Abstract of the Seminar   (Prepared by Pramod Gopinath)

The nature of our future depends on the future of nature.

Climate change is a broad and vulnerable issue at the present moment.  ï¿½It was not a big problem three decades ago.Considering it on a wider spectrum, there are lots of socio, economic and political issues behind it.

Apart from all, we, the chemistry students and teachers of NSS Hindu College, Changanacherry must play a significant role  ï¿½in issues like CO₂ emission and mitigation, waste management and reconsumption, generation of renewable and non-conventional energy etc.All these are inter-related for the sustainability of our beloved green planet in future.

We are lucky to get two  ï¿½scholars of international renown to talk on this matter.

The  ï¿½first presentation Empirical Analysis on Carbon Strategy in Air Transport Industry was by  ï¿½Dr.Risa Morimoto,Professor of Strategy and Research Assistant of Environmental Management,Toulouse Business School, Lascrosses Toulouse, France.

Even if, the contribution of CO₂  ï¿½emission associated with the aviation industry is only 2%, airlines are currently facing huge pressure to reduce their environmental impacts, especially on climate change.Today, many airlines practice sustainability initiatives and publish their environmental performance in the form of sustainability reports.Additionally,growing numbers of airlines are offering their passengers carbon offset programs, which enables passengers voluntarily offset CO₂ emission generated by their trips.The popularity of carbon offset schemes is not only seen in developed countries, but also increasingly in developing countries.Therefore, this lecture discusses challenges and opportunities for developing countries, like India, in terms of carbon strategies, with the special emphasis given to carbon offsetting.

The second presentation  ï¿½Potential Impacts of Climate Change was by  ï¿½Dr.Jason S.Ogola,Professor and Dean, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change considers climate change to be due to human activities that alter the composition of the global atmosphere as observed over a period of time.  ï¿½It results from increased emissions and subsequent concentration in the atmosphere of CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, O₃ and CFCs that trap heat energy from the surface of the earth.These gases are released into the atmosphere as a result of fossil fuel use, agricultural activities, deforestation and wild fires.The net result of this is the greenhouse gas effect that leads to global warming and sea level rise.The overall impact of this includes extreme weather patterns, resulting in drought, flooding, frequent cyclones, typhoons, hurricanes and heat waves that are being experienced today in many parts of the world.