectric power and 60% of agricultural land is
irrigated. These glaciers are melting and predictions suggest that the
volume of water availability will begin to fall from as early as 2030.
Sarcastically, Peru itself controls the lever of climate change, being
home to largest tropical rain forest. The rate of deforestation is less
than 0.5% per annum.

Philippines

In 2007, Bali UN climate change conference, Philippines was the

highest placed country in a new Global Climate Risk Index. This was
indentified when in the year 2006 extreme weather events accounted
for 3000 deaths and widespread destruction by mudslides and
typhoons. Apart from extreme weather, there is a concern that
increasing temperature will affect agricultural yields and food
security, and also rising sea levels threaten over 40 million people
who live in coastal regions.

30
Vietnam

A 2007 UNDP case study stated that climate change

represents, “a real threat to Vietnams’ socio-economic development
with poorest communities at maximum risk. Vietnam is one of the
five countries most prone to rising sea levels which will impact the
low-lying Mekong Delta. A one meter rise in sea level will lead to
displacement of 25% of the population living in coastal areas,
destroying agriculture and fishing livelihoods. A severe typhoon
season in 2007 with extensive loss of life, the worst flooding in 50
years which led to the damage of $725 million is an example of
deadly effects of global warming on the economy and on the people
of the country.

Zambia
The country like Zambia where there is very little margin for food
security is highly prone to climate change. 2007 report by the World
Conservation Union (IUCN) says that climate change will hardly affect
Zambia. The government NAPA published in the year 2007 says
that,” droughts and floods have increased in the frequency, intensity
and magnitude over the last two decades and have adversely
impacted on food and water insecurity”-access to safe drinking water
in rural areas in only 37%.

31
Chapter 5
How does Global Warming affect India?
Defects in India’s food security are very prominent even
without the uncertain impact of climate change. With more than 60%
of agricultural crop dependent on rainfall, even very small change in
pattern, intensity and timing of rainfall will lead to a great change in
the yield of the crop. Green peace is trying to raise awareness
among 50 million people living in the coastal cities regarding the risk
of rising sea level. Adaption plans are eye-catching by their absence,
the chairman of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change,
Rajendra K Pachauri, himself an Indian, has expressed the view that
India is completely unprepared for the impact of climate change
which he considers could lead to social unrest. There was a great
criticism on management of monsoon floods in 2008 which displayed
3 million people in Bihar alone.
Apart from rainfall patterns, water resources are threatened by
melting of Himalayan glaciers which is the main source of water for 3
main rivers of the country. About 400 million people, one or the
other way are dependent on Ganges. Predictions that glaciers would
disappear seriously weakens the ambitious $200 billion River-linking
project which aims to connect the apparently healthy rivers in the
north to those in the south.
We keep on hearing about the rising temperatures due to
global warming in countries like UK and USA, but the country like
India is one of the most vulnerable countries when it comes to the
effect of global warming. India has a long coastline and rising sea
levels caused by global warming will cause an ecological disaster.

32
This is as per 1989 United Nations Environmental Program Study. As
the article explains: “In India, the signs already back up a forecast
that as the mercury rise over the Indian Subcontinent, home to one
sixth of humanity, will be one of the worst-affected regions.”

Bengal will suffer:

The Himalayan glaciers have started to melt and the average

rate of melting is 34 meters per year as compared to the 1971 levels
of 19 meters. The melting glaciers will cause temperatures and sea
levels to rise and there will be a cascading effect on the crops and
the monsoons. The worse part is the whole island will vanish, infact
two have already gone under- the island of Sunder bans which India
shares with Bangladesh. Temperature in this group of island has
already increased by 1 degree centigrade.

Rising sea-levels will be a disaster

Some climatologists feel that rising sea-levels will increase by
just 4-35 inches from 1990 levels in another 100 years, while some
feel that the range would be some where between 20-55 inches.
That’s a lot and would affect human dwellings in a big way.
In the year far back as 1993 a study to evaluate the impact of
rising sea levels on India was carried out by JNU (Jawaharlal Nehru
University). They calculated what would happen if the sea level rises
by 1 meter and concluded that as many as 7 million people would be
displaced and 5764 sq km of land and 4200 km of land would be lost.

Orissa will also suffer

Orissa is one another state will is hardly hit by global warming.
Whole villages in the coastal region are disappearing.

33
 In September 2002, scientists at the National Centre for
Agricultural Economics and Policy Research conducted a people’s
perception survey on climate induced natural disasters in the
Kendrapara district of Orissa. The research showed that the
frequency and intensity of droughts have increased and so have the
incidents of flooding. Also, the intensity of cyclone has increased and
people believed that the sea-water had become warmer.
Eastern Coast is more vulnerable than the western coast
because the Bay of Bengal is landlocked from three sides and there is
a huge delta of the rivers like Brahmaputra and Ganga. These rivers
carry the water from the melting Himalayan glaciers.

HOW WILL GLOBAL WARMING AFFECT INDIAN ECONOMY?

