This weekend , ultimately I got the opportunity to see the 'An Inconvenient Truth' and appreciated the Al Gore's campaign to educate citizens about global warming via a comprehensive slide show that.I was talking to my father in India and he said "Is saal garmi bahut par rahi hai, jaldi hi temperature 42 degree ho gaya(In Lucknow)" - shows that we have to do much more in this direction as people of developing nation do not look this issue as long term issue and keep forgetting the past years as matter of past.I agree that their priorities are different but ....
So what is Global warming ?
In the simplest possible manner 'Global warming' says that we are emitting too much CO2.
This is mid of April and temperature in Main North Indian states(Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh) are soaring as high as 41-42 degree Centigrade.
Read Following scary news:
1.Temperature was above average by four to 12 degrees Celsius in Himachal as compare to 2009.
2. After 1970 Not only days are getting more warmer day by day across regions and seasons but night temperatures is also rising 0.2 degrees Celsius per decade significantly in almost all parts of the country.
3. Length of time changes in the earth's surface temperature, rainfall, and sea level will remain even after CO2 emissions are completely stopped TODAY.Geologists tell us that the residence time of CO2 in the atmosphere is on the order of 5 to 10 years. In contrast, the IPCC says it is 50-200 years. Does this means that we are missing the train...
4. 70% increase in the rate of Greenland's ice melt over the last 5 years.
This has resulted many socio-economic issues :
1. The rise in night temperatures — could have potentially adverse impact on yields of cereal crops like rice. Minimum temperatures have a link with rice fertility. At higher than normal night temperatures, rice grains aren’t properly filled up, leading to a drop in yield.
2. No 'poorwai' anymore : cooling trend in much of north India seen in the 1950s and 60s has been reversed, possibly because the effect of aerosols in the air can no longer compensate for greenhouse gas warming.
3. Hill-station : I remember in north India people always talk about going to himachal,Uttarakhand and Jammu and kashmir to get rid of Summers but these 3 states are also hit hardest( as they are part of western Himalayas).Here the mean temperature rise in the last century was 0.86 degrees while, more recently, temperatures have been going up by as much as 0.46 degrees per decade. The rapid warming of the region would have obvious fallouts on glacier melts.Pachouri ji ki report factual galat thee....lakin wo din door nahi jab wo sahi ho jae...
3. Deforestation and poor plantation: Although we do not plant many trees and whatever we plant get dried out in heat wave without proper irrigation( as water level is going down every year - another prominent issue to talk about). Trees are not just a thing but provide many benefits to all of us, every day. They provide cooling shade, block cold winter winds, attract birds and wildlife, purify our air, prevent soil erosion, clean our water, and add grace and beauty to our homes and communities. Hey why I MISS THE FACT THAT as trees grow, they help stop global warming by removing CO2 from air, storing carbon in the trees and soil, and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere.
4. To avoid heat people use air-conditioned vehicles and these vehicles again emmit the CO2...so one more side effect of Heat wave.
5. The Indian middle class(most popular segment of society-growing super fast ) cares for itself, its status and image(many Cars,ACs...). The hot air it emits leaves its holiest rivers like Ganga flowing with raw sewerage, its indifference watches on as millions steal scarce electricity, and its corruption looks the other way as bent industrialists pollute the air.But this segment is the most adorable , as it gives real money to private companies.
Solution :
Carbon tax : It works like a sales tax, individuals and businesses would pay a tax based on the amount of carbon emissions they produce. The plan is that the extra tax would be an incentive to pollute less and to seek out clean energy alternatives.
Pros : Putting a cost on the harmful greenhouse gas is the only way to send the appropriate message to people about the state of the climate crisis. By hitting businesses and consumers in their pocketbooks, especially the affluent who contribute the most, tax proponents hope to encourage energy conservation.
Cons : A tax on energy use would hurt the poor and middle class the most. Since introducing a new tax always draws opposition, backers of the carbon tax suggest tax shifting, a concept that would lesson the burden of other taxes and offer rebates to those with financial hardship. The idea is to target the wealthy who consume up to four times as much fuel and energy as the poor.
Another criticism of the carbon tax is that raising prices will destroy the economy. By making it more expensive to travel, heat and cool homes and commute to work, people will have less money to spend on other consumer goods. Plus, if companies are forced to pay more towards production, they may cut wages or other benefits to compensate. Also, if the price of native goods goes up, people will look overseas market like china for more affordable products, driving Indians out of the marketplace.
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