ABSTRACT
It is reported that by 2100, the ecosystems will be exposed to substantial increase in the level of atmospheric CO2, much higher than in the past 650,000 years. Global temperature will also rise, at least among the highest, as compared to those experienced in the past 740,000 years. The increase in the level of atmospheric CO2, is a consequence of unbridled development in industries, transport and energy sector. Stern review of economics of climate change has projected an increase of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) of Green House Gases (GHG) from 430 parts per million (ppm) now to 550 ppm by 2035, almost double the level of CO2e prior to the industrial revolution. This is expected to warm up the atmosphere by 2◦C. The poor countries will be hit hard by the climate change. Life and property in coastal towns and island nations will be endangered. As the size of global economy is likely to grow 3 to 4 times the present level by 2035, emissions at that time will have to be brought down by 25% below the current level. Stern review has estimated that if climate change is not addressed to and mitigation and adaptive measures are initiated worldwide, it would eventually damage economic growth and cause major disruption in economic and social activity. It will increase flood risk, reduce crop yield and cause water scarcity. Many organisms are sensitive to carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere that may lead to disappearance of 15-40% of species. Projected sea-level rise is very likely to result in significant loss to coastal ecosystems of South-East Asia. Stability of wet lands, tidal forests with mangroves and coral reefs around Asia might be increasingly threatened. The annual of cost of achieving cuts in emission at the rate of 1-3% to stabilize CO2e level at 500-550 ppm will be 1% of GDP, a level significant but manageable (Stern, 2006). Protection of the atmosphere and reduction of GHG emissions is an important environmental issue today. Some pro active measures have been taken by few countries to check the global warming. The Canadian House of Commons has become the first parliament in the world to pass a climate act (the Climate Change
Accountability Bill), which commits the country in reducing its GHG emissions from the present 80% to that of 1990 levels by 2050. New Zealand has pledged to become carbon-neutral.
