(a) whether temperature of earth and atmosphere is increasing rapidly due to the fast growing air traffic world over as per the opinion of environmentalists;
(b) if so, whether the hazard of global warming is taking alarming shape as a result thereof;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the concrete measures taken / being taken by the Government in this direction?
MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI T.R. BAALU)
(a), (b), (c) & (d) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a), (b), (c) & (d) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 170 FOR REPLY ON 3.3.2003 RAISED BY SHRI BHERULAL MEENA AND SHRI RAM RAGHUNATH CHAUDHARY REGARDING `GLOBAL WARMING DUE TO INCREASED AIR TRAFFIC`
(a) to (d) : Air traffic is one of the sources of greenhouse gases contributing to global warming. Global warming due to air traffic is projected to increase slightly over the next fifty years as per the estimates of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
According to the estimates of IPCC, the Earth`s surface temperature has risen between 0.4 and 0.8 degree centigrade and the world-wide measurements of sea level show a rise of 0.1 to 0.2 metres over the last century. It has also been projected that globally averaged surface temperature would rise between 1.4 and 5.8 degree centigrade and the global mean sea level may rise between 0.09 and 0.88 metres over the next century.
The steps taken by the Government to address green house gas emissions include measures relating to energy efficiency, energy conservation, power sector reforms, renewable energy programmes, fuel switching to cleaner energy, afforestation and conservation of forests, efficient utilization of coal, reduction of gas flaring, installation of heat recovery system in oil and power sector, standardization of fuel efficient irrigation pump sets and better cultivar practices.