The Hindu : `Climate change the biggest problem'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 28, 2003

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National

`Climate change the biggest problem'

By P. Sunderarajan

NEW DELHI NOV. 27. The problem of global climate change is one of the most crucial issues facing the world. All countries must come together to face the challenge and the developed world should not tell the developing countries what their contributions should be towards mitigating it and instead focus on building their capacity to meet the problem, according to the Chief Scientific Adviser to the U.K. Government, Sir David Anthony King.

In an interview to The Hindu, he said: "The developed world should engage in a discussion with the developing countries on how we go beyond 2010 (when the present commitments under the Kyoto Protocol come up for review). But, I don't think we should be prescriptive. We should not be telling how they should act. Rather, I believe we should be engaged in capacity building."

Sir King was replying to a question about moves on the part of some developed countries to make the developing countries also take up some commitments for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the next phase of implementation of the Protocol, which would come into effect from 2010. At present, only the developed countries are required to reduce their emissions and the developing countries have no commitments at all.

However, the developing countries should not remain complacent and they must work for steps to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels, which are responsible for the generation of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. "I do not think it is necessary for the developing countries to go through the same route of energy production that we went through. I think they should leapfrog using modern technology,'' he said.

The U.K. had been taking steps for developing alternate sources of energy. For instance, it had developed an underwater turbine for generating power from tidal waves. Besides, in April next year, it would set up a national energy research centre which would work on a hub and spokes model. The centre would act as the hub and it would have linkages with similar institutions in other countries. "We are working on a worldwide basis. We would like to have a (global) fund set up for research, development and demonstration of alternative technologies (for energy production)''. Britain, Sir King said, was also working towards cutting down its emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouses at a rate far higher than what was required under the Kyoto Protocol. As per the Protocol, it was to reduce its emission by eight per cent by 2010 from the level in 1990. But, it has already achieved a reduction of 12 per cent.

In addition, the U.K. was ready to provide all assistance to the developing countries to prepare themselves to meet the effects of climate change such as rise in the sea level. "The U.K. has developed a lot of expertise in this area, as it is surrounded by sea."

The U.K. was offering to India computer programmes, which could help predict the risks due to global climate change over the next 50 to 100 years.

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