FAST SPREADING GLOBAL WARMING NEEDS TO BE CHECKED

Environment encompasses all living and non living things that surround us, including air, water, land and various organisms. But we seem to be caring less and less when it comes to upkeep of environment. Record breaking heat is being felt even on hill stations and rivers are experiencing dry spells. Snow cover too is on decline in many places situated close to snow line.

Global Warming (G.W.) may mean a long term rise in temperature of the Earth,primarily caused by human activities. Green house gases, such as, Carbon Dioxide and Methane trap heat and lead to gradual heating of the planet.

In other words, G.W. may denote rise in frequency and intensity of heat waves, drought, flood, cyclone, Tsunami etc. Habitat loss and extinction of species may also happen.

Warming Up In Europe

During 2025, rare, early heat wave is blanketing many countries of Europe : Portugal, Germany, Spain, France and Italy. High alerts are being issued. People and tourists are frantically looking for drinking water during their visits to places of interest. School going children and elderly are getting inconvenienced. As heat wave is also hitting South Europe, forests are likely to get ignited like an year ago. Deadly heat wave in Europe has claimed many lives so far, leading to health emergencies and power plant shut downs.

Eiffel Tower in Paris was closed for a few days as maximum temperature in the city hovered between 40 and 41 degrees. In contrast, in India things are almost normal even when mercury shoots to 47 or 48 degrees.

Indian Situation

Jammu & Kashmir has seen its hottest June and July in almost five decades. Average day time temperature has been in the range of 32 and 33 degrees. On July 5 this year it rose to 37.4 degrees. Owing to soaring temperature, streams are drying up and shortage of drinking water is being faced. Such a scorching Summer was last experienced in 1892.

Condition was similar in hill stations, namely, Shimla, Mussoorie and Nainital.

In Gangtok, capital of Sikkim heat became so unbearable in June that records of three decades have been broken. Apart from preponing Summer break of children, a few more viable measures are being taken in this otherwise cleanest hill station.

National Capital Region

Northern India and major portion of National Capital Region is also experiencing an early heat wave with unusual rise in maximum temperature. During one week it rose from 39 to 43 degrees and minimum one hovered between 20 and 22 degree Celcius. Surprisingly humidity and sultry conditions which used to be characteristic features of July and August, has been felt in the second fortnight of June also. Imagine this happening despite the region recording the wettest Winter in several decades. If situation like this continues for a week or ten days, Severe Heat Wave Alerts may have to be issued by the India Meteorological Department.

In regions, such as, Antarctica, Ice Bergs have not only been found floating but these have also begun cracking and falling. As an impact, there is surge of minus 38 degrees in temperature. This has to be considered very warm from existing parameters of the isolated continent.

All the above situations indicate that G.W. not only has become a reality but it is going to stay. Such a change in weather is bound to take place in future also.

Average temperature of mother earth is likely to get an addition of more than 1.5 degree Celcius above pre- industrial levels by 2030. It has already risen by 0.5 to 1 degree Celcius. In some parts of world, however, one is also experiencing overall cooling, albeit, for a short period.

Causes of Global Warming

As per updated input of Inter Governmental Panel On Climate Change, Warming of Earth Surface takes place when Carbon Dioxide traps solar radiation in the atmosphere. ln common parlance, this process is also called Green house Effect.

It is caused by :

(a) Burning of Fossil fuel : Coal, Oil, Wood and natural gas,

(b) High emission levels in many sectors and countries,

(c) Alarming rate of deforestation or green cover,

(d) Reduced availability of water vapour,

(e) Rise in urbanisation & industrialisation leading to more civil constructions,

(f) Unjustifiable consumption of Fetilisers containing Nitrogen,

(g) Indisriminate release of Fluoronated Gas from Refrigerators, Air Condioners and Heat Pumps and

(h) Tremendous rise in number of automobiles.
Vehicles older than 15 years invariably become villain of piece.

These undoubtedly should catch our imagination, sooner than later. We need to be very serious for the sake of future generations.

Suffering has begun, diseases are multiplying, crops and fruits are getting adversely affected but many of us are still in sleeping mode.

Who will wake up or How to wake up, thats the point to be underlined.

Perhaps we may have to follow “Catch Them Young” slogan or campaign.

Little children, once they understand and get convinced, can make any environment related campaign successful and sustainable.

Let Us Restrict If Not Control Human Driven Climate Change.

(The author is former Chief Secretary, Sikkim)