India may be a long way from melting polar Ice caps, but its
economy will be among the worst affected on account of climate
change. According to a report by Lehman Brothers, India’s GDP will
decrease by 5% for every 2 degrees rise in temperature.
In an interview will Economic Times, John Llewellyn, global economist
from Lehman Brothers, said, global warming is likely to make affect
India in many ways. Agricultural productivity will be affected as
monsoons will be short with intense burst. Water supply will also be
affected because of lesser snowfall in Himalayas which provides
water for about 40% of the world’s population.
The effect on GDP will be non-linear. Initially, with every 2
degree rise in temperature would result in a 3% dip in global GDP.
The next 2 degrees would do even more damage to the economy.
However, for India the effect will be much more harmful. For every 2

34
degrees rise in temperature the effect on GDP is 5% and for the next
6 degrees it would be 15-16%. According to Mr. Llewellyn, there is
both a direct and indirect effect due to climate changes and this
differs from sector to sector and from country to country.
Incidentally the largest developers of clean development
mechanism projects (CDM) are in China, while India hosts the largest
no of these projects. According to Mr. Llewellyn these projects
represents revenue transfers for countries like India. India will
continue to reap the benefit for the next 5-10 years. At present, the
carbon emitters in Europe pay up 20 Euros a tonne for their
emissions. As per the Kyoto Protocol on global warming, countries will
have to pay for high carbon emissions and can also trade with
deficient countries. While, the developed world, led by USA and
Europe are among the high polluters, India, China, along with most
developing countries are among the deficient countries who can earn
revenues from trading this emissions.

Chapter 6

WHAT CAN WE DO?

It is We, The People who should do something to reduce such

emissions.

35
How can we reduce such emissions?
• There are few technological solutions, if any, as such there is no
way to reduce carbon fast enough because if we grow trees or plant
crops it takes too long time to grow and also requires ample amount
of water.
• Building nuclear power plants may be helpful, but it takes quit a
lot of time to build such plants. But nevertheless, we should not stop
doing such things just because it takes a lot of time to give results.
• Only realistic solution can be dramatic, like rapid life style
changes.
One should lower the power usage; reduce the usage of fossils
fuels for transportation (say Good Bye to SUV’s and large
personal cars).

CONSERVATION:
Examples-
(1) Unplug Appliances

“ABOUT 43 BILLION KWH OF POWER IS LOST PER YEAR IN U.S

ALONE.”

(2) Pump up Tyres. . .

36
“ABOUT 4 MILLION GALLON OF GAS IS WASTED DAILY IN U.S.”

(3) Lower Thermostat A/c

Lower temperature by 2 degree Celsius or 6 degrees 8

hours/day.

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ENERGY EFFECIENCY:
(1)Compact Fluorescent lamps

THEY ARE FIVE TO SIX TIMES MORE EFFICIENT THAN NORMAL

LAMPS

(2) Hybrid Cars

Hybrid Cars saves money on fuel and also one gets Tax Credit.

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GETTING TO ZERO

Renewable Energy: One should use renewable sources of energy

and people to use renewable sources of energy. Different types of
renewable sources of energy are
• Wind Energy: Power can be generated with the help of wind
energy by building Wind Mill based power stations. Government
gives huge subsidy on building wind based power stations at places
where the wind energy can be efficiently utilized of exploited.
• Solar Energy: Solar energy can be used in the form of solar
water heaters and solar cookers and many more other innovative
ways.
• In Steam hydro power: Hydro Electric Power stations can be
built on rivers where water flows through out the year and where
water falls from high altitude.
• Geothermal Energy: This form of energy is the least
exploited type of energy that is used for generation of energy or
power.
• Biofuels: Biofuels like Ethanol is blended along with petrol and
is used nowadays. It is widely used in Brazil and other countries like
India has started using it.

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Making a Difference as an Individual

 Walk, bike, ride public transit

 Reduce your shower length
 Buy locally produced food
 Unplug appliances not in use
 Turn off lights when leaving a room
 Use recycled paper
 Reuse or recycle as much as you can
 Do not leave appliances on standby
 Cover your pots while cooking
 Reuse your shopping bag
 Plant a tree

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DO EVERYTHING, DO SOMETHING, DO ANYTHING

41
The above chart gives idea about how directly or indirectly we can
reduce emissions and save energy.

Go Green

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Conclusion:

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 The entire topic can be concluded from the above picture, it
gives the idea about the seriousness of Global Warming.
I strongly believe, it is high time, we should look forward to the
issue of Global warming, work together and take measures for
controlling it, for the betterment of present and future generations,
and Mankind.

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GO GREEN

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY:
• Book on “Challenges of Global warming” from The Natural
Resource Defense Council of America, edited by Dean Edwin
Abrahamson
• http://uk.oneworld.net/imagecatalogue/imageview/1667/?
RefererURL=/guides/climatechange/impact
• http://globalis.gvu.unu.edu/indicator.cfm?IndicatorID=199
• http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Global_warming_may_melt_India
n_economy/articleshow/2388238.cms##
• http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/DEL196172.htm
• http://www.terradaily.com/2006/061221015453.078uvrt9.html
• http://infochangeindia.org/200605035763/Environment/Features/Sea-
levels-are-rising-People-s-perceptions-and-scientific-projections.html

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