Two things in life are unavoidable – death, and taxes. Well, now
there is this third – Climate Change, or Global Warming as it is
popularly depicted in media. This globe, what we call ‘Earth’, is
older than all of us; at 4.5 Billion years of age it is also,
apparently, suffering on account of human activities. Its grown
warmer since the Industrial Revolution – and accelerated since
after the second world war. Everyone knows it – Climate change is
even on the lips of babes & sucklings. The cause, if you follow
popular media, is us – humans. There are detractors. Heretics who
put forth a counter-current that climate change is natural rather
than anthropogenic. That greenhouse gases (yes, it isn’t only
Carbon Dioxide) are not affected by human activities to the extent
presented. Water vapour is a culprit just as much as are Methane,
Nitrous Oxide, and Ozone. That human species came into existence on
Earth at a time when climate on Earth was ramped up to change.
Anthropogenic influence can’t be denied though. CFC, PFC are well
recognised greenhouse gases.
Like a guilt trip, the anthropogenic argument of climate change,
receives more media coverage than detractor arguments from more
rational minds. On a daily basis, there will be any number of
articles with headlines such as ...
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-58883234
(Climate change: 'Adapt or die'
warning from Environment Agency)
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/oil-gas-environment-climate-change-goals-why-now-16532566.php
(Oil companies begin setting environmental goals amid scrutiny
over climate change)
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/mass-fruit-tree-plantation-drive-begins-in-west-bengal/articleshow/86683823.cms
(Mass fruit tree plantation
drive begins in West Bengal)
https://theconversation.com/mass-tree-planting-how-to-do-it-right-168583
(Mass
tree planting: how to do it right)
The bottom line is that it is impossible to escape the frenzy
around environment. The impression one gets from such articles is of
the proverbial doe caught in the headlights of a speeding train. The
difference here is that the human species apparently invented the
vehicle in whose headlights it is the proverbial doe. The jury is yet
out upon whether or not Climate Change is anthropogenic. Regardless
of the cause, the fact of the matter is that Climate Change is quite
real. The ocean levels are changing, glaciers melting, wind and
rainfall patterns changing ... Every single being on Earth is
affected. It follows therefore that every single being – capable of
it – must take necessary actions to mitigate the effects thereof.
It isn’t as though there haven’t been concerted effects to
deal with changing climate on a relatively large scale successfully
in the past. London was famous for it’s ‘Pea Soup’ smog as
recently as the 1960s. It also dealt with the problem effectively
using a multi-pronged approach – regulating vehicle exhaust,
factories, household chemicals, and so on. It wasn’t just London
that was affected; large cities around the world were part of a study
conducted by Manchester University. The results were apalling. From
Bangkok, to London, to Mexico, and to Tokyo – poor quality of air
plagued the cities.
How does a person, such a tiny entity compared to the gigantic
volume of this Earth, attempt to mitigate the effects of Climate
Change? To no small extent, the way to do it is to enlist support
against the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. There
are any number of techniques available legislative, technological,
direct action. Here are just a few
Unplug electrically powered devices when you are not using
them.
Address the insulation of your home to prevent heat/cold from
escaping.
Don’t waste food; if possible purchase from the nearest
producers.
Use public transport whenever you can .
The simplest perhaps way you can contribute in battling climate
change lies in the tumultuous refrain – plant a tree!
Every tree is an entire ecosystem in itself. From nitrogen fixing
bacteria, to providing nectar to bees & fruits thereafter,
shelter/succour for residents of the forests – a tree is easily
ignored without realising what fantastic service is provided by it in
return. Botanists wax eloquently on the properties of varieties of
trees. Planting a tree is perhaps the
chosen way most contribute towards tackling climate change if
only because well, one can put a sapling in the soil, and
forget about it for days on end. Water the sapling once in a while,
and all will be well. Why trees, though? Because trees are adept at
capturing CO2 from the environment, and sequestering it – all the
while converting it into wood! The thumb rule is to choose fast
growing species ... which is more easily said than done.
Botany is a well established science with an enormous repertoire
of literature. At the same time, it goes without saying that growth
of any organism – tree or otherwise is not monocausal. Any number
of factors are involved; in case of trees some of these factors may
be type of soil, nutrients in soil, availability of water,
intranecine competition so on. Availability of open spaces, and
sunlight are obvious local climate factors that affect growth. This
makes it necessary to thin plantations out by trimming, or cutting
trees at regular intervals. Plantation must also attempt adequate
bio-diversity is maintained. On the one hand this is to prevent the
development of an invasive species that affects local flora, and
fauna. On the other hand it is to protect the plantation from
becoming easy prey to a pest that may decimate the entire plantation.
All this makes it obvious that planting trees is easier said than
done. The situation may appear hopeless. Yet all is not lost. It is a
matter of record that the vegetables on our dining plates are
significantly different from their cousins in the wild. The carrot
was pale and yellowish and unpalatable too – now it is orange,
white, or even red and delicious to boot! The modern banana is far
removed from it’s wild cousin – full of seeds, and a dwarf
compared to the banana we know. Pineapples, peaches and many others
are almost unrecognisable compared against their wild predecessors.
The journey of these modern foods from their wild predecessors was
achieved by simple natural selection of the properties that were most
desirable ... and took generations to get fixed indelibly in the
plants.
It is the quality/quantity argument. A cluster of a few trees of
different species could provide the same climate-control effect as a
forest. No less important is biovariance. An orchard of a single
species is akin to a sponge whereas a jungle of multiple species also
serves as a natural obstacle course for pests.
Modern Science, and Technology have made it possible to achieve in
short order what took many generations to achieve by means of natural
selection. By editing the genes of a species, it is possible to imbue
a tree with properties that would appear miraculous. Perhaps then, it
should be possible to genetically modify plant species to combat
global warming with greater efficiency. Perhaps the transpiration /
photosynthesis cycles may be edited to last longer. Perhaps the genes
may be edited to also accept gases other than CO2 or even a greater
quantity of CO2. The possibilities are limited only by technology
itself, and human imagination!
Genetically modified plants (and plant products) are not a
novelty. Any number of plant-sourced foods are modified genetically
over and above natural selection through the ages. Soyabean,
Eggplant, Papaya to name just a few. Applying similar science/es to
combat skyrocketing greenhouse gases is a necessity that must be
placed on the table.
