Global warming to hit poorest

New Delhi, Nov. 27: Warning nations that the world is drifting towards a "tipping point" that could lock the poorest countries and their poorest citizens in a downward spiral, with issues like malnutrition, water scarcity, ecological threats and loss of livelihood to handle due to global warming, the latest report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has asked nations to agree to a "global sustainable pathway" aimed at 50 per cent reduction of greenhouse gas emission by 2050 from 1990 levels.

UNDP’s Human Development Report 2007 has warned that global warming could have apocalyptic consequences for the world’s poor and has asked richer countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80 per cent by 2050. The report has also urged developing countries to cut carbon emissions by 20 per cent over three decades starting in 2020.

The report, "Fighting Climate Change: Human Solidarity in a Divided World", has mentioned that global climate change threatens to undermine India’s efforts to improve the well-being of its poor people, pointing out that while steady progress has been made to improve people’s health, education and wealth in India, a large human development backlog still exists.

"Efforts to assist the poorest people need to be scaled up if the nation’s ambition of inclusive growth is to be realised," said UNDP resident representative Maxine Olson. India ranks 128 out of 177 countries in the human development index. The country ranked 126 in 2006.

UNDP officials said India would have ranked 128 even last year had updated data been used for other countries. So the country has not slipped in ranking, the UNDP clarified.

Still, India has a lot of catching up to do if it wants to get anywhere close to China in terms of human development, though the two countries are often compared in terms of their economic strengths. China ranks 81 in this year’s index.

The human development report called for putting in place policies for sustainable carbon budgeting in the post-Kyoto era. But, "looking to future, no country, howsoever wealthy or powerful, will the immune to global warming", it said.

The report has also called for expanding multilateral provisions for responding to climate-related humanitarian emergencies and supporting post-disaster recovery to build resilience with $2 billion in financing by 2016 under arrangements like the UN Emergency Response Fund and World Bank’s Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery.

The report has recommended international cooperation to enhance access to modern energy services and reduction in dependence on biomass, which is the primary source of energy for about 2.5 billion people.

Scientists expect that some of the worst affected by climate change will be the poor in developing countries, especially those with large populations dependent on agriculture. The report has predicted that South Asia will be one of the worst hit by global warming, with the Ganga river expected to lose two-thirds of its July to September flow, causing water shortages for more than 500 million people.

Climate change: what you can do to counter

Like many other people you may feel helpless to do anything about climate change. But your contribution to saving the planet, no matter how small, is hugely important, here are 12 simple things you can do to help counter climate change. You may not be able to do all of them right now, but even if you adopt 2 or 3 suggestions, you will be helping significantly

1. Use efficient lighting
Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents (CFLs). These use four times less energy and last eight times longer

2. Use energy efficient electric appliances
They use two to 10 times less electricity for the same functionality, and are mostly higher quality products that last longer than the less efficient ones, In short, efficient appliances save you lots of energy and money

3. Use an energy efficient computer
Buy a laptop instead of a desktop, it consumes five-times less electricity. If you buy a desktop, get an LCD screen

4. Drive less
Walk, bike, carpool or take public transport. You'll save 15 kg of carbon dioxide for every 5km you don't drive

5. Check your tyres
Keeping your tyres inflated properly can improve the fuel efficiency of your car

6. Use water carefully
Don't waste water. Use a mug of water when brushing your teeth, shaving or washing your hands and face. Instead of a shower or tub bath use a bucket. Try to harvest rain water in your locality

7. Say no to plastic
Take a cloth bag with you when shopping- Avoid products with a lot of packaging

8. Move your Air-conditioning thermostat up 2 degrees C
You could save about 900kg of carbon dioxide a year with this simple adjustment

9. Use renewable energy
Sunlight can be used in many different ways to save energy. Use a solar water heater instead of an electric geyser. If you live in a village, you can use biogas from cow-dung to save energy

10. Plant more trees
A single tree will absorb one tonne of carbon dioxide over its lifetime

11. Turn off electronic devices
Simply turning off your television, stereo, computer, fans,lights when you are not using them will save you thousands of kilograms of carbon dioxide a year

12. Reuse and recycle
Recycling and re-using products like paper and bottles will help protect the environment. Use recycled paper

Montek attacks report

New Delhi, Nov. 27: Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia on Tuesday sharply criticised the UN 2007-08 human development report (HDR), saying "this looks egalitarian but it isn’t". In the process Dr Ahluwalia effectively set out India’s position for the forthcoming climate change summit at Bali, Indonesia. The HDR this year focuses on the human dimension of climate change.

One of its key recommendations is that developed countries reduce their total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions — that lead to global warming — by 80 per cent by 2050, while developing countries reduce by 20 per cent.

"Today the US emits about 20 tonnes of carbon dioxide (the main GHG) per capita per year. Reduce that by 80 per cent and you get three tonnes per capita. India emits about one tonne per capita. Reduce that by 20 per cent and you get 0.8 tonnes per capita. That’s not equal," Dr Ahluwalia pointed out. He called the concept of total emissions — advocated by developed countries and in the HDR — "fundamentally misconceived, because it does not address the issue of equity".

The plan panel chief was articulating the position taken by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the G-8 summit in Germany this June, when India offered to limit its per capita GHG emissions to that of developed countries.

German Chancellor Angela Markel has since supported India’s position, though many developed countries do not agree.

They argue that this concept will give China and India licence to add more GHGs to the atmosphere as these countries have large populations. Dr Ahluwalia responded to this by saying: "Freeze the population. You can do it according to the 2001 census. That’s a matter of negotiation. But the principle is the only just one."

Dr Ahluwalia’s sharp criticism led Mr Maxine Olson, country head of United Nations Development Programme, to state that the agency did not endorse the HDR, which was written by a specialised research team. (IANS)

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