Earlier last month, people calling themselves the Pacific Climate Warriors from 12 Pacific island nations including Papua New Guinea, The Solomon Islands, Fiji and Tuvalu, built traditional canoes and rowed their way to the shipping Port of Newcastle, Australia. The reason: to block barges and ships carrying coal for it to be burned. 30 Warriors in their canoes surrounded the vessels chanting slogans saying “You cannot burn this coal”. Incidentally the vessels carrying the coal were heading to India where it was to be burnt for use as energy.
This was just one of the many cases well known environmentalist Bill McKibben spoke of at the DirtE Talks held earlier this week in Hyderabad, a series of lectures and discussions on breaking the myth that coal and fossil fuels is the only solution to energy problems highlighting the issue of global warming as a result of burning these fuels.
Statistics as of 2013 show India ranks third with 613 million tonnes (Mt) while China and the US take the first and second positions with 3561 Mt and 904 Mt respectively. Of the 613 Mt that India produces, 71 per cent is used in electricity generation while the US only uses 38 percent of its 904 Mt. The rest it exports to countries like India and China.
“For years the public has been misled on the role of fossil fuels in our society. We are told that we need more coal for development, that coal is the only solution to our energy challenges, that to develop we need to make tough but important compromises with environment. We want to break this myth and show people the true face of fossil fuels. To talk of the dirty myths and secrets that have been kept away from us,” say organisers from 350.org, the first planet wide, and grassroots climate change movement.
McKibben, the founder of the organisation has travelled the world with stories of people and institutions removing their investments in fossil fuel companies and says India and China have the potential to be the energy giants of the future.
“What India does today will make a difference in the planet. Decisions taken here will ultimately impact the entire planet,” he says adding that people need to be part of movements that help stop the burning of fossil fuels.
A study conducted by scientists showed the effect the burning of these fuels had on crops. Crop yields were halved in places where the air was fogged due to coal burning when compared to areas of clean air.
But one need not look far for inspiration. The first fully solar powered village in the Jehanabad district of Bihar is the best example. On July 20 this year, the village of Dharnai with a population of more than 2,400 people declared itself an energy independent village. Though the state government made provisions for the electricity to be delivered to the village, diesel generators were their only source of energy. Greenpeace’s solar powered 100 kilowatt micro- grid today provides the village with its everyday energy needs. Contrary to popular belief, the prices aren’t very expensive.
“We need to stop this addiction to fossil fuels. Solar panels aren’t as expensive as it is made out to be. There is a need for state governments to stop listening to the money coming in from the coal industry and start listening to the scientist,” says McKibben.
The Dharani project built at a cost of Rs. 3 crore provides electricity to 450 households, 50 commercials establishments, 60 street lights, two schools, one health centre and a training centre as well as 10 solar irrigation pumps.
The People’s Climate March is yet another campaign that went global. Central Delhi was the sight of thousands demanding the government take swift action on climate change. What began as a silent march on September 20 in Delhi grew to a global phenomenon where protestors marched through New York City ahead of the United Nations climate summit. McKibben who was part of this march recalls how the crowds first marched silently and slowly grew into a loud howl against the government’s energy wasting habits.
Governments around the world have decided on that any warming above a 2 degree Celsius increase would be unsafe. With the current state a third of the summer sea ice in the Arctic have already melted, oceans have turned 30 percent more acidic and warm air holds more water vapour than cold, the world has already seen a 0.8 degree increase, three fourths the way to the 2 degree target.
The DirtE talks meanwhile continue on with first hand cases of locals and how the coal industry has affected as well promote success stories like that of Dharani. They will be organising a session in Mumbai next week.
Review Bureau
