WAKE UP INDEAH !!

1 country, 28 states, 1618 languages, 6400 castes, 6 religions, 6 ethnic groups, 29 major festivals-INDIA.  One should be proud to be an Indian! Which other country will have such a vast outlook? Day by day India is progressing and becoming successful in one field or the other. But other than a small part of the billions of people living in this country is any one bothered about what will happen to this country in the years to come if things keep going the way they are? Rapid urbanization, industrialization, increasing levels of pollution etc. are having a deep impact on the climate of this country. And still we the apparent “citizens” of the country are doing nothing about it. We don’t think when we throw a can into a dustbin or buy a new vehicle which on the long run has an adverse effect on the countries climate. All we think is about our own satisfaction and don’t budge an inch from our wants.

            The changing climatic conditions are having a drastic effect on this country and will probably make life impossible in a few thousand or even hundred years. Scientists believe that the fluctuating weather conditions in a country suggest that the country is reeling under climatic chaos. For more than a decade now, the country has been experiencing contrasting extreme weather conditions: from heat waves to cyclones, from droughts to floods.

            Taking a first look at the monsoons, India is a country where the farmers depend on the rains, thus forcing them to borrow money and ultimately end up committing suicide as they cannot pay up for their loans. Other than this, changes to India's annual monsoon are expected to result in severe droughts and intense flooding in parts of India. Scientists predict that by the end of the century the country will experience a 3 to 5 degree celcius temperature increase and a 20% rise in all summer monsoon rainfall. The livelihood of a vast population in India depends on agriculture, forestry, wetlands and fisheries and land use in these areas is strongly influenced by water-based ecosystems that depend on monsoon rains. Changes to the water cycle may also cause an increase in water borne diseases such as cholera and hepatitis, as well as diseases carried by insects such as malaria. A study found that India was likely to face significant adverse effects in a range of sectors, including agriculture, health, forestry and infrastructure. The study found that temperatures were likely to rise in the next few decades, leading to a reduction in wheat and rice yields in India. 

           The temperature of the country is also increasing and affecting the health of the people. For e.g. smog and polluted air affects the respiratory systems of people and drastically affects pregnant women. Unsafe water, poor sanitation and hygiene as well as indoor and outdoor air pollution are all said to be killing people and preventing economic development. In addition, increasing soil pollution, pesticides, hazardous waste and chemicals in food are significantly affecting health and economies. Cancers are linked to environmental conditions, and global warming has a major impact on health. According to a report "For almost all forms of cancer, the risk of contracting this disease can be reduced if physical environments are safe for human habitation and food items are safe for consumption.” In 2000 more than 1 lakh premature deaths were attributed to various climate change impacts, according to the World Health Organization.

               The 7500 Km long densely populated coastline of India is at a risk because of the rising sea levels. The changing monsoon patterns and ocean currents adversely affect life. Mangroves are getting flooded. The Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) says rising sea levels, stronger monsoons, and deforestation are threatening the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest at the mouth of the River Ganges, which acts as a natural barrier, making the Ganges Delta more vulnerable to cyclones and storm tides. Small islands in the area could disappear under rising waters, reducing the habitat of the Bengal Tiger and the other animal species. The Himalayas, the world’s tallest mountain range, has the largest concentration of glaciers outside the polar region. About 750 million people live in the watershed areas of the rivers whose source are these glaciers. On the long run this melting of glaciers affects downstream villages.

                    The year 1998, was the warmest year since the start of temperature recordings some 150 years ago. Similarly, the 1990s have been the warmest decade recorded. In addition, 1998 saw the strongest El Nino ever recorded. As a consequence of this, very high water temperatures were observed in many parts of the oceans, particularly in the tropical Indian Ocean,  Massive mortality and bleaching occurred on the reefs of Sri Lanka, Maldives, India, Kenya, Tanzania, and Seychelles with mortalities of up to 90% in many shallow areas. Coral death during 1998 was unprecedented in severity. In addition to potential decreases in fish stocks and negative effects on tourism, erosion may become an acute problem, particularly in the Maldives and Seychelles. If the observed global trends in temperature rises continue, there will be an increased probability of a recurrence of the phenomenon observed in 1998 on the coral reefs of the Indian Ocean, as well as in other parts of the tropical oceans in coming years. Climatic changes even affect the interiors of the earth leading to earthquakes which are indeed very disastrous like the tsunami in 2004 and the earthquake that rocked Gujarat in 2001. There was immense loss of life and have left many people homeless even up to now.

                  As the result of climatic changes the economy of the country is also drastically affected leading to losses in millions.  In terms of percentage reductions in gross domestic product, India and Africa together are expected to lose about 10 times more from climate change than countries like USA and China. With its growing population, India is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Understanding climate change and its consequences is critical to protect lives and assets upon which India's economy is dependent. Awareness of climate change and its impacts on people, the economy and livelihoods will be important to balance economic growth and development with a changing resource base."

         The level at which the green house gases are increasing in the atmosphere is also very dangerous. From the angle of contribution to climate change, India figures among the top 10 countries of the world with the highest greenhouse gas emissions, with the total CO2 emissions from India estimated to be 1,001,352 Green house gases. India also emits over 250 tones of carbon every year. At this rate the future of the country will be very uncertain.

Its time people open up their eyes and become aware of what is happening to our country. The government should pass laws taking strict action against people who pollute the environment. They should be strictly dealt with. The “Polluter Pays” axiom should be started so that the polluters make sure they cough up the money for the damages caused and also help in cleaning up the environment. People should try their best to limit pollution by using resources judiciously. Just like Newton said “To every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction”, any climatic change in India will definitely reflect on its people. Speaking at the mid-November release of the Synthesis Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was reflecting the consensus view of the 2000-plus scientists who had contributed to the report when he asserted that climate change effects “have become so severe and so sweeping that only urgent, global action will do.” So people its high time we do some thing for our country. 

                                                                                                  

                                                                -  Parnika Praleya

                                                                  St. Stephen's College, Delhi.