Rise in sea levels is a threat to AP: Pachauri

A rapid change in climate due to increase in pollution may pose a grave threat to the survival of mankind, noted Rajendra K Pachauri, Director General of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi.

Delivering the 10th Dr Jandhyala Dakshina Murthy Memorial Lecture on ‘Climate Change: Scientific Realities and Response Strategies’ at Siddhartha Auditorium on Sunday, he said, “The levels of carbon dioxide, methane and nitric acid are increasing steadily, leading to a rise in the sea level in coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh. It may result in shortage of food and drinking water, rise in poverty and large displacement of people in the long run.”

“Global warming increased drastically between 1900 and 2010 and the global mean sea level rose by 0.19 metres. The growth of global greenhouse gas emissions between 2000 and 2010 is more than the combined emissions in the previous three decades. Hence, urgent measures should be taken to control the rise in temperature. Energy production remains the prime driver of growth in emissions with this sector accounting for 35 per cent of total emissions globally,’’ Pachari said.

Pachauri appealed to the people to use public transportation instead of personal vehicles to check pollution to some extent.

“Government and voluntary organisations should jointly organise a massive campaign to educate people on the harmful effects of global warming,” he said.

Memorial Trust organising secretary Dr Jandhyala Shankar, former chief secretary Mohan Kanda, industrialist Maganti Subrahmanyam and others were present.