Environments and People - Dragons and Tigers: A Geography of South, East and Southeast Asia - page 41

warmest decade and 1998 the warmest year thus far. The
2000s are predicted to shatter previous global warming
records. The global average surface temperature is pro-
jected to rise from 34.5

Green Building Council, with more than 500 representa-
tives throughout the country , is promoting the construc-
tion of “green buildings.” These structures are energy
efficient, use less water, and generate less waste. How-
ever, as of 2009, only 400 had been built, mostly in
Mumbai.
Malaysia is one of the most active countries in
terms of developing green technology . Aware that the
airline industry is responsible for at least two percent of
carbon emissions, Malaysian Airlines is committed to
flying more direct routes (with fewer fuel-consuming
stops and starts) at more economical speeds. The govern-
ment also has an intensive and wide-ranging reforestation
program.

C)
from 1990 to 2100. Humidity and precipitation will also
increase. The real and potential consequences of climate
change are dire.
Climate-related disasters are often perceived as natu-
ral events, but as we now know , humans have had a
heavy hand in their creation. Such disasters include
those caused by heat waves or cold snaps, droughts,
floods, landslides, avalanches, wildfires, hurricanes, cy-
clones, typhoons, tornadoes, or winter storms. Warming
sea temperatures can generate stronger storms.
Another serious effect of global warming is the rise
of sea levels that threaten low-lying areas, especially dur-
ing storm events. Consider the fact that about 17 million
Bangladeshis live less than 3.05 feet (1 m) above sea
level. Flooding is a regular occurrence in the wet mon-
soon, but floodwater levels are getting higher and affect-
ing more land area. Most of the islands of the Maldives lie
even lower. There, the government is building sea walls
and planting mangroves to quell the surging water.
Moreover, of the 33 cities projected to have at least 8
millionresidents by 2015, some 21, such as Bangkok and
Mumbai, have coastal or near-coastal locations and
therefore will have to contend with the impacts of rising
sea levels. Many of these cities, such as Bangkok, Mumbai,
and Manila, are in Asia. IPCC predictions of rising sea
levels for the twenty-first century range from a low of 7
to 15 inches (18-38 cm) to a high of 10 to 23 inches
(26-59 cm).

to 42.4 Farenheit (1.4 -5.8

THE HUMAN FACTOR
Quality of life in various climate zones with their associ-
ated environmental shortcomings depends very much on
what coping mechanisms are available. Flood control
works, irrigation systems, water storage facilities,
healthy work animals or functional machinery , electric-
ity , sealed (paved) roads, insurance against crop loss, and
emergency food and medical supplies are only a few .
Millions of people in Asia have minimal to no means
to cope with disaster. An erratic monsoon, a drought, a
tropical cyclone, or a lengthy cold spell can mean ruina-
tion and total despair for those living on the edge of sur-
vival. Here is an example. In 1998, rains and pests
destroyed the crops in a small area in southeastern India.
Farmers unknowingly had purchased illegally diluted
fertilizers and pesticides. Deeply in debt and sensing
nothing but hopelessness, hundreds of farmers ingested
their remaining chemicals. They believed their deaths
would bring a government stipend to their wives,
thereby saving their land from seizure by the moneylend-
ers. Government payment was sporadic and insufficient,
and many women and their children are now landless
and destitute.
India experienced a 23 percent shortfall of rain dur-
ing the 2009 four-month monsoon season. As a result,
rice, sugar cane, and groundnut (peanuts) crop yields are
down. These not only are export crops but also are im-
portant in national dietary regimens. Further, reservoirs
have not collected enough water for irrigation through-
out the dry season.
People will not necessarily starve, because the gov-
ernment will distribute food from its substantial food
stores. However, this will not be simple because at least
half of India' s 600,000 villages are not even accessible by

GLOOM AND DOOM?
Does all this scary data mean that we have nothing to look
forward to but devastation and disaster? Fortunately ,
steps are being taken by several governments to slow
global warming and mitigate its effects. For instance, un-
der what are known as carbon offset programs , govern-
ments agree to invest in actions and projects that will
reduce or even eliminate greenhouse gas emissions.
These programs might include the closing of coal-fired
energy plants, harvesting energy from wind machines and
solar panels, recycling trash, producing “smart” vehicles,
or giving cattle garlic or other natural substances to re-
duce their flatulence.
Positive steps are also being taken in Asian coun-
tries. For example, Japan, Taiwan, and China are now the
world' s leading producers of solar panels. The Indian