| "Our generation has inherited an incredibly beautiful | | | | who depend on the seasonal flow of water. |
| world from our parents and they from their parents. | | | | Increased temperature will melt ice faster following |
| It is in our hands whether our children and their | | | | more water in the short term, but less in the long run |
| children inherit the same world" - Richard Branson. | | | | as glaciers and snow cover shrink. The warming of |
| Scientific and technological advancements have | | | | the high altitude regions are likely to mean that |
| revolutionized the entire human civilization in a truest | | | | population growth, settlement expansion and |
| sense. It has brought us to a point where we can | | | | encroachment are likely to become a major |
| assume that everything we imagine and conceive is | | | | management challenge and these external influences |
| practically achievable. Nowadays, when our lives are | | | | are likely to have an impact on indigenous peoples |
| surrounded by so much of digitalization and hi-tech | | | | and their lands. In Southern Africa, climate change will |
| machinery, when the rapidness of development and | | | | affect hundreds of kilometers of land which is |
| research is so impressive, it is fairly easy to forget | | | | covered with vegetation and is used for grazing. |
| the inescapable fact that we are damaging our | | | | Since high temperatures will increase wind speed |
| mother world at an unprecedented pace. So often in | | | | multiple times, these high speed winds will result in |
| course to satisfy our hunger of attaining economic | | | | region losing most of its vegetation cover and hence, |
| supremacy and industrial feasibility, we fail to realize | | | | becoming less feasible for indigenous peoples living in |
| that we are actually deteriorating our natural | | | | the region. Moreover, droughts will be more common |
| resources. We, along with all our advancements are | | | | with food security as a major issue for indigenous |
| disturbing the ecological and environmental balance at | | | | peoples residing in the deserts like Kalahari and |
| such a frantic pace that the entire human history has | | | | Sahara. In Europe and parts of Russia, indigenous |
| never witnessed before. And while doing this, we | | | | peoples have noticed the arrival of new species of |
| have provoked the nature's need for revenge. We | | | | plants which were never seen in the region |
| have made ourselves more vulnerable to stern | | | | previously. The hotter summers have provided the |
| temperatures, floods, hurricanes, typhoons, droughts, | | | | conditions for the new plants to thrive in rivers and |
| excessive rainfall, and now it is a critical time to | | | | lakes. This had disturbed the natural habitat of fishes; |
| understand that if we continue to exploit nature and | | | | hence, people's fishing opportunities have declined |
| affect climatic balance and do nothing to alleviate this | | | | due to closure of lakes because of the new plant |
| issue, we are bound to face devastating | | | | growth. Also, new bird species have arrived and birds |
| consequences. | | | | now stay longer in the villages than previously. |
| Climate changes pose clear, catastrophic threats. We | | | | In North America, heat waves will increase |
| may not agree on the extent, but we certainly can't | | | | evaporation and deplete the underground water |
| afford the risk of inaction. To better understand the | | | | resources. There may be impacts on health, plant |
| issue, we must first study what are climate changes | | | | cover, wildlife populations, tribal water rights and |
| and which factors are responsible for them. The term | | | | individual agricultural operations, and a reduction of |
| climate change is often used interchangeably with the | | | | tribal services due to decrease in income from land |
| term global warming, but according to the National | | | | leases. Further, natural disasters like hurricanes, floods |
| Academy of Sciences, "The phrase 'climate change' is | | | | in likes of Katrina which caused lives of around 1,836 |
| growing in preferred use to 'global warming' because | | | | people and cost damages of $89.6 billion, will be more |
| it helps convey that there are [other] changes in | | | | common. |
| addition to rising temperatures." Climate change | | | | The Polar Regions that is the Artic and Greenland is |
| refers to any significant change in measures of | | | | experiencing some the most rapid and severe climate |
| climate (such as temperature, precipitation, or wind) | | | | changes on earth. With rise in the temperature, the |
| lasting for an extended period (decades or longer). | | | | Artic ice is becoming less stable, unusual weather |
| Global warming is an average increase in the | | | | patterns are occurring, vegetation cover is changing |
