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| Nobel Prize to Al Gore, Pachauri brings climate change under focus: BGBSU | | | Early Times Reporter
Rajouri | Oct 25
The recent Nobel prize conferred jointly upon the former US Vice President Al Gore and renowned Indian scientist Dr RK Pachauri though has brought the issue of global climate change to the internal focus for research and studies, but very few people know that in India, the pioneering studies and research on this subject are championed in Jammu and Kashmir.
A press statement issued by Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University said that the Centre for Biodiversity studies at the university in Rajouri is the only Centre of its kind in the country involved in research, extension and education in ecology and environment and has from time to time addressed itself to issues of human onslaught on our life support system. The activities of the Center are liberally funded by Ministries of science and technology and environment and Forests. The award of Nobel Peace Prize to two climatologists is an attestation of the cause the Centre for Biodiversity Studies has been working for from its very inception.
The most imminent and dangerous change that has already set in the climate is Global warming. The earth's climate has remained static for centuries. The warning that has set in now and that will wreck that has set in now and that will wreck havoc unless it is reversed has been caused entirely by human activities such as the emission of huge quantities of Green house gases into the atmosphere. Increase in atmospheric temperature will melt frozen water reservoir such as the polar ice caps and the glaciers as consequence of which the sea level will register an increase of 12 – 20 mm per decade flooding coastal cities and endangering islands and all people living these. Lakes and water bodies of even high altitudes will swell and as a consequence floods will be rampant. Inundation of land with sea water will increase soil salinity and lead to desertification.
The issues related climate change were, till recently, put under the carpet by the Governments of the developed countries to escape the blame and responsibility of having done maximum damage to the environment. Under such circumstances Al Gore stands taller than all his contemporary politicians and statesmen by having raised his voice along with the governments of developing countries for positive action to reverse the process of climate change. His book "Inconvenient Truth" is a monumental contribution for which mankind will ever remain grateful to him. Dr. Pachuri's contribution in finalizing and issuing the long delayed report on climate change drafted by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has contributed a great deal in making Norwegian Nobel Committee to award the 2007 Peace prize to these apostles of peace and human welfare.
The scientists of the Centre for Biodiversity Studies strongly feel that the award will go a long away in forcing developed countries, namely EU, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and Japan to implement the decision of the Kyoto protocol of undertaking annual cut of 5.2% in green house emission between 2009-2012.
In view of the concern for impact of climatic change, particularly global warming on biodiversity, the Centre for Biodiversity Studies of the Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University has organized a National Seminar slated for October 27 – 29, 2007. The seminar has been sponsored by Department of Biotechnology. It will be attended by 40 eminent scientists and academics from several National laboratories and Central and State Universities. Prominent among those who will present papers are the Directors of, Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology; Bombay Natural History Society; G. B. pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development; Asia Pacific Consortium for Agriculture Biotechnology; Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine etc.
The themes identified for discussion are: displacement of native species by exotic invaders; impact of biotechnology on biodiversity; biodiversity conservation and narrowing crop plant diversity.
The recommendations that will emanate from the seminar will help in drawing the roadmap for biodiversity conservation in the herbal rich state of Jammu and Kashmir. Several forest officers and wild life wardens of the state will also be attending the seminar.
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