Climate Change and Energy
The Himalayan glaciers are receding, agricultural yields are stagnating, dry days have increased, patterns of monsoon have become more unpredictable. India is increasingly seeing the effects of climate change….
There is no tradeoff between environment sustainability and economic growth, in fact if the environment is not protected the growth will not be sustainable….
India needs to respond to Climate Change… because it has huge dimensions for local development in India…
Jairam Ramesh, Minister of Environment & Forest, Government of India
Need to Reduce Carbon Footprint
The amount of greenhouse gases released by human activities – such as the burning of fossil fuels for energy and forest clearing – is called our "carbon footprint".
As a whole, people are currently releasing far more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than ecosystems can immediately reabsorb. In other words, our carbon footprint is outstripping nature's capacity to deal with it.
As a result, these gases are building up in the atmosphere, causing global temperatures to rise – and, consequently, climate change.
Continued emissions of greenhouse gases could see the average global temperature rise by more than 4°C by the end of this century. The impacts of such a rise are the biggest threat to nature and humanity in the 21st century.
As a whole, people are currently releasing far more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than ecosystems can immediately reabsorb. In other words, our carbon footprint is outstripping nature's capacity to deal with it.
As a result, these gases are building up in the atmosphere, causing global temperatures to rise – and, consequently, climate change.
Continued emissions of greenhouse gases could see the average global temperature rise by more than 4°C by the end of this century. The impacts of such a rise are the biggest threat to nature and humanity in the 21st century.
Understanding Climate Change
Increased carbon and energy emissions have skewed the percentage of Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
CO2 traps the heat reflected by the Earth’s surface. Greater presence of CO2 in the atmosphere is having an adverse effect on the environment and has led to an increase in global temperature. Rising temperature can have potentially catastrophic consequences for life on Earth. If this dangerous scenario is not addressed immediately, then the survival of human race itself will become doubtful. Once the planet’s life support systems are trashed, no solution will be available, we CANNOT make another planet.WWF-India aims to ensure the sustainability of the planet and the survival of the human race through a constructive, target oriented approach. The main objectives of the programme are:
- Generate better understanding of the impacts of Climate Change through vigorous campaigns and advocacy.
- Develop a National Adaptation Framework for Ecological Security by 2009 and initiate pilot projects in selected sites by 2012.
- Facilitate transition to a Low Carbon Economy by 2012 through working with key Government agencies and Industry for promoting responsible use of energy and a carbon market that promotes clean energy investment.
- Build Capacity of key stakeholders, and by 2010/11, create a National Network to engage in the post-2012 policy framework.
