Climate change is predicted to raise global temperature by 2*C in few decades, if not earlier, unless world leaders take drastic action, to neutralise carbon discharge not later than 2050. So far only Britain has promised to meet this target. But many experts believe it is unachievable for a major economy like ours.
Most worrying aspect is rise of sea level by five to seven feet, mainly due to melting of ice at both poles. This may lead to submergence of many low lying islands and that include Maldives, Andaman and Nicobar in Indian Ocean, Fiji, Vanuatu, Tonga and many more in the South Pacific, as well as low lying countries like Bangladesh and Netherland.
While on holidays, I like to read local papers, especially in English speaking islands of Malta, Gozo and Cyprus, as their newspapers are so much more interesting to read. One article that caught my imagination was how to negate rise of sea level and save hundreds of islands from disappearing from the world map.
One solution proposed in the article was to bring to life some of inland seas that have lost most of their water, through evaporation and diverting river waters for agricultural purpose, thus depriving these inland seas and lakes of their natural source of water that would keep them healthy.
One prime example is “Dead Sea” bordering West Bank and Jordan, has lost 60% of water over a century. The water is so salty that it is barren of sea life and people can float on water if they are brave enough to enter such a salty sea.
Another one is Caspian Sea where waters from river Volga were diverted for agriculture during Soviet era, sea losing 25% of surface water. Besides refilling these inland seas, it was also suggested to build vast inland seas in countries with vast land area but low density of human population.
Countries, areas named were Australia, Saudi Arabia, Nevada, Sahara and Kalahari deserts and few more, with detail maps, costs and effect it would have on the sea level. These measures could drain oceans of trillions of gallons, thus negating climate change, even lowering sea level if beneficial.
Cost at the time was estimated between $75 and $100 billion, not prohibitive compared to what we spend collectively on armament but would pose numerous obstacles, political, cultural, terrain and finance, could only be carried out under UN mandate.
Bhupendra M. Gandhi
By email
