'Planet Earth' focus of Chidambaram ISC

Chennai, Jan 2 The-five day Indian Science Congress, which opens at Chidambaram, about 250 km from here, tomorrow will discuss, among other things, the most important issue confronting the humankind- 'Planet Earth,' how human activity is damaging it and what measures all stakeholders can take to stop this.

With the International Government Panel on Climate Change predicting a five degree rise in global temperatures by the end of the 21st century, the scientific community is deeply concerned over the consequent threat of increased floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, droughts and landslides.

This year is the International Year of Planet Earth, and the ISC, being attended by over 4,000 scientists from India and abroad, will evolve recommendations containing long-range solutions addressed to the common man, politicians, policymakers and implementers, the General President of this year's ISC, Prof Harsh Gupta told UNI