Is the climate conducive for a change?

The Paris Summit brought out a global agreement on curtailing the global warming. How much change is the treaty actually going to bring on mother earth?

Mona: All eyes were on Paris second time around in a month’s time. Only the top world leaders gathered the second time to save the earth. Paris Summit was extended by a day as 196 parties sat together to form a global agreement on the reduction of climate change. Two weeks of intense negotiations led to a deal to limit the rise in global temperature to less than 2C. India emerged a key player at the talks. Young turks from Chandigarh share their reflections on the treaty.

• Too good to be true: The United Nations Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP 21) comes across a goody goody deal for all nations from developed to developing, including the US, China, India and Iceland but it’s not comprehensive. While the aim is noble, who does what, when and how remains largely unlettered in order to curtail the rising temperature. It’s tougher for developing nations than the developed, for while we have to carry on development, industry being a significant key player in it; and, also cut our carbon footprint at the same time. Mostly so as majority of our huge population still lives in villages, we are still dependent on coal, thermal power and also unaware of what all the deal is about.— Pankaj Thakur, B Tech Electronics and computer science: 
• Wait and watch: One good thing that comes out of COP 21 is that funds would be transferred to India but what remains to be seen is if they would put it to the intended use. While it is relatively easier for advanced nations to put regulations in practice, in developing countries the major thrust is on basic infrastructure, lifting its population above poverty level. Though the summit aims at cutting global warming, ‘how’ remains to be seen. The US and China, the most polluting countries in the world, though have pledged their support to the cause, it isn’t going to be an easy game either for them to follow the agreed guidelines. — Anil Sharma, B Sc, Biotech: 
• How and when of it: Paris Climate Talks paved way for us to take responsibility for having disturbed the ecological balance and reversing it. The agreement keeps in mind the holistic view and has different expectations from countries in different stages of development. Like China is allowed to peak its industrial capacity before it joins hand with advanced countries to play a responsible part. But when and how is still fuzzy. The treaty looked good on paper but I was quite dejected reading an article today on how even if every Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) follow the norms, we still wouldn’t be able to curtail global warming as aimed. — Sarthak Negi, B Tech Mechanical engineering: 
• A tall order: Global warming is a real challenge and you see not even the half of the world is bothered about it. Advanced nations and its citizens who have been there and seen all are now acting in tandem to protect the earth but look at the scene in India or many African countries. While our indigenous ways helped preserving nature and maintaining balance, modern ways of the world have played havoc with the traditional lifestyle. In race to have a good life, how a country like India is going to fall in line of the guidelines of (COP 21) seems a tall order. — Rajinder Saini, M Sc Physics. Source: http://www.tribuneindia.com/

Read More........ → December 16, 2015

US to work with India, China on climate change

US President Barack Obama talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a meeting at the UN conference on climate change COP21 on November 30, 2015 at Le Bourget, on the outskirts of the French capital Paris. —AFP

