PANAJI: Environmentalists have suggested planting of more trees, use of
vermiculture to reduce waste at source and tapping of renewable energy to
offset carbon footprints and counter the effects of global warming. "If
India's temperature rises by 2 degrees celsius, there will be millions of
environmental refugees," Emmanuel D'Silva, environmental scientist, said,
quoting studies in this respect. "And it is important to accept that we are
part of the problem" instead of thinking it is happening due to somebody
else's fault".Speaking on the theme "Taking responsibility for global
warming" at Go! Green Goa - a workshop on ecological resurgence organized by
Mozaic Design, an architecture firm, in association with other NGOs in the
city, D'Silva said that India being one of world's top emitters of carbon
dioxide, it was important to look at solutions. "About 94% of emissions are
caused by the use of firewood," he said. D'Silva called for planting of
trees, especially neem and huge banyan trees, vermiculture to treat waste at
source, as transportation of garbage in trucks costs crores of rupees and
not only generated more emissions but also resulted in the burning of fossil
fuel. "Organic waste in cities and urban areas should be recycled," he said.
Citing some success stories in the use of biofuels made from pongamia trees
which generated employment for the poor, he urged people to switch from
incandescent bulbs to the energy-saving fluorescent ones. N P S Varde,
director and member secretary of Goa Energy Development Agency, said, "Our
environmental problems are caused due to the use of energy, pollution in
kitchens from chullahs, cutting of forests for timber and smoke emissions
from transport vehicles." Sharing his expertize on renewable energy
solutions and advocating its use to reduce dependence on electricity, he
said that alternate energy cannot replace the conventional type but can
complement its use. Stating that proponents of alternate energy solutions
are working against the tide, he said, "There are points about renewable
energy that are not appreciated." Use of solar energy can help reduce the
dependence on electricity and carbon emissions, he added. About electricity,
he explained that though citizens pay one rupee per unit for electricity, it
actually costs Rs 7 but the subsidies are hidden and unknown to citizens.
Darryl Pereira explained how traditional and modern methods can be
integrated in farming, while Lucano and Isa Alvares spoke about growing food
at home. Clea Chandmal and Bruna Fogaca elaborated on the principle of
permaculture in agriculture. Miguel Braganza stressed on organic food
marketing while Yogita Mehra, a TERI researcher also spoke. Aaron Pereira, a
representative of Indian Youth Climate Network, spoke about climate change,
which was followed by the screening of a movie AD 2040 - the greenhouse
effect. (Times of India 24/2/09)
