Africa seems to have been the worst hit by the global food crisis for which climate change is believed to be a major contributing factor. Around 30 million people  most of them women and children are facing hunger, starvation, and even death. The 2008 session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) called  for an ‘offensive’ to be launched against food insecurity in the region and an urgent need to follow the guidelines set in Maputo document. (The Maputo document requires national governments to ensure that not less than 10 per cent of their national budgets are allocated towards the development of the agricultural sector). Read more…  

India: keen but inadequately prepared to tackle climate change. --

As per a report in the Economist, scientists fear that the impact of climate change on India is going to be particularly severe  due to its geography and  economy. According to the Peterson Institute for International Economics, India's agriculture will suffer more than any other country's as it is a hotter and poorer country. Scientists anticipate that with a temperature rise of  4.4°C over cultivated areas by 2080, India's agricultural output is likely to fall by 30-40%.The sad part is that Indian. policymakers have failed to address this national problem seriously. As it is, so far, studies of 11 Himalayan glaciers have been conducted in India.  The Indian Prime Minister, has formed a council to tackle these issues but this body  has seldom met. With the National Action Plan on Climate Change due to be released shortly the Indian government needs to step up  its efforts in this direction. Read more…

Saving  livelihoods in  Cambodia.

Scientists from Finland have taken up a project to save the Tonie Sap Lake, in Cambodia from the impact of rising temperatures caused by climate change. The lake, which supports the livelihood of nearly 12 percent of the Cambodian  people is one of the world’s most fragile ecosystems. Its fish provide 60 percent of the country’s protein so it is critical for Cambodia’s food supply, Scientists have taken the cue from a similar project undertaken in Africa to save Lake Tanganyika which was facing a similar threat. Read more...