RK Pachauri speaks at the workshop as deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi (extreme right) looks on in Patna on Friday. Picture by Neshat Ahmad

Patna, Nov. 11: The average temperature of Earth has risen by 0.74ºC in the last century and it is expected to rise anywhere between 1.8ºC and 4ºC in the current century.

Nobel prize winner and director-general of The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri), Rajendra K. Pachauri put forth the startling facts during the inaugural session of a two-day workshop on climate change organised today by the state environment and forests department. Deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi on the other hand pledged to finalise the Bihar State Action Plan on Climate Change (BSAPCC) by March 31, 2012.

Pachauri went on to add that the rise in the average global temperature together in the two centuries is expected to be 2.5ºC. Such an extent of climate change has caused an average rise of 17cm in the sea-level across the world and the threat of extinction of around 20-30 per cent of the existing species, he added.

“During the 20th century, the rise in the average temperature has been assessed between 0 and 0.74ºC throughout the globe. We must also consider the fact that the temperature difference between the inter-glacier and the ice-age period was not more than 4 or 5ºC. Moreover, over the past 6,50,000 years, we have not had carbon dioxide concentration at the level that we have today. This indicates that human activities and human society has affected the balance of the planet in a way that had not been affected in the past 6,50,000 years,” Pachauri said.

“Such a change is melting the ice, particularly in West Antartica and other regions. This is causing expansion of oceans. In fact, there has been a rise of about 17cm in the sea-level across the globe in the last century. The rise would affect different regions of the world, including Bangladesh and Bengal. Moreover, since India has such a long coastline, we will be definitely affected by the rise in sea-level to an enormous extent. Among other impacts, the sea-level rise would also cause rapid intrusion in groundwater, thus, making it more saline. This would lead to scarcity of potable water in the affected regions,” Pachauri said. Pachauri said even if the emission of greenhouse gases are completely stopped today then also the climate change would continue for several decades.

Regarding the mitigation measures, Pachauri said: “All developed countries must cut down on their carbon footprint including emission of greenhouse gases. Developing countries like India can increase the energy consumption but not in the manner the developed countries have increased. Moreover, the transportation system should also be improved to save on fuel. Buildings on the other hand, should also be constructed according to Green Building Code.

Moreover, experts should be provided in the disaster management, water resources and environment and forests among other departments, who would closely analyse the changes in climate and thus help in formulating mitigation measures.”