HERALD: What brings you to Goa?
DAVID J. SCOTT: I am happy to talk about the partnership with our organisation Polar Knowledge Canada and the Canadian High Arctic Research Bay are trying to put together with National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) in Goa to work together in the Canadian Arctic area. NCPOR experts are willing to expand beyond their expertise in the Antarctic Circle where they have been working for many decades and are willing to begin their work in Arctic Circle. Canada is very interested in partnering with India and recognises the excellent capabilities of the scientist here in the institute of NCPOR.
HERALD: Will there be any agreement signed?
DJS: Last September the director of the NCPOR, Dr M Ravichandran with few other members travelled to the Canadian Arctic. Now we have agreed to collaborate and we are very close to signing the agreement and develop a work plan. Indian researchers will come to Canada and can help to assist in the job with better understanding not only for Canada but what it means at the global scale. Bringing those who have been working on the same issues elsewhere in the world will surely help all to create a best new technical knowledge through knowledge sharing.
HERALD: How does this climate change affect businesses and industries?
DJS: Many businesses grow when the environment is static. Whether it is business of growing food, fishing, dairy etc, but as the climate begins to change things become more dynamic and somewhat less predictable. So under one hand there is a disruption factor and rapid changes are required which entails huge investments which may produce new opportunities for that particular business or it could have a very negative impact on the business. If one is not able to mobilise and adapt to the changes which is happening around it may be very difficult for the business to survive.
HERALD: Are businesses in the international fora worried?
DJS: In the Canadian Arctic, most businesses are centered in the small communities and they are within themselves. If we look around the world, we see Russia investing very heavily in new production of natural gas in their Arctic region and the logic which they are giving is that the north east passages are becoming more navigable and the markets are diversifying as well. Yes, they are taking the advantage of the opportunity and perhaps it may lead to new economic opportunities and create sustainable markets for natural gas development. Russia is taking advantage of the climate change which is getting warmer.
HERALD: What is India’s contribution to fight climate change?
DJS: When we zoom in to NCPOR, I can absolutely reassure you that India’s Polar Research Institute is very well regarded amidst other countries which are studying and doing research in North or South poles. Indian scientists are very capable and are doing leading edge research and they are global players. That is why Canada is partnering with India in this sector. India has also been a very strong player in the southern part of the planet in the Antarctic region and now they can also step into the northern Arctic region and can become a global polar player.
HERALD: India will soon be changing into more energy and environment efficient BSVI engines. How will this enhance the prospects of better environment?
DJS: Any decision which is taken to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emission can begin to help mitigate the impact of climate changes. The correlation between the human caused carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the subsequent warming temperatures is very well established.
HERALD: What steps are being taken to make people aware of this emerging problem?
DJS: The direction climate changes science is growing over all is to understand what the future might look like. This study will help to make better policy decisions. If we continue on the path that we seem to be on, policy decision makers will have better knowledge about the impact or the cost and help them take better decisions. This will give us a clear picture of future droughts, flammable forests etc. We just saw that in Australia in the past few months.
HERALD: What message would you like to give to the polluting industries?
DJS: I think the changes have already started to take place. Some of the major petroleum, hydro carbon energy producing companies are beginning to see the need to diversify their portfolios. Companies like Shell have started to get into renewable energy already and transforming themselves. We also see the number of solar energy companies coming up and it is a very positive response.