| temperature of the atmosphere near the Earth's | | | | and particular animals like polar bears and seals are on |
| surface and in the troposphere, which can contribute | | | | a verge of extinction. Local landscapes, seascapes |
| to changes in global climate patterns. | | | | and icescapes are becoming unfamiliar, making |
| Earth maintains its average temperature by a natural | | | | peoples feel like strangers in their own land. In |
| and self-automated warming system of gases which | | | | addition to this, weather in the Artic will become |
| surround it. Carbon dioxide and other gases like | | | | unpredictable and extreme with timing, length and |
| methane, Nitrogen dioxide and Chloro Flouro Carbon | | | | character of the seasons including rain in autumn and |
| (CFC) keep the earth warm by trapping solar heat in | | | | winter and more heat in summer. In several |
| the atmosphere. This trapped heat is crucial in | | | | indigenous villages in Alaska, entire communities will |
| keeping earth's temperature within a range where it | | | | have to be relocated because of erosion due to the |
| is habitable. However, the uncontrollable increase in | | | | thawing of permafrost and large waves slamming |
| the emission of Carbon dioxide and other warming | | | | against the west and northern shores. |
| gases over the decades has thickened these | | | | Coastal indigenous communities will be severely |
| atmospheric boundaries which are now retaining much | | | | threatened by storm related erosion because of |
| more heat than the acceptable range. Further, the | | | | melting sea ice. Scientists have predicted that if only |
| increase of carbon dioxide and other gases in the | | | | the half of ice in Artic and Greenland melt, the ocean |
| atmosphere has also enhanced the "Greenhouse | | | | level around the world will rise up to 40 feet surging |
| Effect" in which more heat is generated. This | | | | over huge land a portion that is the home of billions |
| excessive amount of heat has disarrayed earth's | | | | of human beings and other living creatures. |
| natural thermo-equilibrium resulting in the form of | | | | No matter how discouraging the future seems right |
| global warming with all its associated climatic effects. | | | | now, all is not gloom and doom. Al Gore, the Nobel |
| The history of the planet has been characterised by | | | | Prize winner for his efforts for the cause of climate |
| frequent changes in climate. Apparently, climate | | | | change, said in his speech at National Sierra Club |
| change is a natural phenomena occurring since several | | | | Convention, on Sept. 9, 2005 "The good news is we |
| thousand years. Environmental scientists insist that | | | | know what to do. The good news is we have |
| earth's temperature has always been on a gradual | | | | everything we need now to respond to the challenge |
| rise with no or very limited impact on the | | | | of global warming. We have all the technologies we |
| environment on whole. This gradual trend spanning | | | | need, more are being developed, and as they |
| over a period of 650,000 years shows a gradual rise | | | | become available and become more affordable when |
| which scientists initially thought of as a "slow motion | | | | produced in scale, they will make it easier to respond. |
| catastrophe" a unexpected to show its earliest | | | | But we should not wait, we cannot wait, we must |
| consequences generations later. Needless to say, | | | | not wait." |
| time has proved this estimations erroneous since | | | | Since the appearance of first few challenges of the |
| signs of the climatic changes due to increased earth | | | | climate change, countries all around the world have |
| temperature have accelerated alarmingly in last two | | | | decided to initiate programs as one global community |
| centuries. The graphical relation between time and | | | | to combat this fast approaching menace. The First |
| earth's temperature proves a dramatic and | | | | World Climate Conference recognized climate change |
| unparalleled shift in the trend with temperatures | | | | as a serious problem in 1979. Since then, a number of |
| increasing many times faster than ever in the | | | | conferences and conventions have been held |
| recorded history. Based on data from the UN's | | | | throughout the world with formation of several |
| Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, it is | | | | international bodies and treaties. In 1988, a body of |
| estimated that the mean global surface temperature | | | | more than 2,500 of the world's leading climate |
| has increased by about 0.3 to 0.6 degree Celsius | | | | scientists, economists, and risk analysis experts from |
| since the late 19th century to the present, and an | | | | 80 countries was formed as The Intergovernmental |
