Climate change sceptics got a taste of their own medicine

I have always had my suspicion about climate change sceptics’ real intentions of undermining the climate change science. Now, the hard evidences have come forward, in which point to the fact that my curiosity and suspicion were not just a baseless assumption. I wrote about it in my earlier blog 'Climate Change myths: Common misperceptions and sceptic’s incorrect assertions’, which was posted on 21^st January, 2011.

On the Valentine's day 2012, Heartland Institute - a US based conservative and libertarian public policy think-tank came under the spotlight  when a dump of leaked documents were posted online by the climate news website DeSmogBlog. It was a staggering revelation of previously unknown facts. Heartland Institute has been so far at the forefront of efforts to discredit climate change science and now the revelations about its efforts have been proven to be true. Most shocking thing was that a document called ‘2012 Fundraising Plan’ in where was described strategies how to insert doubt on teaching of climate change science particularly to the elementary and secondary school curricula, some documents also confirm on future projects such as a $100,000 campaign to discourage teachers from teaching science.

This is not the end of the stories. Heartland Institute has also received donations from many big corporations which have publicly supported climate change actions. But shamefully these corporations have supported sceptics behind the scenes to push forward corporate agenda to undermine the basics of climate change science. Along with tobacco giants Altria and Reynolds America, and drug firms GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer and Eli Lilley, major corporations have given over $1.1m in the past two years to the institute, and are planning to give another $705,000 this year (The Guardian, Thursday 16 February 2012). To me it’s the hypocrisy and double standards at its’ highest level.

I have written numerous times about the importance of social responsibility, social sustainability and the ethical business practices. Business organisations can no longer ignore their social and environmental obligations. Ignoring these values will put any big business organisations vulnerable to competitive threats. Leadership and commitment across the company to reduce negative environmental impacts cannot be based on some shaky beliefs and contradictions. Big corporations who are at the centre of this storm have allowed themselves funding a climate change sceptic institution; in response they probably have destroyed consumers' trust and corporate image which may take years to rebuild. They have shot themselves in the feet.

Many observers may suggest that it’s all now equalised with the revelations about the hacked emails from the Climatic Research Unit (CRU) at the University of East Anglia in the UK in 2010. In which there were evidences of preventing scientific data from being released, also Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2007 report was mistakenly claimed that all Himalayan glaciers could melt by 2030. Climate change denials got the perfect ammunition to [re]load their guns then. But, now we cannot perceive this analogy as tit-for-tat or the pressure and the burden have been equalised, therefore business should be as usual.

It’s far from it. These revelations from both sides of the camps have fundamentally changed the way proponents and the opponents of climate change will work in the future. Sceptics have particularly a big job on their hands to convince people in arguing with credible science that would prove that climate change is not happening. Otherwise, we don’t have to wait too long to see climate sceptics are getting the taste of their own medicine again.           

Damn it! Building Tipaimukh dam is not the way forward

Public pressure and disagreement on both sides of Bangladeshi and Indian borders are growing against India’s decision to build highly controversial Tipaimukh dam on the River Barak in Manipur district. Amid mounting international protests, India is still embroiled with its egoistic plan to go ahead with the venture. Burying head in the sand attitude by India is not something new. Wounds are still fresh from the Farakka Barrage fiasco since its construction began in 1961 and later was operational in 1975. As if Farakka Barrage wasn’t enough now we have the Tipaimukh dam. The pain keeps getting worst when another dam controversy goes on, Karl Marx once famously quoted ‘History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce’. Well, it looks like its happening again. However, questions arise why India is so stubborn to build another huge dam, which will undoubtedly affect downstream riparian Bangladesh.

Dig a little deeper then you will get the answers. The present socio-economic and political circumstances in the North-Eastern part [particularly Assam, Manipur & Nagaland] of India are affected by the rebellion of [so called] left-wing activists with over five decades of long history of insurgency. So far central government in Delhi couldn't manage to get a grip on the rise in rebellion by force. Offering 10% free electricity to local people from the Tipaimukh dam project is a dirty trick to calm the situation and along the line it is possible that Bangladesh is on the line of fire in Indian internal political manoeuvring. Maybe it is an over-simplistic view of the current situation. Whatever the real reasons are, it doesn’t make any sense to me why India is so desperate to build a dam, by knowing that the area is one of the most dangerous places on earth for earthquakes and landslides. Honestly, have the decision makers in Delhi gone crazy?

By ignoring all agreements and international laws and conventions on the customary international law of Trans-boundary Rivers and Lakes, India is up for its regional hegemony and dominance in the South Asia, a reckless and irresponsible behaviour only to be confronted if Bangladeshi government wishes to wage an international legal war. India is violating her international obligation under the expressed provisions of the 1996 thirty-year Ganges Water Sharing Treaty signed by the heads of state of Bangladesh and India valid until 2026. India is under an international obligation to respect the provisions of this Treaty in the light of the 1969 Vienna Convention on The Law of Treaties, as it was signed by the heads of state of Bangladesh and India (Khan, 2012).

I wonder why the Central Government in Delhi is not looking into an alternative way to produce electricity in the area. Investment in the renewable energy technologies in India is growing faster than anywhere in the world. India will exceed its Five Year Plan (2007-2012) target, installing 14.2 gigawatts (GW) of renewable compared to its target of 12.4 GW, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. The Manipur district has renewable resources in abundance - wind, sunlight and hilly landscapes are a perfect match to harness renewable energy.

However, having said that, the Manipur Renewable Energy Development Agency (MANIREDA) is at the forefront in the promotion of renewable energy technologies the Manipur district. MANIREDA is dedicated to achieve their targets to install many renewable energy technologies, for example providing 10,000 solar water heaters under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Energy Mission, setting up 200 KW solar power plant at Moreh, 165-gram panchayats were electrified and 5736 solar street lighting sets with a capacity of 444 Kilowatts were distributed (Green Technology News, 21 June, 2011), MANIREDA also aims to set up lights, cells, biogas plants and windmills in the region in pursuit of this goal. The heaters that have a capacity of 100 litre per day, cost around 25,000 each, 75 per cent of which will be provided by central and state subsidy (Panchabhutha, 15 July, 2011).

Renewable energy technologies are rapidly spreading all over the subcontinent. However, the idea of building a dam to produce electricity no longer fits ‘going green to save green’ in the 21st century's green movement and environmental consciousness; considering its adverse ecological impacts and the impacts on human health and their livelihoods. In the past, lack of appropriate Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) processes, immature international laws and agreements on trans-boundary water sharing and regional hegemony and dominance of powerful countries were the main reasons why many countries around the world got off the hook as no one was there to oppose them.

The alternative clean technologies are now available to produce electricity and where ever possible country like India should seriously consider endorsing an alternative route. India should be looking into larger scale deployment of renewable technologies to fill the electricity gap in the area. Building the hydroelectric Tipaimukh dam is definitely not the way forward.