Its time the Asian disporia woke up to the Global Warming phenomenon. Stark reality of economic slowdown, development meltdown, production paucity stares the contintent which accounts for more than 60 percent of the world population as a recent report prepared by The Working Group on Climate Change and Development tellingly postulates.
The new report “Up in Smoke? Asia and the Pacific” released in New Delhi on 19th November 2007 with a foreword by RK Pachauri, Chairman of the Nobel prize-winning institution Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change should serve as a wake up call to all concerned.
Read the report here
In fact there is no better time to act if one really understands the ramifications. The consequences for climate dependant sectors like agriculture, forests, and fisheries are frightening to say the least. Its really time for Asia to wake up. A real co-ordinated effort is needed. The action points rest with appropriate governmental policy and fiscal direction, sustainable, low carbon intensity energy pathways, alternative water and energy supply systems, strategic ecosystems preservation and at the same time achieving a fine balance vis a vis development and economic progress.
A hard ask really but not impossible if people are aware and act on their green responsibilties in tandem with pro-active governments showing the way.
The Working Group on Climate Change and Development consists of organizations like the ActionAid International, Bird Life International, Care, CAFOD, Christian Aid, Columban Faith and Justice, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, Institute for Development Studies, International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), MedAct, The New Economics Foundation(NEF), onecliamte.net, Operation Noah, Oxfam International, Panos, People and Planet, Practical Action, RSPB, Tearfund, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), World Vision and WWF.
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