This brief write-up was supplied to the students and participants before they joined the discussion event on 09-April-2011 in Vivekananda Library, Suri.

1. “Global warming is bigger threat than terrorism” – Sir David King, Chief Scientific Officer, UK
Mankind has made tremendous technological progress in the last century and the progress has brought comfort &
convenience in daily life. This development has brought with it multiple problems and unfortunately, some of them are
devastating. Nuclear risk is one of them. Even more dangerous consequence of the industrial development is what
scientists call, “Climate Change”.
Such a huge global issue requires multi-dimensional actions – actions at policy level and actions at community level. We
will be debating on the topic of “Global warming is a global issue – not much can be done locally” on 09th of April in
Vivekananda Library in the usual forum of SMART. The following reading material will help participants to be prepared
for the participative debate. We expect to cover facts that should assist one in preparation for competitive examinations.
Here we go.
What is global warming? Is it any different from Climate Change?
Before we talk of ‘Global Warming’, one should know about ‘Greenhouse effect’. The picture below illustrates it best. It
is just worth noting that greenhouse effect exists naturally and is good for us. But when human activities add significant
greenhouse gases (e.g. CO2, Methane, water vapour etc) beyond what natural process allows, then we see the problem.
Global warming is the increase of the Earth’s average surface temperature due to a build-up of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere. However this increase in greenhouse gases does not necessarily lead to warming only. Some particular
places in the world may become colder, some may have more rain while some will not. Scientists found a better and
broader term, called ‘Climate change’ that refers to long-term changes in climate, including average temperature and
precipitation.
There is some debate in popular media (while scientific consensus exists) about the human influence in global warming
and skeptics say that this climatic variation is natural (e.g. due to change in solar cycle etc). However earlier fluctuations
have been very different from the current one as earlier changes have occurred slowly over thousands of years. Please
note that the last year, 2010 has been recorded as the warmest year in the history of Earth!!
Now we know why global warming happens; what are the typical activities that are responsible for human-
induced global warming?
Any activities that lead to addition of greenhouse gases cause global warming/climate change. Generally consumption of
fossil fuels (i.e. coal, oil etc) leads to emission of GHGs. Look at what we do generally on daily basis, some example
below – all of these emit greenhouse gases (GHGs).
1. Take a motor-bike/car out for a leisure trip.
2. Switch on electric lights/TV, which triggers somebody to add coal in a power plant, for example.
©RACE. RACE, standing for 'Responsibility Associated with Clean Environment' is a dynamic non-profit organization striving for a
future that is free from threats of global warming and local pollution. For details visit www.raceforgreen.webs.com.

2. 3. Cut the trees for building a house and an important CO2 sink is lost.
4. Set up a factory that emits CO2.
Fine, Climate change is bad. But why is it devastating? What are the effects?
Scientists from Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have projected that climate change will cause havoc
to human existence and some of the impacts are as below –
1. Extreme weather – very hot summer, very cold winter, little rain, extreme snowfalls.
2. Natural calamities – Floods, Droughts, Storms.
3. Diseases – Malaria, Dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases.
4. Food production – Agriculture to be badly impacted leading to food shortage and other social problems.
5. Plant and animal extinctions
The above are some examples. Because of the complexity and multitude of the problems, many more socio-economic
issues (e.g. inflation, water shortages, even wars etc) are likely.
Scary, but surely something is being done! What are being done internationally and nationally?
After the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in 1992 in Rio, countries (especially the
developing ones) are increasingly incorporating environmental conservation and sustainable development
considerations in the planning. As any attempt to significantly reduce carbon emissions (i.e. GHG emissions) will
inevitably impact our way of life and comfort, policy makers find it difficult to take strong and unpopular decisions. For
example, private cars could well be taxed heavily or the airfare could be increased for people to avoid unnecessary plane
travels – but they are generally difficult decisions.
Kyoto Protocol is one international agreement that has attempted to reduce carbon emissions and it expires in 2012.
Every year in the conference of parties (COP, in 2010 in Cancun), significant debates are taking place among international
leaders. Unfortunately the progress is slow. USA which is the highest emitter of the GHGs does not act boldly. European
countries have taken a number steps proactively to reduce carbon emissions, some examples include promotion of
renewable energy technologies (e.g. solar, wind etc), insulating homes so that heat is not lost during winter.
India has also been trying a number of policy options. India was the first country to set up ministry of non-conventional
energy sources (which is now MNRE) in early 1980s. More recently India has declared National Solar Mission, National
Mission for Green India etc in order to reduce climate change.
What can we do to reduce human-induced climate change?
Anything that reduces consumption of fossil fuels can help reduce climate change. In the age of fast development,
integrating renewable sources of energy into the development is one of the most important step. Following are some of
the examples that we can do –
1. Do not waste energy of any form, i.e. we should avoid wastage of electricity, gas, petrol, diesel etc. For example, do
not leave electronic appliances on standby as it continues to consume energy and it costs you money as well.
2. Adopt a less consumptive lifestyle as more consumption means more factories and hence more emissions.
3. Adopt renewable energy (e.g. solar lantern) and tell our leaders to bring the change (use your vote).
Further reading:
There are innumerable websites on this. Only a few are mentioned here –
1. www.ipcc.ch
2. www.unep.org/climatechange/
3. www.cseindia.org
©RACE. RACE, standing for 'Responsibility Associated with Clean Environment' is a dynamic non-profit organization striving for a
future that is free from threats of global warming and local pollution. For details visit www.raceforgreen.webs.com.