Global Warming

Recent Time Magazine cover
Special Green Issue

This is one of the biggest problems we are facing right now. This is not a rumor anymore. This is not a Myth. Robots taking over the world, is far in the future, if that happens. But Global warming is current issue. And this cannot be more real than it is now.

In just a few years time, Global warming is seriously going to affect the entire ecosystem. All the hugely populated coastal areas and the low lying lands will experience rise in sea level and constant floods. Global warming will result in melting of the Glaciers, which will also result in flood in the initial stage. But after 30 years, there will be huge scarcity for fresh drinking water. Predictions are that, 1 Billion people wont get drinking water by 2030. And this prediction is for Asia alone. Most of the fresh water rivers in Asia have their source in some glacier. Imagine India without Ganges. If water resources deplete, that is a death sentence. Science can help only a little in these extreme situations.

Effect of Global Warming in Arctic

Sea temperature will increase and marine life will be affected. Lots of agriculture products will become impossible to harvest. There will be a acute shortage for food. Lack of good drinking water will result in lots of diseases and other illness among living species. It is scary isn't it? It is about to get a lot worse. All this will happen in 2030 or sooner. Not too far, if we continue our current life style.

But we live our life as if we have another spare world, where we can shift if this one is totally destroyed. But nowadays, the awareness is comparatively high. If you still dont know about "Earth hour", then i am absolutely right in saying that we are so careless. "Earth hour" is a recent initiative, where people voluntarily switch off all the electrical appliances including Lights, PCs, etc, etc for 60 minutes. Most people don't understand the reason behind this. "Earth hour" is not to save the power during that 60 minutes. But it is just to give people a feel of how life will be in 50 years.

But i personally don't think this will help change anything drastically. Not many of us really care about all this. But there is a way. You know, in our house, we don't waste power. For example, we don't switch on fans, when it is not necessary. Frankly the reason is not to save the world. But to save money. (In middle class families every penny counts)

What is the lesson learnt? Global warming can be tackled only if we convert that into an economic issue. How do you think Singapore is so clean? Do you think it is because all the citizens are so good and considerate that they don't wanna pollute their country? Totally wrong. It is because of the heavy Fines. That is the most practical way to address Global warming. When you do this, there will be few other problems like double-digit rise in inflation, etc. But that is a lot smaller problem compared to Global Warming.

I firmly believe, when it becomes an economic issue, everybody will try to "save the earth". How can you convert it to an economic issue? Increase the oil price. Force everyone to reduce green house emissions. Give rebates to people who help in preventing Global warming, like Tax rebates, etc. That is the most practical way to address this issue. If you don't believe me, read this article in todays New York Times. Due to the increase in oil price (btw, today's Oil price is 126.04 USD per barrel, highest ever) there is a considerate increase in percentage of people using Mass Rapid Transits in US.

You cannot ask people to reduce the usage of oil for the world's sake. But when you double oil price, then everything will be fine. This might sound like a very scary idea, but trust me, better now than later. I am not totally wrong, am I ?