Cut carbon emissions before its too late: Pachauri

R.K. Pachauri, chairman of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, has asked the developed nations to get serious about reducing carbon emissions before it is "too late.""Continued greenhouse gas emissions will lead to further [global] warming of 1.8 degree Celsius to 4 degree Celsius over the 21st century," he said while speaking at a seminar on "Global Warming and Climate Change Challenge — Issues and Challenges for India," organised by the Union Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Ministry . "The world can at best allow emissions to increase up to 2015 for an equilibrium temperature increase of 2-2.4 degree Celsius," Mr. Pachauri said.He expressed dismay over the recently-held G8 Summit at Japan where leaders failed to set any target date to cut the emissions and he had expected them to come out with a statement. "Lack of political will has marred the purpose of the summit." he said. Elaborating on the wide range of climate change challenges that confront the global community, Mr. Pachauri said that if mitigation steps were taken adequately for the world as a whole, the Gross Domestic Product loss would be only less than three per cent which would not be a high price to pay.There are many co-benefits too, such as energy security, better health and local environment protection, he added.

The Hindu, 28^th July, 2008

Rain warning systems to be installed in cities

A system to warn against heavy rain would be installed in major cities, including Kochi, as part of the national disaster management programme. Equipment such as Doppler radars could give warning so that the authorities can take timely action. This was disclosed by M. Sasidhar Reddy, member of the National Disaster Management Authority. He said the Authority was preparing guidelines for management of disasters; including tsunami.Climate change was a major factor in the occurrence of heavy rainfall in many cities. New disasters such as sea-level rise could be expected in future. The management strategies should be separate for urban and rural areas. Accordingly, the Authority was preparing plans for Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur.

The Hindu, 26^th July 2008

Great Indian Bustard found in Bellary pocket

The Great Indian Bustar (Ardeotis nigriceps), a majestic bird on the verge of extinction, has been rediscovered on Sirguppa in Karnataka- and they are breeding , too. Sirguppa taluk, situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra in Bellary district, is among the few pockets in the country where the bird survives. There are fewer than 500 of the birds in India today, about 400 of then in the Desert National Park in Rajasthan. A small number is found in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The new specimens were found during an expedition undertaken by naturalist Santhosh Martin, president of Sloth Bear Foundation, and Abdul Samad, president of the Society for Wildlife and Nature (SWAN), Hospet, along with mine owner Dinesh Singhi and surgeon S.K.Arun, both wildlife enthusiasts.The Great Indian Bustard, known locally as Yaery bhoota in Kannada and Bathu myaka in Telugu, is a large bird: its height ranges between 92 and 122 cm and it weights over 12 kg. it has a grayish or white neck, a black crown and crest, uniform brown underparts and white spotted black wing coverts. He says the birds exhibit nomadic movements: some times they move quite a distance. This depends on a variety of factors that are not well understood.Being big birds, they require a substantial wild habitat to survive. The habitat covers a vast area in Karnataka as well as Andhra Pradesh. Most of its under agriculture now. Their number is dwindling fast as their habitats get converted into agricultural fields, according to Santosh Martin.

 

The Hindu, 25^th July, 2008

Paddy land Bill needs change: Mullappally

The assembly passed the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Bill . the select committee hd reported the bill with major changes, including a provision to pay bonus to paddy cultivators for undertaking cultivation. Thjis bonus will be fixed in relation to production costs and income. The local committee will oversee the enforecemnt of the provisions of the bill which seeks to ban filling up pf paddy fields and wetlands. In the course of the clause by clause discussion the minister agreed to a few amendments of which the most important was the provision that permitted a farmer to convert ten centys land for his residential purpose if it was a panchayath and five cents for the same if it was a municipality or a corporation.

The Hindu, 25^th July, 2008