The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : `New technologies should be environment-friendly'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 25, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

`New technologies should be environment-friendly'

By Y.E.A. Raj and P.C.S. Rao

CHENNAI, MARCH 24. The theme for the World Meteorological Day 2005, celebrated on March 23, is "weather, climate, water and sustainable development," chosen to focus on the profound influence they exerted on human progress throughout the ages.

The climatic change due to global warming in the last century has been greater than at any other time in the last millennium. The concentration of carbon dioxide is 33 per cent higher than it was before the industrial revolution. The sea level has been rising at the rate of 2 mm a year since the beginning of 20th century. Drought and floods have become more common. Across the globe, 6,22,000 people were killed by weather and climate-related disasters in 1992-2001. The number is prone to increase, despite improvement in forecasts and warnings.

In the developing world, the runaway growth of cities of 10 million population on the sea coast poses a threat to environment. The risks from tropical cyclones, storm surges and sea level rise are considerably greater. In today's world, development is always associated with energy drawn from fossil fuels, which account for a bulk of pollutants, released by industry and automobiles.

The alternative renewable energy sources — water, wave, wind and solar power — make up only about 2 per cent of global energy. Increased use of renewable energy sources, which do not pollute, is a major step towards a greener world.

Global consumption of fresh water increased six fold between 1900 and 1995, far outstripping the population growth. Currently, nearly three billion people are living in countries, which do not have adequate water resources.

In developing countries, loss of life has been an indicator of the magnitude of disasters. With improvised technologies and revolutionised communications, it has been marginal, if not eliminated in the Indian context. This built-in capacity has been shattered by tsunami, which struck the southern parts of Indian coasts on 26 December 2004. Tsunamis, extremely long and low seismic sea waves, travel at a great speed. As it reaches the coast, its speed reduces but its height goes up to 8-10 metres. The tsunami has come and gone leaving a challenge behind. Mitigation strategies such as putting in place a reliable warning system are prerequisites for sustainable development. Adherence to coastal zone regulations while developing mega cities will go a long way in ensuring environmental protection and coastal biodiversity.

In the 21st century, when developing countries strive hard to increase the standard of living of their people, the quest for sustainable development is long-drawn and complex. New technologies and development strategies should be climate and environment-friendly.

(The writers are the director and the meteorologist of the Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai)

(The writers are the director and the meteorologist of the Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai)

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