Dangerous Level of Tempera-
) and led by are matured and need only market
ture
Defining what is dangerous
interferences with the climate system
is a complex task. Over the past two
decades several expert groups have
sought to define levels of climate
change that could be tolerable or
intolerable or characterized different
levels of risk. Based on the available
knowledge at present, a 2C increase
is determined to be an upper limit
beyond which the risks of grave
damages to ecosystems are expected
to increase rapidly.
More recently others in the
scientific community have reached
conclusions in a similar direction
that global warming of more than
1C, relative to 2000, will constitute
dangerous climate change as judged
from likely effects on sea level and
extermination of species.
There are risks of rapid or abrupt
changes in climate and the climate
system as a consequence of human
interference. These include : Changes
in climate variability (El Nino
Southern Oscillation, Monsoons); a
high likelihood that warming will
lead to an increase in the risk of many
extreme events, including floods,
droughts, heat waves and fires, with
increasing levels adverse impacts a
risk that at 12C sustained global
warming would lead to a commit-
ment to a large sea-level rise due to at
least partial deglaciation of both ice
sheets (Antarctica and Arctica), an
uncertain risk of shutdown of the
North Atlantic Meridional overturn-
ing circulation, a large increase in the
intensity of tropical cyclones with
increasing levels of adverse impacts
as temperatures increase; and the risk
that positive feedbacks from warm-
ing may cause the release of carbon
or methane from the terrestrial
biosphere and soils.
New Unknown Climate
Zones by 2100
Global warming could remake
the worlds climate zones by 2100
with some polar and mountain
climates disappearing altogether and
formerly unknown ones emerging
in the tropics. This is the conclusion
of a research carried out by a team of
scientists of the University of
PD/August/2007/257
Wisconsin (U.S.A.
Professor Jack Williams.
According to this research, as
Earth warms, predicted to happen by
up to 8C at some latitudes by the
end of this century, climate zones are
likely to shift away from the equator
and toward the poles. The climates
near the poles or at the tops of
mountains are being pushed out. It is
getting too hot. Polar bears and seals
which depend on Arctic ice, could be
among those species threatened by
the shifting of climate zones.
As polar climate zones dis-
appear, new zones will be created in
the parts of the world that are already
the hottest the research predicted,
using models of climate change. The
change in temperature is likely to be
greater in the Arctic and Antartic
because when snow and ice melt,
their ability to reflect sunlight goes
away too, accelerating the warming
effect.
Research and Development
Technology research and deve-
lopment are important for altering
the emission trends. Generally,
speaking, it would be economically
impossible, without technology
research, development demons-
tration, deployment and diffusion
and Induce Technology Change, to
stabilize GHG (Green House Gases)
concentration at a level that would
prevent dangerous anthropogenic
interference with the climate system.
Government support is crucial at the
development stage. It is essential to
stabilize concentration levels of CO2
avoiding dangerous anthropogenic
interference.
There are various types of
technologies that can play significant
roles in mitigating climate change;
energy efficiency improvements
throughout the energy system
(especially at the end use side), solar,
wind, nuclear fission and fusion,
geothermal, biomass, fuel cells, clean
fossil technologies, including carbon,
capture and storage of energy from
waste and hydrogen production from
non-fossil energy sources. Some are
in their infancy and require govern-
ment and public support while others
incentives for their deployment and
diffusion. While only one policy lever
governments have at their disposal
for encouraging a more climate
friendly capital structure, a streng-
thened government funded commit-
ment to technology development
could have an important role in
altering the trends of GHG emissions.
However, several international
partnerships on the development of
cleaner technologies have been
created.
P.Darpan
Continued from Page 254
help of the film stars to attract crowds
and thereby turning it into vote
bank.
These political parties and their
leaders tend to forget the fact that in
the present day context, the people
have become extremely politically
conscious. Thanks to the joint efforts
of a strong media and an uncompro-
mising Election Commission, the
people have become well aware about
the motto, objectives and working of
the various political parties and their
leaders. It is a matter of great concern
that instead of becoming, in Tagores
words, the true Jana, Gana, Mana
Adhinayaka, some of these political
leaders have become the butt of
ridicule of the common people.
We, the young India, must
realize that national integration can
be achieved by emotional integration
of the communities, honesty towards
our work and sincerity towards our
country, all of which can remove the
threats to our Mother Indias peace
and prosperity. We must work toge-
ther for building a new India devoid
of terrorism and regionalism and all
other ills it is plagued with.
Thus on the eve of the sixtieth
Independence Day, let us all resolve
today that the unsolved riddles
concernring Indias overall progress
would be solved by us through
collective efforts and determined
struggle.
P.Darpan