A UN climate change meet has urged India and China to cut down on their carbon emissions because of being among the most vulnerable to global warming.
India and China, the two fastest developing economies are also the largest polluters of environment.
Today, when debates on global warming or climate change are taking place, China in particular is at the receiving end, with desiccating droughts, incessant rains, constant flooding, melting glaciers and dying creatures. On the other hand, India too is facing the heat of global warming. While one part of India is suffering from nonstop rains and deluge, deficient monsoon has stimulated drought in other parts. Also, several other regions of the globe are experiencing extreme weather with intense and frequent hurricanes, winds, storms, drought, floods.
Both India and China are emitting enormous amounts of pollutants and green house gases into the atmosphere to stand tall amongst the comity of nations. By doing so, both are adding to the warming effect. Being developing nations, both India and China can excuse their emissions for the same reason. However, relentless fueling of the atmosphere to sustain economies is no sane way to development. What is the use of such developments if on the other hand, humanity is perishing away?
But, the question stands, are only India and China to blame when it comes to global warming? Are India and China the only culprits in fueling the atmosphere with greenhouse gases? What about the U.S., UK, Australia and most other developed nations? U.S. in particular, stands tall amongst the largest killers of environment, but every needle that points towards it is silenced on the face of economic development.
What a pity, if the U.S. that hasn’t even signed Kyoto Protocol still needs to pollute environment for development, then developing countries like India and China must not be indicted for the same reason. Both are miles away from competing from the U.S. in development and a booming economy.
Richer nations must take the responsibility of leading from the front in containing emissions. Developing nations must also set their individual emission cut off targets and help in stemming the tide of global warming. Because saving the earth is everybody’s responsibility and not only of India or China or U.S.
Source: Guardian
Climate mainstreaming should be embraced at every level in society. If the people are not aware and lack ownership to the processes necessary to tame the problem, it remains an arduous task. The education systems, which churn out future technocrats, should have full curricula on this aspect and encourage inventions in systems that alleviate global warming and other climate related problems.
