China, India and Global Warming
September 6th, 2009
According to statistics, the contribution of India and China towards increase in carbon dioxide and pollution in the earth’s atmosphere is up on the rise. Between 1992 and 2002, the emissions of greenhouse gases by these countries were increased by 15% alone, but since the year 2002, they have gone another 10%. According to the data compiled by World Resources Institute, China accounts of 10% and India accounts for 3% of the greenhouse gases present in the atmosphere. India is the fifth biggest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world while China is the first.
Contribution to China and India in green house emissions
China and India are among the top five countries that are the major contributors of green house gases to the environment. It is a favorable fact that both the countries are developing rapidly and they are coming out of their reputation of being the countries dependent upon their agricultural land. Increasing number of industries, both national and international, are setting up their factories in these countries, leading to an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide contributed by them. Because the countries are developing, the living standards of their citizens are also rising and there are increasing number of vehicles in every household. This means that more people are traveling in their own cars, leading to increase in the air pollution.
Effects of global warming on China and India
India and China are only two countries that are going to suffer a lot because of the climate changes affecting different geographic locations. For instance, northern parts of India and China will experience an increase in the median temperature by around 8-9ºF. As the rainfall patterns are shifting to more droughts and deluges, these two countries are more likely to suffer from floods also. Indeed, the west and south parts of China are already going through a 7 times increase in the deluges, as compared to 1950s. These countries will also receive more severe pacific cyclones with Noachian rainfall and stronger winds. Fresh water will also become scarce in these countries as they receive most of their drinking water from the glaciers of Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau, feeding Indus, Ganges, Yellow and Yangtze rivers.
Himalayas are warming 3 times as far as the average in the world, as a result of which their glaciers continue to shrink more rapidly than any other part of the world. It has been estimated that they are possible to get disappeared by the year 2035. The Indus and the Ganges may become seasonal rivers rather than being year-round. The availability of water for millions of Indians and Chinese is therefore estimated to fall 20-40% in the next few years. The IPCC has projected that in addition to the earlier spring snow melting, the farm output can be slashed down by 10% by the year 2030. China is already undergoing drought conditions in half a century, having 300 million people having no or less drinking water and 50 million acres crops damaged or lost. IPCC projects that the production of rice in Asia will fall 10% for every 2º rise in the minimum temperature in the growing season.
Steps taken by the government
Apart from conducting several campaigns about making efforts to reduce air pollution, to use fewer vehicles and to use green products, one of the major steps taken in this regard is introducing the Kyoto Protocol. This is a legally binding agreement, which asks the industrialized countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2%, as compared to 1990. It aims at lowering 6 emissions including carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, sulfur hexafluoride, perfluorocarbon (PFCs) and hydrofluorocarbon (HFCs).
