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‘Developed nations to blame for climate change’

THALASSERY: Environmental scientist Justin Podur has said that developed countries, including the United States and Canada, are the worst culprits responsible for global warming.

Delivering the keynote address at a symposium on ‘development, environment and climate change’ organised by the Department Students Union on the Thalassery campus of Kannur University at Palayad here on Wednesday, Dr. Podur, Assistant Professor of Environment Studies at York University in Canada, said that the basic ideology of the developed countries was consumption and it was causing the problem of global warming.

The wealthy countries were taking more than their share of the resources at the expense of the survival of other people, he said adding that they had the moral obligation to make changes.

Observing that neo-liberalism was a basic method of keeping poor people poor, Dr. Podur said that though the Kerala model of development was said to have limitations, it aimed straight for human development as it was based on social investment directly on public health, education and other areas.

The model of economy that was now being followed by the government of India was neo-liberal which is open to foreign investment and mega projects, he said adding that this model was harmful to the environment.

Dr. Podur said there were dangers to development from climate change which would first melt the glaciers leading to rising of sea level leaving coastal areas under water.

He said renewable energy would make more sense in countries like India. He also said that India’s middle class behaviour was destructive.

The symposium was inaugurated by C.P. Hareendran of the Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad. T.P. Padmanabhan of the Society for Environment Education Kerala spoke.

S. Gregory, Reader, Anthropology Department, presided over the function.

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