| increase of 0.2 to 0.3 degree over the last 40 years. | | | | Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This Panel was given |
| This increase is likely to have been the largest of any | | | | a mandate to assess the state of existing knowledge |
| century during the past 1,000 years. The current rate | | | | about the climate system and climate change; the |
| of increase of greenhouse gases is unprecedented | | | | environmental, economic, and social impacts of |
| during at least the past 20,000 years. And with the | | | | climate change; and the possible response strategies. |
| help climatic models based on mathematical | | | | The reports which this body released had a powerful |
| simulations, it is predicted that by the year 2050, | | | | impact on both policy-makers and the general public |
| global temperature would be rose around 5 degrees | | | | and provided the basis for negotiations on the |
| Celsius with some severe and unavoidable impacts. | | | | Climate Change Convention. In 1992, The UN |
| There are a number of natural factors responsible for | | | | Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) |
| climate change. Some of the prominent ones are | | | | was signed at Rio de Janeiro by 154 states, including |
| continental drift, volcanoes, ocean currents, the | | | | the US. This summit became the largest-ever |
| earth's tilt, and comets and meteorites. But the | | | | gathering of Heads of State. |
| Anthropogenic Factors are the real culprits which | | | | In December 1997, United Nations Framework |
| have induced such an uncontrollable emission of | | | | Convention on Climate Change adopted a code of |
| carbon dioxide and other gases and therefore | | | | behavior by consensus which contains new emissions |
| elevated average temperatures. Anthropogenic | | | | targets for developed countries for the post-2000 |
| factors are human activities that change the | | | | period. This international treaty is called as "The |
| environment and influence climate. In some cases, | | | | Kyoto Protocol" or "The Kyoto Treaty". Since |
| however, the chain of causality is clear and | | | | developed countries of the world are responsible for |
| unambiguous while in others it is less clear. Various | | | | 83.7% of the total emissions, the protocol asked the |
| assumptions for human-influenced climate change | | | | developed countries to commit themselves in |
| have been debated over the years but it is only now | | | | reducing their collective emissions of six key |
| widely accepted without any doubt that the major | | | | greenhouse gases by at least 5%. Though an |
| cause of climate change are the human activities. | | | | important milestone, the Kyoto agreement has not |
| Even those who up to a few years ago were not | | | | really been such effective since it aims to cut down |
| convinced that humans have an impact on the | | | | the future carbon emissions but does not propose |
| climate, now admit that scientific evidence exists that | | | | any solutions to nullify the affects of the carbon that |
| this is happening. | | | | has already been emitted into the atmosphere. Other |
| The Industrial Revolution, starting at the end of the | | | | global initiatives like UNESCO's Programme on Man and |
| 19th Century, has had a huge effect on climate. The | | | | the Biosphere (MAB), Ramsar Convention on |
| invention of the motor engine and the increased | | | | Wetlands, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), |
| burning of fossil fuels in form of coal, oil and natural | | | | WHO Program for Climate and many others are |
| gas have increased the amount of carbon dioxide in | | | | working to tackle the issue of climate change. |
| the atmosphere. Since then, the human consumption | | | | The goal of all these organizations and conventions is |
| of fossil fuels has elevated CO2 levels from a | | | | to cut down or at least minimize all those factors |
| concentration of ~280 ppm to ~387 ppm today. | | | | responsible for climate change. Resolute, urgent and |
| These increasing concentrations are projected to | | | | collective efforts are needed on state, communal and |
| reach a range of 535 to 983 ppm by the end of the | | | | individual levels to deal with the issue. One of the |
| 21st century. It is now known that carbon dioxide | | | | most effective ways to do so is to Increase the |
| levels are substantially higher now than at any time in | | | | Awareness and Usage of the Bio-Energy. Bio-Energy |
| the last 750,000 years. With the prevailing concept of | | | | is the energy made available from materials derived |
| global economy and the accelerated industrialization | | | | from the biological sources. It is actually the energy |
| of developing countries like India and China, 70 million | | | | produced from the bio-mass. Biomass is the material |
