Climate Change: Why and how should we care?

Advances in Agriculture and Environmental Science: Open Access (AAEOA)

Prof. Bhandari, thank you for taking the time to speak with us about your career in environmental protection and climate change. These are obviously serious and pressing concerns for people throughout Asia, as well as around the world. Thank you very much for inviting me to discuss and share my experience in this very critical issue. Environment protection and climate change is a global concern. It is established notion that major environment concern / problems are Ozone layer depletion; Global warming; and Loss of biodiversity. As such each of these problems has negative impact on life on earth. For example, Ozone layer depletion has Effects on Human and Animal Health (i.e. eye diseases, skin cancer, infectious diseases); Effects on Human and Animal Health (increases radiation could change species composition, or change in plant forms); Effects on Aquatic Ecosystems (affect the distribution of phytoplankton's, reproduction system alteration); Effects on Bio-geo-chemical Cycles (affect terrestrial and aquatic bio-geo-chemical cycles); Effects on Air Quality (can increase both production and destruction of ozone and related oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide-which can have direct adverse effects). Similarly, another problem is global warming which more severe. Evidence shows that Global temperature increase 0.3-6 within last 100 years, and major contributor for this change are we the human. Globe is warming, and main cause is greenhouse gases (GHG) causing global warming is carbon dioxide. The evidence of global warming is rise in global temperature and rise in sea level which ultimately affecting ecosystems of the planet. Kleinschmidt stated, "Documented increases in global air and sea temperatures over the last century have demonstrated unequivocally that our planet is warming. Most climatologists agree that the warming trend will continue, and at an accelerating pace unless the causes of global warming are addressed immediately. This reality, and the urgent need for action, is finally being recognized by society and governments around the world." 1

In 2006, when Al Gore and his team of researchers exposed the facts, myths and misconceptions surrounding global warming through his documentary film " An Inconvenient Truth " , there were mixed reactions from different quarters of the world. The film was widely acclaimed for successfully portraying the negative effects of global warming on human life and the entire creation. However, there were no dearth of skeptics regarding the claims made by Al Gore and his team. The skeptics insisted that there were no scientific evidences to prove that the negative effects were caused by global warming. Some others maintained that such claims were meant to create panic and havoc among the people. However, Al Gore maintains firmly that the scientists agree unanimously upon the causes of global warming. 1 Amidst diverse opinions, the increasing temperatures during the summer in almost every part of the world, excessive or no rain during monsoon season and increased level of land, air and water pollution, land degradation, scarcity of water, dwindling water level, disappearance of tropical forests and melting of ice caps show that something is wrong with the relationship between human beings and creation. Disruption of natural harmony, order and balance in creation is more than evident. Such evidences

2015

The buildup of so-called “greenhouse gases” in the atmosphere CO2 in particular-appears to be having an adverse impact on the global climate. This paper briefly reviews current expectations with regard to physical and biological effects, their potential costs to society, and likely costs of abatement. For a “worst case” scenario it is impossible to assess, in economic terms, the full range of possible non-linear synergistic effects. In the “most favorable” (although not necessarily “likely”) case (of slow-paced climate change), however, it seems likely that the impacts are within the “affordable” range, at least in the industrialized countries of the world. In the “third world” the notion of affordability is of doubtful relevance, making the problem of quantitative evaluation almost impossible. Keywords— Greenhouse gases, Histroy of Greenhouse gases,sources of Greenhouse Gases,Impacts,and How to reduce Greenhouse effect, conclusion

The issue of climate change is very important in India because it affects overall development.

The Journal of Energy and Environmental Science. Photon 127 (2013) 224-239, 2013

Numerous studies have been cited to indicate alteration in the Earth’s atmosphere’s chemistry due to anthropogenic activity (aerosols). Which is alleged to cause Global warming (GW), which in turn is said may cause global climate change (GCC). GW & GCC have been labeled as ‘hypothesis’, which causes enhanced rain fall and related meteorological phenomena. The Govt. of India’s various departments have pedaled GW & GCC as very important and large sums of public money are invested along with national prime time (as panacea for all socio-economic ills). This study finds that GW & GCC do not withstand known aspects of basic sciences and established laws of nature. Lesser known and not discussed aspects are in variance with GW concept. Select discussions have been made. The Indian farm sector is severely distressed due to low rainfall, depleting water table; rising demographic pressure; her industry is severely constrained due deficient electrical energy; her hearths & homes are as yet dark & dim (no power); and her youth are unemployed in tens of millions. From the Indian perspective (all tropical developing nations included) GW concept is found to be confounding with its national objectives, people’s aspirations and confabulates with its natural advantages that accrue due to her geo-spatial domain (apart her manpower & natural resources). It will cause acute economic recession and dependence. India’s forth has been her economy of scale. It’s forward looking 5yr plan programs stand to be rescinded. Economic necrosis is the agenda beneath GW cloak. Even if GW and GCC do occur then too Indian farm, its rural subpopulations and native industry stand to gain due to enhanced rain\snow fall. Migration will slow down. Coal based thermal power plants emerge as contributors of good cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). Accordingly, suitable regions & projects have been identified for up-regulating GW caused/not caused rain\snow fall; surface water harvesting and re-moisturisation. GW is found to be a notion-motion and as anti-India. It seems to be more of a economic tool and or a product of academic gymnastics. The Indian Govt., of the day (i-GOD) is horrendously unaware of the pitfalls. Hence, have not becaused frank public discourse. Have not-supported counter view-

Interdisciplinary Environmental Review, 2004

Climate change and its attendant issues has generated various debates especially in this century. Various arguments and positions have been put forward concerning the affects of climate change on the human race; much concern however has been placed on the role of human beings as agents in the continuous degradation of our climatic conditions. Activities necessitated by man's insatiable quest for the "good life" and of course, bettering his life has negatively impacted on our environment such that environmentalists, philosophers and even laymen have expressed concerns on the rapid and continuous degradation of our ecological-system. The task of this paper will center around the activities of human persons as agents of climate change with a view at examining the ethical implications of human's continuous exploitation of the eco-system for economic and social development thereby disturbing the balance of nature. The paper will also take into consideration certain ethical principles as they affect man's insatiable quest for development and how it affects and encourages climate change.

Science and Culture, 2020

This essay presents the basic science of global warming. At its base is human interference with the carbon cycle. Major current impacts, worldwide and in India, are discussed. We also present the latest science pertaining to the attribution of extreme events in India. Key to understanding climatic impacts in India is the excessive warming of the Indian Ocean. Planetary feedbacks and tipping points that are being crossed suggest that the urgency to intervene has never been greater.