THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The implications of global warming, already described as the greatest challenge for mankind in the 21st century, could be particularly severe for India, according to experts and policy makers.
British MP and shadow secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs, Nick Herbert said here that the International Centre for Food Policy Research had warned of South Asia being particularly hard hit by climate change, and that the region's wheat production could fall by almost half.
According to study findings, even at this level of climate change India, whose agriculture is heavily dependent on monsoons could lose its ability to feed a population that is estimated to increase by 500 million by 2050, and large numbers of people are likely to be dislocated by rising sea levels, floods and droughts.
Speaking at the 10th Greentech Environment Conference here, Mr Herbert said mankind's escape from poverty through conventional industrialization added hugely to the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and that developing countries may not be able to escape poverty in the same way.
RK Suri, additional director, ministry of environment and forests, said the average global temperature had already risen by 0.740 degree C in 2005 compared to 100 years ago, adding that scientists attributed the temperature rise to human activities that released carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Mr Suri said the efforts to contribute to reducing global warming could take the forms of using more efficient lighting, energy-efficient appliances, driving less and checking tyres, careful use of water, saying no to plastic, and recycling, among others.
He said 300 million people could be at greater risk of malaria and other vector and water-borne diseases, and that the health costs of climate change were projected to double by 2020, partly as a result of heat stress but primarily because of increased rate of diarrhoea and malnutrition in low-income countries.