Climate change needs urgent action: Minister

Palampur, Jun 2 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Irrigation and Public Health Minister Ravinder Singh Ravi has said there was an urgent need that people come forward with measures to contain the long-standing environmental crises before it ''gets too late''.

''The world has a fever and it is rising and before it gets too late we should start implementing the prescribed medication,'' he said in his concluding remarks on the three-day tenth World Conference on Environment Management organised by the World Environment Foundation here yesterday.

He said many birds in HP have died because of the mushrooming growth of mobile towers and electricity wires. ''Vulture and special species of sparrow are already on the verge of extinction in the state.'' It is the need of the hour we all should do something in this regard.'' ''We need discussion at higher levels so that some concrete steps would be taken to tackle environmental problem,'' he said, adding these man-made hazards could cost us heavily.

Mr Ravi, who was also the chief guest at the conference, assured the gathering to take up the issue with the governmemt.

World Conference of Corporate Governance and World Environment Foundation (UK) president Madhav Mehra said, '' Investment should be focused on eco-tourism , hydro power, organic training, solar energy and wind power.

Prof John D Daniel, University of Miami, Florida, US, however, stressed the need for contingency plans to contain environmental crisis. Quoting example of Venice-like sea barriers to protect coastal cities, he said contingency plans and adaptive strategies must be adopted by all nations to curb the global crisis in an efficient manner.

Hailing Prof Daniel's views, former Sweden Prime Minister and Chirman of the conference Ola Ullstem said,'' Man-made climate change is unequivocal and demands urgent action.'' He said emissions needed to be reduced at least 50 per cent otherwise by the next century, the temperature would rise to 3 to 4 degrees Celsius, which was enough to melt more glaciers and invite more floods Rangan Datta Scientific Advisor PMO and Dr Usha Dar were also present at the conference.

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