New Research Centre on Himalayan Glaciology established at Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun
Rajya Sabha
According to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Inter Governmental Panel on Climate Change, the Himalayan Glaciers are receding faster than in any part of the world and, if the present rate continues, the likelihood of them disappearing by the year 2035 and perhaps sooner is very high if the Earth keeps getting warmer at the current rate.
The National Action Plan on Climate Change includes a national mission on Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem with a view to, inter-alia, strengthen observation and monitoring of Himalayan glaciers. A new research centre on Himalayan Glaciology has been established at Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun. Government has also prepared guidelines and best practices for sustaining Himalayan eco-system and has shared it with all State Governments in the Himalayan region.
The emission reduction targets of developed countries including the US are currently being discussed in the Adhoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Negotiations on these issues are underway and the Parties are expected to reach an agreed outcome on the issues including such emission cuts in Copenhagen in December 2009.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Environment and Forests (independent charge) Shri Jairam Ramesh in a written reply to a question by Prof. P.J. Kurien in Rajya Sabha today.
KP
(Release ID :55295)