• Indian economy is poised to grow at 8 per cent annually. To fuel this gro- wth India needs to triple its electric power generation in the next 25 years.

• India is projected to be among world’s top three car markets; one in five Indians will own a car by 2040 as against one in 100 today. India will then account for 14 per cent of global oil consumption.

• Oil wells will run dry in 50 years. Crude oil price is expected to peak at around $ 100 a barrel in 1-2 years.

— News reports

• Global warming due to emissions of carbon dioxide and other industrial gases is increasing the temperature of the planet. If uncontrolled, CO2 concentration will reach over 550 parts per million (ppm) and this will warm the planet by 3 degree centigrade and above. Floods, droughts, sea level rise, tropical storms and melting of polar ice are the consequences. Some cities and large areas of countries will be submerged. About 200 million people may become refugees of global warming.

— Stern Report

What can India do? The easiest option is to do nothing, continue to rely on coal and oil and hope that global warming doesn’t hurt. Then, we should be prepared for all the social and economic consequences if our hopes are shattered. In addition to human costs, the country’s growth rate may also come down by about 2-3 per cent.

... contd.