Climate change: Politics or scientific reality?

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Meen Poudyal Chhetri

Nepal Centre for Disaster Management, Nepal

: Expert Opin Environ Biol

Abstract

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Background: Climate change has become a very serious worldwide concern because of its adverse effects in livelihood and environment. Glaciers are receding rapidly in the Himalayan region which has the major portion of glaciers that covers almost 33,000 km2. This range constitutes a major source of water draining through nine largest rivers in Asia serving more than 1.3 billion people to find their livelihoods. Glaciers are also receding in other parts of the world. Glacial retreat is the most visually convincing evidence of climate change which is a scientific reality. On the other hand, it has been much exaggerated due to the argument between the developing and developed nations. The Problems: Average global temperatures are expected to raise 1.4-5.8ºC by the end of the 21st century. Greenhouse gases from human activities are among the major causes for the alarming situations of climate change and global warming. Weather patterns are becoming more unpredictable and extreme – dry seasons become dryer and wet seasons wetter. This phenomenon is causing fear over the long term reduction in total water supply, affecting lives and livelihoods and food security. Conclusions: This is high time to negotiate to avoid misunderstanding among the developing and developed nations and develop necessary legal and scientific tools that create favorable market conditions and strengthen scientific knowledge on Earth observation. Effective implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) provisions can help to minimize the current effects. More importantly, all the countries should ensure and apply the Kyoto Protocol.

Biography

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E-mail: meen.chhetri@yahoo.com