Starting tomorrow, representatives of 192 countries will meet in one of the most widely anticipated international conferences in Copenhagen. Here, they will meet to try and hammer out an agreement that, many hope, will save the planet from the fallouts of global warming and climate change. With the world attention focused on Copenhagen, here is what you should know.
Ready, steady in Copenhagen
Why we should be scared, very scared, of global warming?
Science says that the average temperature on earth has been rising rapidly. And it says this is the result of growing concentrations of ‘greenhouse gases’ that are emitted whenever any fuel is burnt to produce energy. Science also says that if something is not done immediately to stop the increase in the concentrations of these gases, there will be catastrophic consequences in the next few decades. Glaciers will melt, sea levels will rise, low-lying areas will be submerged, crops will be damaged, extreme weather events like cyclones and storms will become more frequent. In short, the world will become a difficult place to live in and millions of people may lose their lives.
What’s the solution?
Since the problem has been caused by excess GHGs, the solution is to reduce the emission of GHGs.
Simple, isn’t it?
Not quite. Industries have to operate, vehicles have to run and people have to use appliances. Developing countries like India need more and more energy to power their industries and increase other economic activities. Developed countries might not need to increase their energy consumption now but their current consumption is already very high. It’s a vicious cycle. Development needs more industries and machines, but these lead to increased emissions.
