As India continues to develop its economy, their CO2 emissions grow as well. New scientific estimates are showing that the country’s dams are responsible for 1/5 of India’s total global warming impact. This study shows that hydropower projects are not “clean.” India’s dams are the largest global warming contributers compared to all other nations, and they lead the way with 45.8 million tons of methane per year. These dams contribute about 4% of greenhouse gasses.
In the past year, India has begun looking at ways in which they can make their country better. They would like to increase efficiency without undermining growth. Even thought India isn’t part of the Kyoto protocol, they do realize that there participation in cutting back on CO2 emissions is necessary.
The world shouldn’t just be looking at the developing countries as a problem for Global Warming. Even though they are part of the problem, the United States is a much bigger factor. President Bush has repeatedly rejected the protocol and can’t accept that Global Warming is happening. The United States should be leading the way in curbing global warming but instead our leaders deny its existence. I think it’s great that India is trying to make their county a cleaner and environmentally friendlier place to live. Now if only the United States could do the same.
Canada is another country that is truly trying to help the enviorment. In 2006, they introduced the Clean Air Pact and were the first federal government to introduce mandatory regulations on all industry sectors across Canada to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gasses. They want to reduce greenhouse gasses to about 45%-65% of the 2003 leavels by the year 2050.
Canada, in my mind, has always seemed to be a “clean” country. It’s really great that they are taking Global Warming so seriously even though they are not one of the larger contributers to the problem.
http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=89455
http://www.canadaglobalwarming.com/
http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/19/stories/2007051916941300.htm
By: Hannah Earl
