Climate change impacts on river basins in semi arid areas in India. In a joint initiative taken by Bioforsk Norway and IIT Delhi studies have been undertaken to study likely impacts of climate change on water resources. Climate variability affects water resources by way of floods, droughts and overall hydrological cycles at global and local level. Governor of Rajasthan HE Shri Shiv Raj Patil has indicated measures on regulating ground water use in his address to the Rajasthan Assembly . Rajasthan is suffering from total loss of ground water in 8 districts and reduced water table in another 10 districts. It’s a fragile ecosystem.

Renewable energy for climate change mitigation and sustainable development. Ashwani Kumar

Convolvulaceae The plant is distributed throughout India, in deciduous and evergreen forests and coastal tracts. An extensive perennial climber with tuberous roots, found in Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal, Assam, Deccan and west coast from Konkan to Kerala, mostly in moist areas, monsoon forests and coastal tracts.

Green house gas emissions are natural with use of fossil fuel resources and increasing levels of Carbon di oxide are causing great concern. “Scoping meeting on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation From January 21st-25th, 2008, the IPCC workshop on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation was held in Luebeck, The mandate of the meeting was to guide and support decision making by the IPCC on a possible Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation or on the inclusion of this subject in the normal Assessment Report cycle. A Special Report could be finalised by end of 2010, while a fifth Assessment Report would probably not be available before 2013”.(source of the quote: IPCC SCOPING MEETING ON RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES)

The world survies largely on fossil fuel economy but burning fossil fuel causes green house gas emissions which raise Carbon di oxide levels. Kyoto protocol expiring in 2012 , Copenhagen without consensus , Cancun declarations aparts , the DSDS 2011 brought out some of the important considerations. Rich nations advocated for removal of subsidies on petrol and diesel, developing countries cant afford to do it due to economic disparities. Economy , fossil fuel resources, media are in one basket and those propounding sustainable development are often questioned about validity of claims. Environmental disasters, floods, droughts, rains, forest fires, storms are usual happenings for some and a result of climate change for others.