World powers urged to lead fight against climate change

Stoke on Trent( UK), April 22, 2009

The developed countries must lead the world to tackle climate change in order to save natural resources for coming generations. The top 20 emitters are resourceful and industrialized countries in the world. Developing countries contribute least to climate change but have been affected most from its effects and have been baselessly criticized by rich countries for causing greenhouse emissions. Industrial countries must together cut carbon emissions by 25 to 40% from 1990 levels by 2020 to avoid a catastrophic rise in sea levels, harsher storms and droughts and climate disruptions that would affect millions of predominantly poor people.
These views were highlighted in a Consultation on World Earth Day organized by Press for Peace (PFP) a charity working for protection of environment and other issues faced by mankind.
Young ecologist Ejaz Ur Rehman presented his special lecture about threats and challenges related to climate change.
Zafar iqbal, Chief Executive, Sarfraz Ahmad, Ejaz Aalam and other officials of the PFP also spoke on the occasion
The speakers referring the predictions of environmentalists about global warming, warn that the world temperature would rise drastically, causing adverse environmental, economic and social impacts on humanity over the coming decades. According to ecologists, the UK expects a 4°C rise in temperature by 2080 when summer temperatures of 40 C would be common, it was warned.
Ejaz ur Rehman, in his key address, said that rapid industrialization in developed counties and ruthless deforestation in developing regions distort and accelerate the natural process by creating more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere than are necessary to warm the planet to an ideal temperature.
“Eco tourism, eco trade, eco business and co energy concepts must be encouraged and practiced at all levels and everywhere to save the planet,” he stressed upon people to sacrifice for coming generations by changing their living styles and habits, otherwise, he warned , “humanity would face a environmental catastrophe in future”.

The speakers also urged rich powers to take immediate steps to reduce greenhouse gases. “None- ratification of Kyoto protocol by the US and other industrialized countries is a real set back for efforts to tackle global warming and all countries must ratify the protocol to preserve the planet.” The speakers further said that 12 years later signing of Kyoto Protocol, developed economies that signed up to it have instead increased greenhouses emissions by 11 per cent.
Sharing his views on the issue, Zafar iqbal referred recent reports of global environmental and humanitarian networks which suggest that 6,500 climate-related disasters have been recorded in last two decades, many of which are linked to climate change and it has been warned that number of floods, earthquakes, avalanches and other weather related disasters would be increased drastically in near future, displacing millions of people every year. “concerns of environmentalist about climate change must be taken seriously in developed and developing worlds equally because climate change is a global issue and needs international interventions”, he maintained.
PFP also arranged similar events to raise environmental issues.