Climate change? And what’s that? Yes, to every one’s surprise, that’s what even most of the Americans ponder upon ,when asked, a recent BBC study revealed? Despite the U.S being the largest contributor to this whole issue, and all the problems which have emerged today as a biggest threat and challenge to the humanity as whole, they still somehow manage to ask this. For a while even i was surprised at their this kind of a cavalier attitude, but then i gave a thought over it and realised its not just people in the west doing it, but most of us in all parts of the world are doing it. Not knowing a problem and hence no action.... can be excused!!! But, knowing a problem and still continue ignoring the issue, i guess invites more trouble.
Climate change is a serious business and not just a matter of making business. Today more than an issue it has become a sophisticated lobby of sophisticated scientists, trying to solve a problem in their own sophisticated pace. Climate is changing today at much faster rate than ever. The warmest years since 1850 have been experienced in the last 12-13 years. So now what do we do with that? Either we continue living with the changing climate and think of adapting it and spend trillions , or alter it ...i repeat “alter” not change our lifestyles from an EXPENSIVE to EFFICIENT one to mitigate the emissions.
Last week i was in Bangkok for our study, we stayed there for over 8 days, and could observe the lifestyles of the people living there. The emissions made by the each individual ( what we call as per capita ) is ,much much higher than those of the Londoners and equivalent to the New yokers. High use of plastic, high use of vehicular mode, high electricity consumption by industries....together is making Bangkok a worst city ...even worse than cities like Mumbai, Manhattan as far as the emissions are concerned. Despite knowing the fact , that their emissions will be solely responsible to the rise in the level of the very sea which they have their economy dependant on....they are not serious....................??????
So our thoughts need to be in tandem with our actions, eliminating the gap between the two.
So then what are these climate conventions meant for? Are they just another long holiday for parties, to relax, enjoy and get over with the issues so casually. Can we really get in to the crux of the global issue like climate change and try to solve the same by sitting in an air conditioned conference somewhere on a romantic island, making tonnes of emissions by flying for the emission reduction conventions per say? Its a total oxymoron? What are we doing then? I mean issue like this, that will be having devastating impacts the entire of Asia, including other parts f the world, needs an urgent attention as we can loose the resources even before we thinking about saving them.
If the climate emissions are not fastened and the pace to cap them is not geared up then probably we would no more see, Mumbai in 2100 as the risen sea level would have crossed its limits already. Millions of people are expected to be displaced. We won’t be there by that time, but then what about our children why should they pay for our deeds and ignorance,
Think over it...climate change is a serious business and i repeat not just a serious money making buisness. Unbridled exploitation of the natural resources for years and years, today have made us confront this terrible situation, so to get this climate back to its normalcy is a tough task, yet if we act now, the magnitude of the forthcoming impacts can atleast be redeemed ,if not stopped completely....!!!
