Cement, Energy and Environment

But several other States, including Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, West Bengal and Bihar among others, have started working on assessing the ri sks posed by climate change, and drawing up J:> The initiative assumes significance as changes in rainfall pattern will pose serious threat to agriculture, economy and food security. specific action plans. "Delhi was quick to take off because of its size. We expect several other states to announce their, climate change adaptation plans by the year-end ," said the Environment Minister, Mr. Jairam Ramesh. Such an initiative by States assumes significance as changes in rainfall pattern will pose serious threat to agriculture, economy and food security. Besides, the coastal States face the risk of sea level rise that cou ld flood land and cause damage to infrastructure, besides displacing people. 'Encouraging sign' "The interest from States to assess the risks posed by climate change is definitely encouraging. It would help them identify and formulate the right kind of policy mechanisms to adapt to it," said Mr. Arbinda Mishra, Director, Climate Change at TERI. TERI has worked with states such as Rajasthan. West Bengal , Bihar and Gujarat among others on various climate change initiatives. Last week, Maharashtra signed an MoU with TERI to assess the climate change vulnerability and adaptation strategies for the State. The two-year joint TERI-UK Met office research project will assess the regional impacts of climate change using advanced modelling techniques. Besides, the Maharashtra project will also look at capacity building on vulnerability assessment and adaptive policymaking. "The immediate focus is on the adaptation side for States. Priority is to understands the specific risks faced by these States," Mr. Mishra said. As part of the climate change mitigation strategy, India has voluntarily agreed to cut its carbon intensity by 20 -25 per cent of its 2005 level by 2020. As part of the National Action Plan on Climate Change, eight missions, including the one on solar energy and energy efficiency, have been set up that will help the country reduce its carbon emissions. Courtesy: The Hindu Business Line, Apri/4, 2010, P13. 'IN JUST 60 YEARS, WORLD MAY LOSE ALL ITS TOPSOIL' Due To Overfarming & Warming, Fertile Layer is Vanishing Faster Than It Can Be Replenished, Say Experts We might be stripping "mother earth" of the ability to feed millions, say scientists while reporting that fertile topsoil could vanish in about 60 years if drastic action was not taken soon. Fertile soil is being lost faster than it can be replenished and will eventually lead to the "topsoil bank" becoming empty, researchers told an Australian conference. They said farming soil could run out within 60 years, leading to a catastrophic food crisis and drastically higher prices for consumers reports the Telegraph. Chronic soil mismanagement and over farming erosion, climate change and increasing populations were to blame for the dramatic global decline in suitable farming soil, the scientists said. An estimated 75 billion tonnes of soil is lost annually with more than 80 per cent of the world's farming land "moderately or severely eroded". A University of Sydney study, presented to the conference, found soil is being lost in China 57 times faster than it can be replaced through natural processes. In Europe that figure is 17 times, in America 10 times while five times as much soil is being lost in Australia. Soil is also a valuable store of carbon and can release the greenhouse gas if it is ploughed or dug up. The conference was told that world soil, including European and British soils, could vanish within about 60 years if drastic action was not taken. This will lead to a global food crisis, chronic food shortages and higher prices, the conference heard. Despite better than average farming practices, European soil might last for 100 years if no further damage occurs worldwide, scientists said. In reality, however, increased land pressures aimed at compensating global production losses would likely mean it will run out faster, they added . Johan Crawford, professor of Sustainable Agriculture at the University of Sydney, who presented the study, said it was unknown how long soil will last. "It could be as little as 60 years and that is a scary figure because it is not obvious that we have time to 42