Washington, December 1, Responding to Prime Minister Narendara Modi's "not our fault" message on climate change, the US said President Barack Obama has signalled a willingness to work with India and China for an ambitious climate change agreement. Obama had "very constructive" meetings on Monday with Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in on the sidelines on Paris Climate Summit, deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes told reporters in Paris. "Now, today, very deliberately, President Obama wanted to send a signal with his meetings that we were going to work with China and work with India to pursue an ambitious agreement here in Paris," he said, according to a White House transcript. The US had helped to mobilise "a truly global effort" over the course of the last seven years with a recognition that "we needed to bring together the entire world, including major emerging economies like China and India", Rhodes said. "Given the fact that they are more and more the source of carbon emissions, clearly we have felt throughout the course of this administration that China and India need to be a part of the solution," he said. "I think you heard Prime Minister Modi reiterate with the President his commitment to pursuing an ambitious agreement," Rhodes said, noting, "India has put forward its own targets." In his meeting with Modi, Obama said "that he certainly understands that whether it's India or another developing country, there has to be a focus on making sure that countries can continue to lift people out of poverty." "We have a recognition, of course, that you have hundreds of millions of Indians who don't even have access to electricity," Rhodes said. "At the same time, however, we can pursue an ambitious climate agreement even while India pursues an ambitious development policy," he said. "And, in fact, we can pursue the types of solutions that can meet both climate and development challenges." Noting that Modi had later joined Obama at the US Mission Innovation event, Rhodes said this "demonstrates a recognition on the part of India and other countries" about making investments in basic research. "If we are financing both from the public sector but also from the private sector renewable sources of energy, that has the ability to help us raise our ambitions in terms of reducing our emissions, but also can, frankly, be a source of development for countries like India and other countries around the world." "So I think, with Prime Minister Modi, there was a recognition and a commitment to pursuing an ambitious agreement here in Paris." In both meetings, Obama clearly "made the point that addressing the challenge of climate change and pursuing sustainable economic development that lifts people out of poverty around the world are not competitive goals." "In fact, they can be mutually reinforcing. And I think US leadership in working with our traditional allies but also working with China and India is going to be essential to getting a good deal here in Paris," Rhodes said. As Obama himself acknowledged "advanced economies have important responsibilities, that the whole world has to be a part of this," he said. "And you can't have a bifurcation of our commitments in these various areas that prevents consensus." Asked to draw a metaphor for how there's the tie between the war on terror and climate change, Rhodes said: "They're very different threats, but they're both very serious. And we have to deal with both them." "And I think the one common thread is the fact that we need the world with us in this effort. —IANS. Source: Article

Read More........ → December 01, 2015

Proud Of Dhruv In Flood Ops: HAL

HAL Statement: HAL-produced helicopters – Dhruv, Cheetah/Chetak – played a leading role in the biggest ever helicopter based rescue operation of Indian defence forces in flood and rain-hit areas of Uttarakhand recently. These copters deployed over flood and landslide affected areas in Uttarakhand performed effectively in dropping paratroopers, evacuating stranded people and in supply of food and medicines. The helicopters made hundreds of sorties in the high risk zone overcoming strong winds, visibility and with virtually no space for landing on high terrains. HAL teams were positioned at Deharadun and Delhi to ensure logistic support for the rescue operations. Dhruv which can carry 16 passengers was the star performer. On many occasions, due to incessant rain IAF pilots could only use Dhruv as it was unsafe for other copters to land. Dhruv helicopters flew for nearly 630 hours during the operation and Cheetah/Chetak flew 520 hours. "The indigenous helicopters pressed into service by the Army and the Air Force in flood-hit areas have proved their mettle in carrying out rescue and relief operations in highly inaccessible areas. We are proud of it", says Dr. R.K. Tyagi, Chairman, HAL. HAL designed, developed and produced Dhruv helicopters have been delivered to the Indian Army, Air Force, Navy and the Coast Guard. They are also exported. The civil version of Dhruv has been certified by the DGCA and delivered to ONGC, Govt of Jharkand and the BSF. The advanced technology features incorporated in the design of Dhruv include hingeless main rotor and bearingless tail rotor; integrated dynamic system encompassing main gear box and upper controls in a single housing; higher powered Shakti engines; integrated architecture display system (glass cockpit); duplex automatic flight control system; redundancy with twin engine, dual hydraulics and controls; 30 min dry running capability of gear boxes; crashworthy bottom structure, landing gear, crew seat and fuel tanks with self-sealing capability; extensive use of composite material on fuselage and rotor system; integration of role and optional equipments such as rescue hoist, stretchers and cargo-hook. Dhurv also has advanced avionics (communication, navigation & surveillance), electrical mission systems. All this makes Dhruv, a versatile multi-mission, multi-role helicopter capable of operating in all-weather and extreme climate conditions ensuring high degree of reliability and survivability. Based on the expertise of Dhruv, HAL undertook the Design & Development of Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Light Utility Helicopter (LUH). Source: Indian Defence Goal

Read More........ → July 13, 2013