November 21, 2008

TERI to set up climate centre in Ethiopia for Africa

PTI reported that Energy & Resources Institute will soon set up its centre in Ethiopia to focus on climate change and jointly work with African countries on the issue.

Dr RK Pachauri director general of The Energy & Resources Institute said that "The problems faced by earth are multi inter disciplinary in character. Climate change is one of the greatest threats. The new centre will focus on climate change in Ethiopia and look to work with various governments in Africa in this regard."

Mr Pachauri said that there is a shift taking place in the US' stance with regard to climate change and efforts were now being made on a substantial scale to try and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions. The impact of climate change on India would be very severe at both the social and economic levels. India had to develop sustainable solutions which the world can adopt. He added that "We have to look at the imperative of sustainable development, to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the need of future generations."

He also warned that the impact of climate change would be serious on agriculture and food sustainability and there was a need to develop different agricultural and cropping patterns. He said "Water management will also become very important. We need to revamp the entire drainage system. Our hydro power plants should take into account the impact of the increasing precipitation levels."