Climate change

AFP

Now we need not be an astrologer or quote a reference from a holy scripture to predict a doomsday when the earth will permanently collapse and all living beings will become extinct. Today science forecasts a doomsday that might come in a few years because of global warming and climate change. There is no doubt that human existence will be threatened if the earth gets warmer at present rate.
The IPCC report of 2007 estimated that accelerated melting of the Himalayan ice caps and the resulting rise in sea levels would likely increase the severity of flooding in the short-term during the rainy season and greatly magnify the impact of tidal storm surges during the cyclone season. A sea-level rise of just 40 cm in the Bay of Bengal would put 11 percent of the Bangladesh's coastal land underwater, creating 7 to 10 million climate refugees.
According to a UN climate report, the Himalayan glaciers that are the sources of Asia's biggest rivers - Ganges, Indus, Brahmaputra, Yangtze, Mekong, Salween and Yellow - could disappear by 2035 as temperatures rise. Approximately 2.4 billion people live in the drainage basin of the Himalayan rivers. Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar and China could experience floods followed by droughts in coming decades. In India alone, the Ganges provides water for drinking and farming for more than 500 million people.
Approximately, 40% of the world's agricultural land is seriously degraded.
In Africa, if the current trends of soil degradation continue, the continent might be able to feed just 25% of its population by 2025, according to United Nations University's Ghana-based Institute for Natural Resources in Africa.
Recently, world leaders in Copenhagen recognized that climate change is one of the greatest challenges of the day and actions should be taken to keep any temperature increases below 2°C. But they have failed to agree on a plan to cool the earth. Now we are waiting for Mexico!