| tons of CO2 is dumped into atmosphere everyday. In | | | | derived from living organisms, which includes plants, |
| addition of CO2, Methane is another important | | | | animals and their byproducts such as wood. Manure, |
| greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. About ¼ | | | | garden waste and crop residues are all sources of |
| of all methane emissions are said to come from | | | | biomass. It is a renewable energy source based on |
| domesticated animals such as dairy cows, goats, pigs, | | | | the carbon cycle, unlike other natural resources such |
| buffaloes, camels, horses, and sheep. These animals | | | | as petroleum, coal, and nuclear fuels. As Henry Ford |
| produce methane during the cud-chewing process. | | | | said in early 20th century "The fuel of the future is |
| Methane is also released from rice or paddy fields | | | | going to come from fruit ... weeds, sawdust-almost |
| that are flooded during the sowing and maturing | | | | anything..." |
| periods. When soil is covered with water it becomes | | | | Burning biomass efficiently results in little or no net |
| anaerobic or lacking in oxygen. Under such conditions, | | | | emission of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, since |
| methane-producing bacteria and other organisms | | | | the bio-energy crop plants actually took up an equal |
| decompose organic matter in the soil to form | | | | amount of carbon dioxide from the air when they |
| methane. Nearly 90% of the paddy-growing area in | | | | grew. However, burning conventional fossil fuels such |
| the world is found in Asia, as rice is the staple food | | | | as gasoline, oil, coal or natural gas results in an |
| there. China and India, between them, have 80-90% | | | | increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the |
| of the world's rice-growing areas. Methane is also | | | | major gas which is thought to be responsible for |
| emitted from landfills and other waste dumps. If the | | | | global climate change. Some nitrogen oxides inevitably |
| waste is put into an incineratorchanges triggered by | | | | result from biomass burning (as with all combustion |
| such gases are anticipated to cause an increase of | | | | processes) but these are comparable to emissions |
| 1.4-5.6 °C between 1990 and 2100. The cement | | | | from natural wildfires, and generally lower than those |
| manufacturing industry in particular, contributes CO2 | | | | from burning fossil fuels. Other gas emissions are |
| when calcium carbonate is heated, producing lime and | | | | associated with the use of fossil fuels by farm |
| carbon dioxide, and also as a result of burning fossil | | | | equipment, and with the application of inorganic |
| fuels. The cement industry produces 5% of global | | | | fertilizers to the bio-energy crop. However, these |
| man-made CO2 emissions, of which 50% is from the | | | | may be offset by the increase in carbon storage in |
| chemical process, and 40% from burning fuel. The | | | | soil organic matter compared with conventional crops. |
| amount of CO2 emitted by the cement industry is | | | | Utilization of biomass residues which would have |
| nearly 900 kg of CO2 for every 1000 kg of cement | | | | otherwise been dumped in landfills (e.g. urban and |
| produced. [out] or burnt in the open, carbon dioxide is | | | | industrial residues) greatly reduces greenhouse gas |
| emitted. Methane is also emitted during the process | | | | emissions by preventing the formation of methane. |
| of oil drilling, coal mining and also from leaking gas | | | | In addition, bio-energy can effectively be used in |
| pipelines (due to accidents and poor maintenance of | | | | almost every industrial, manufacturing and home |
| sites). A large amount of nitrous oxide emission has | | | | application throughout the globe. Wood, construction |
| been attributed to fertilizer application. Another gas, | | | | waste, landfill gas, and liquid bio-fuels like bio-diesel |
| nitrous oxide, emitted in a very large from fertilizers | | | | and bio-oil can be used to produce energy that can |
| can cause serious damages. These climate | | | | be converted into electricity and heat. Liquid bio-fuels |
| One of the other major factors of climate change is | | | | like ethanol, bio-diesel, and bio-oil can be used to |
| Increased Land Use. Agriculture practices, irrigation | | | | power cars and other transportation. Being the fourth |
| and deforestation are fundamentally changing the | | | | largest resource of energy after coal, oil and natural |
| environment. Due to increased urbanization and | | | | gas, the energy produced from the bio-mass can |
| industrial growth, forests are being cut down which | | | | fulfill up to 14% of the world's total primary energy |
| act as | | | | demands and recent statistics show that only 10-15% |
