Lets fight Global Warming

Mumbai:- In an article published in one of the leading newspapers in India, "The Times of India", as per a non-governmental organisation "Greenpeace", Mumbai, India's financial hub would be under water by 2100! Not only Mumbai, some other major cities would face the dreadful effects of Global Warming too. This would happen due to the rise in temperatures by 4-5 degrees. This in turn would imply that approximately 50 million Indians would be left homeless and become "climate migrants".

Greenpeace envisages that human migration 92 years hence would be equivalent to 10 times the movement seen during the India-Pakistan partition.

Inspite of all these studies and the results popping out of these on a regular basis, we still have some ignorant people who call Global warming a "hoax"... get a life!

TOKYO - Japanese households and businesses could end up paying more than $500 billion to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 11 percent over the next decade, the trade and industry ministry said Wednesday.

The report mapped out the changes that consumers and industry would have to make in order to cut emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases blamed for global warming below 2005 levels by 2020.

The forecast, by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, comes as Japan is struggling to meet obligations under the kyoto global warming pact to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 6 percent under 1990 levels by 2012.

source:- Yahoo News

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Mumbai, the financial capital of the largest democracy of the world(India) is really setting an example for other major cities in the world. Not long ago, a group of youngsters had come forward to start a "batti band" campaign as a step towards reducing the consumption of energy. They tried to spread their message of switching off the lights for two hours in the evening for one day through every medium. Their campaign received a mixed response but atleast they tried to do their bit. Now, there's a lot of talk going around Mumbai about making one of the days in the first week of April a "no-honking day", where horns would be used only if extremely necessary. This is to reduce the noise pollution as far as I know. Whether this campaign would receive a good response or not is to be seen... but atleast this city is trying...

Scientists measuring the health of almost 30 glaciers around the world found that ice loss reached record levels in 2006, the U.N. agency said.

UNEP warned that further ice loss could have dramatic consequences particularly in India, whose rivers are fed by Himalayan glaciers.

The west coast of North America, which gets much of its water from glaciers in mountain ranges such as the Rockies and Sierra Nevada, also would be affected, it said.

"There are many canaries emerging in the climate change coal mine," UNEP's executive director Achim Steiner said in a statement. "The glaciers are perhaps among those making the most noise and it is absolutely essential that everyone sits up and takes notice."

source:- CNN

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NEW DELHI: India could lead the world in renewable energy technologies as part of a solution to the climate change crisis, said the former United States Vice-President, Al Gore.

India had proven its capability in information technology, pharma and other sophisticated sectors, and could be a leader in developing new energy technologies to combat climate change, the Nobel Peace Prize winner said.

Mr. Gore was speaking at a function to mark the launch of the India chapter of ‘The Climate Project’ here on Saturday.

“Fast-developing countries like India have a right to aspire for higher standards of living and set whatever goals they think are appropriate.”

Mr. Gore said this to a question on the differences between the developed and developing countries on greenhouse gas emission cuts. “India itself is vulnerable to effects of climate change and can be a part of the solution.”

Mr. Gore, who is championing the cause of combating climate change, said the U.S. was the largest source of pollution and most responsible for creating the problem, and that there was need for a change in the U.S. policy on climate. Whoever comes to the White House after the presidential polls would have to take necessary steps.

EU leaders have agreed to finish talks by the end of the year on an ambitious plan to fight climate change.

After a two-day summit in Brussels, leaders for the 27 nations said they hoped new legislation would be enacted in early 2009.

The bloc aims to implement a 20% cut in greenhouse gases by 2020, compared with 1990 levels.

Source:- BBC news
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PARIS: Global warming could be heating Mars four times faster than Earth due to a mutually reinforcing interplay of wind-swept dust and changes in reflected heat from the Sun, according to a study released on Wednesday.

Scientists have long observed a correlation on Mars between its fluctuating temperatures — which range from -87 C to -5 C depending on the season and the location — and the darkening or lightening of swathes of the planet’s surface.

The explanation is in the dirt.

Glistening Martian dust lying on the ground reflects the Sun’s light — and its heat — back into space, a phenomenon called albedo.

But when this reddish dust is churned up by violent winds, the storm-ravaged surface loses its reflective qualities and more of the Sun’s heat is absorbed into the atmosphere, causing temperatures to rise.

Source:- DNA(Daily News and Analysis)

WASHINGTON: New evidence has suggested that the sleeping patterns of hibernating animals have been altered due to rising temperatures from global warming, which could bring them to the brink of extinction.

These abbreviated hibernations are part of a growing body of evidence suggesting that hibernating animals are waking up earlier—or not going to sleep at all.

According to a report in National Geographic News , this new finding was done by researchers at the Rocky Mountain Biological Lab in Crested Butte, Colorado, who took the case of the change observed in the marmot's hibernation patterns.

When these animals were studied in the 1970s, it was seen that rarely awoke before the third week of May.

But these days, according to the scientists, marmots regularly end their winter naps a month beforehand—by the third week of April.

source:- The Times of India