IPCC issues warning on global warming

The Nobel winning Inter Governmental panel on Climate Change (IPCC) group of climate scientist issued their starkest warning yet on global warning. IPCC declared that the impact of global warming could be "abrupt or irreversible" and no country would be spared. The new report is intended to act as a guide to policy makers for years to come. It summarizes three massive assessments publishes this year on the evidence for global warming its impact and the options for tackling the emissions that causes it. Retreating glaciers and loss of alpine snow, thinning arctic summer sea ice and thawing permafrost show that climate change is already on the march.

By 2100 global average surface temperature could rise by between 1.1C and 6.4C compared to 1980-99 levels. Sea level will rise by atleast18 centimeters. An earlier estimate of an upper limit of 59 centimeters does not take into account "uncertainties" about the impact of disrupted carbon cycles and melting ice-sheets in Greenland and the Antarctic, the new report says. Heat waves, rainstorms, tropical cyclones and surges in sea level are among the events expected to become more frequent, more widespread or more intense this century. "All countries" will be affected by climate change but those in the forefront are poor nations especially small island states and developing economies where hundreds of millions of people live in low-line deltas.

 

The Hindu, November 19^th  2007

Species in Western Ghats to be barcoded

 The Kerala State is set to join the global race to identify and distinguish biological species in threatened natural habitats, such as rainforests and tropical ecosystems.

 

The State Council for Science, Technology and Environment is preparing to embark on an ambitious project for DNA barcoding of life forms in the Western Ghats and Kerala.

 

Similar to the barcode that recognises an item at a supermarket, a DNA barcode is a molecular tool to identify plant and animal species. It is widely used in taxonomy research, biodiversity studies and government regulation.

 

Each of the world's estimated 1.8-million species is genetically unique — its unique identity is carried in its DNA molecules. DNA barcoding rapidly sequences the DNA from a single, standardised gene on the molecule.

Master key

 

A short DNA sequence is an abbreviated digital label for the genome of the species, and hence considered a master key to knowledge about a species. A library of digital barcodes will provide crucial reference material to identify species invading and retreating across the globe and through centuries of life on the planet.

 

Scientists describe DNA barcoding as a way of democratising the ability to identify species because it enhances public access to biological knowledge. It also obviates the need for a taxonomist to identify a named organism. In fact, few taxonomists can critically identify more than 0.01 per cent of the estimated 10-million species on earth. According to E.P. Yesodharan, Executive Vice-President of the council, the DNA barcoding initiative is one of the priority projects identified by the council for launch this year. "The rich diversity of flora and fauna in the Western Ghats made it a natural choice for us. The project involves the establishment of a barcoding centre of life for species identification and documentation. It will be developed as a centre of excellence," he says.

 
A database of DNA barcodes will allow scientists to rapidly and cheaply identify species from samples.

 
TheHindu Monday, November 19, 2007

New technology for garbage plant

In a move aimed at improving the functioning of the garbage treatment plant at Vilappilsala, the city corporation  is planning ti introduce Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) technology. The proposal involves the manufacture of compact fuel pellets from  combustible material in residual garbage. The segregation of non combustible elements ensures high calorific value of the pellets which can replace coal in thermal power plants and also be used in specially designed stoves after gasification. The proposal is a part of eth project report, prepared fro sanitation schemes, to be submitted to the central government for assistance under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. The report proposes two pellatisation plants with the capacity of 500Kg an hour. Another major proposal that is expected to net funds under the JNNURM is an engineered sanitary landfill with a capacity of 24,000 cubic meters.

 

India to promote green buildings

The government agencies along with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) have decided to introduce the concept of green buildings and a three tier rating system.

According to the World council for Sustainable Development figures, 40 % of the global energy demands are from buildings. Being a rising economic power, India's energy demands are expected to overtake the energy demands of china by 2050. Green buildings are designed to minimize demand on non renewable resources and maximize utilization efficiency through reuse, recycling and use of renewable energy sources like sun, water and wind. According to the chairman of the Nobel prize winning Intergovernmental panel on Climate change (IPCC) Dr.R.K.Pachauri, who also heads Teri, energy efficient buildings and utility systems can reduce energy demands by as much as 40%. Commercial and residential buildings in India accounts for more than 30% of the countries total electricity consumption.

The Ministry of Non – Conventional Energy Sources (MNES) and Teri are expected to sign a rating system soon that would initially be implemented on a voluntary basis for upcoming building projects, especially offices, retail malls, institutions, residences and family high rise buildings.  The government is also thinking of giving sops to stakeholders, at a later stage, who conform to the green buildings standards and get good credit points.  A nodal agency comprising officials and experts from MNES, Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Bureau of Indian standards, Ministry of Environment and Forest and Teri would grant the ratings after making a thorough evaluation.

 The  New Indian Express, November 1^st 2007