| "Carbon sinks". As a result,that the extra carbon | | | | of the total potential bio-energy sources have been |
| dioxide produced cannot be changed into oxygen. A | | | | used so far by the human population worldwide. |
| 2007 Jet Propulsion Laboratory study found that the | | | | Along with its remarkable and efficient outcomes in |
| average temperature of California has risen about 2 | | | | decreasing the world's carbon emission and fulfilling a |
| degrees over the past 50 years, with a much higher | | | | considerable portion of the global demand for energy, |
| increase in urban areas. The change was attributed | | | | Bio-Energy from the bio-mass also has several major |
| mostly to extensive human development of the | | | | socio-economical benefits. These benefits include |
| landscape. | | | | increased rural income and reduced levels of poverty |
| Accepting the factors that are causing it, an | | | | in developing countries, restoration of unproductive |
| overwhelming majority of scientists today agree that | | | | and degraded lands and promotion of economic |
| climate change is real and poses very serious global | | | | development, diversifications of agricultural outputs, |
| threats. These climate changes have already shown | | | | reduction of energy dependence and diversification |
| some shocking and horrific signs around the world. | | | | of domestic energy supply, increased investments in |
| They are by now affecting lives of millions of people | | | | land rehabilitation and effective usage of waste |
| throughout the world and are expected to get far | | | | products. A recent economic survey found out that |
| more ruthless in future. In particular, many developing | | | | bio-energy creates more permanent jobs than any |
| countries though they have contributed to the least | | | | other energy sources with decrease in |
| in the process of climate change will be the ones at | | | | unemployment and increase in per capita income |
| the greatest risks to face the consequences. As it | | | | which contributes to a much healthy life style. It can |
| was mentioned at the annual meeting of the | | | | also be instrumental in reducing food prices and |
| Interagency Support Group on Indigenous Issues | | | | ensuring food security throughout the world. |
| (IASG) in Montreal in September 2007, "that | | | | In keeping an eye over the huge opportunities the |
| indigenous people are often among the world's most | | | | usage of bio-energy can offer, every possible step |
| marginalized and impoverished peoples and will bear | | | | should be taken by the United Nations and the state |
| the brunt of the catastrophe of climate change and | | | | governments all over the world to replace fossil fuels |
| as such provide a human face to the climate change | | | | with bio-fuels. Since it is practically unrealistic to |
| crises". | | | | completely replace fossil fuels, intense attempt should |
| In Asia, temperatures are expected to rise 2-8 | | | | be made to utilize as much of the natural energy |
| degrees Celsius in next 8-10 years affecting the lives | | | | resources as it is possible. On individual level too, we |
| of the inhabitants with climatic variations like | | | | should adapt to these climatic changes and change |
| decreased rainfall, crop failures and more floods. | | | | our live styles in order to bring the total carbon |
| Tropical forests, which are haven for biodiversity, as | | | | emission under control. Driving less, driving a |
| well as native people's cultural diversity, are under | | | | fuel-efficient car, preferring gas over oil, saving |
| serious danger of forest fires. People in low-lying | | | | electricity, using lesser papers and planting more trees |
| areas of Bangladesh and India like Calcutta, could be | | | | can be some of the small choices each human can |
| displaced by a one-meter rise in sea levels. Such a | | | | makes to save the earth from rapid destructions of |
| rise could also threaten the coastal zones of Japan | | | | the climate change. It is not only an environmental |
| and China. This could mean massive dislocation of not | | | | issue. It is inherently linked with our lives on political, |
| just hundreds and thousands but more than one | | | | social, economical, ethical and more than anything |
| hundred million people from Asia alone. The recent | | | | else, on moral grounds. We do not lack in resources |
| examples of heavy rains in parts on India particularly | | | | and capabilities but it is a high time that we confront |
| Mumbai is inherently connected with rapid climate | | | | the challenges of the climate change with utmost |
| change. In the Himalayans, there are glacial melts | | | | determination and a collective strategy. |
| which affect hundreds of millions of rural dwellers | | | | |