Global warming at a fast clip

We are used to hearing about the alarming rates at which global warming is happening from scientists, media and environmentalists. We already heard that the ice in Antarctica is melting down due to global warming and the reduction of ice at the polar caps is reciprocating the rise in temperatures on other continents.

But, we don’t care much about it in the busy schedule of life and also don’t care if the mercury raises for another 3 to 4 degree centigrade on the thermometer as we are spending time comfortably in an air cooled atmosphere.

According to a survey, the Antarctica has 90percent of the total ice and nearly 70percent of fresh water on earth. The east Antarctica has ice on the land while the ice on west Antarctica was in water, and is at the verge of complete depletion. For every degree raise in average global temperature, the sea temperature is also increasing, melting thousands of tones of ice at Antarcitica every year. The melted water increases the level of the sea.

It is estimated that by 2050, the sea levels will increase by 1 meter and by 2100, it increases by 3meters, considering the same average level of increase in global temperatures. That means, coastal cities in India like Mumbai, Kochi and Visakhapatnam and many would lose land to a considerable extent and the sea shore comes forward for hundreds of meters and helps cyclones and storms grow powerful and mankind suffer further.

This advancement of sea helps salt water advance into fragile estuaries that will makes the population there suffer for drinking water. The global data reveals that when the Jokulhlaup volcano in Iceland was erupted, nearly seven cubic kilometers of ice under the glacier was melted and increased the sea level to a considerable extent.

When this rate of increase in global warming is also taken into consideration, by 2050 the ice at the Greenland, Pine Island would melt into water to raise the sea level by 15meters and then also if it continues the ice at Antarctica would melt by 2100 and increase the sea levels by 30meters completely advancing the sea shores by hundreds of kilometers and submerging the great coastal cities into sea which will in turn reshape the world as we know it. This is Global Warning!

When many countries wanted to decrease the rate of global warming and control it, they found that industrialisation is playing a major role in it. As the industrialisation is needed for our growth, they pinpointed the culprit for raising the global temperature, the fossil fuel.

As the fossil fuel is depleting on other parts of earth, some companies are eying the abundant resources of fuel in the polar peninsula. So, they banned digging the earth at Antarctica up to 2041. But, this does not save the earth from the increasing carbon foot print in atmosphere, which is directly helping the raise in temperatures.

Meet Pradeep Karuturi from Rajamahendravaram but now living in Hyderabad, who was shaken by witnessing the power of nature with his very naked eye. He was one of the three persons from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, who got a chance to expedite Antarctica, last month.

There were about 140 members from 30 countries, 19 from India, in the International Antarctic Expedition 2016, planned and executed by Robert Swan, the first person to expedite both poles of earth and founder of 2041 Foundation.

Pradeep watched and filmed hundreds of tons of ice from glaciers fall into the sea. He fears that the future of mother earth is in danger and he wants to save it for the future generations. “Nature is very powerful and I’ve had a shivering experience with it in close encounters at Antarctica.

We can’t take it for granted anymore. With the experience in the expedition, I want to reduce the carbon foot print. In my expedition to Antarctica, I recently calculated that, I am responsible for 5tons of carbon foot print in the atmosphere. At a personal level, I want to decrease using the fossil fuel and use natural and renewable energy sources.

I want to start carbon offsetting by growing trees and compensate the carbon foot print. At a larger level, I want to promote reduction of using transportation. There is a practice in west countries to grow trees in rain forests in Amazon, where a user pays the local organisation for it.

I want to promote this carbon offsetting technique in India, with which any person can compensate his carbon footprint by a number of trees planted under his name. I have also wanted to work with the government and NGOs to make our country and mother earth safe along with working on solar energy,” he said.

Aarati Rao from Hyderabad, is a member of the Third Pole Foundation, Robert Swan mentored in 2013 at Leh as part of the Global Himalayan Expedition. She is also one of the members in International Antarctic Expedition 2016. She said, “The Antarctica expedition only deepened on my love and respect for this planet.

Antarctica is etched in my memory and it serves as a motivation to take concrete steps to help protect mother earth through activism, advocacy and action. Since back, I plan to empower children, our future, to take on the responsibility to combat climate change.”

Vyshali Sagar works for Google and is a true Hyderabadi. She has been associated with several NGOs and active member of TEDx talks in Hyderabad. She said, “The Jagriti Yatra that I did a year before made me have friends in every state in India and Antarctica Expedition now in 2016 helped in having supportive friends from different countries in the world.

This is an Expedition to learn about environment and educate as many as possible and there by empower them to experience the reality of climate change by various ways of entrepreneurship. The World has suddenly become a small place for me and possible positive is something which is running on my mind always.

As of now climate change is something we have witnessed gaining first hand experience from Antarctica. I would like to be an Ambassador to so many other things that bother me and which we can change rather than just climate change and my mission is to make this world a happier place.”

Robert Swan believes that within 50 years, India is going to lead the world. In an interaction with his team he asked the members from India to lead the world. He said, “India is going to be a power on earth. The western world has made lot of mistakes and the world is suffering because of those mistakes. In 50 years, India will be leading the world with China.

Let’s make sure that great leaders from India make it to programs like this, so that they can lead the country towards having a clean future. There is no point in having a fantastic India where no one can breathe.” To stop the warning bells ringing, it is not advisable to close your ears or play deaf. It is our responsibility to move one step towards safe and clean environment by reducing the carbon emission due to us.

Make it a resolution to use a bicycle for short distances, plant two or three saplings and protect them till they grow as trees, use solar, wind or other renewable energy for lighting and transportation needs. Make your foot print visible and an inspiration to your family. Support organisations and individuals like Pradeep ([email protected]) by writing a word or two to boost their morale or sharing ideas and experiences that help them.