Human life is in danger – acute danger – from continuous global warming due to ever increasing levels of greenhouse gas emissions. Having over exploited earth’s resources, man has seriously disturbed the ecological balance. The list of endangered species is on the increase. Now, perhaps, time has come when man himself is to be included in this list.

This global warming is happening because of continuously increasing use of hydro-carbon fuels which produce carbon dioxide (CO2). This is resulting in increase of temperature on the globe. This is finally causing melting of icebergs, destruction of glaciers and forests and lowering agricultural yields. If we fail to take urgent corrective measures, we may have to face floods, draughts, drying of water resources and wars for water and ultimate death and destruction.

Therefore there is an urgent need to arrest greenhouse gas emissions. United Nations and other organisations have given a list of major countries which are contributing to CO2 emissions. The United States leads in this dubious distinction with 5.9 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually. It is a nation with 300 million population which consumes about one fourth of the world’s energy and also is responsible for 25 per cent emissions. It is the largest consumer of goods and utiliser of resources. American life presents the worst example of extravagance, luxuries and wasteful consumption and misuse of resources.

Second number goes to China (4.7 bn tonnes); third is Russia (1.7 bn tonnes); fourth Japan (1.3 bn tonnes) and then India (1.1 bn tonnes).

This problem of global warming was debated, though in a low key, by the G8 countries (US, Japan, Germany, UK, France, Italy, Canada and Russia) when they recently met in Heiligendamme, Germany.

The largest polluter of earth US, which is up to now refusing to sign Kyoto Protocol on climate change, was uncommitted in the beginning. But other nations especially Germany insisted and the G8 nations have resolved, without any definite timeframe, that they would reduce their CO2 emissions. This vague assurance is far from being satisfactory.

These leading industrial nations, which have been in the forefront of industrial production, have contributed largely to emissions. Therefore they cannot shirk their responsibility towards safeguarding the interest of the whole humanity.

In this regard a bizarre situation is emerging. Especially the US is insisting that the two developing countries China (annual CO2 emissions 4.7 bn tonnes) and India (1.1 bn tonnes) should also bring down their emissions. But China with 132 crore people and India with 110 crore population account for more than one third of earth’s population. They say that they cannot compromise their development and are not in a position to bring down emissions.

This problem of warming to death has assumed dangerous proportions as it has put to risk the future of human life itself. Therefore urgent measures are the need of the hour. Alternate and renewable sources of energy which ensure less emissions should be found out. Money should be spent on research in this field. Rich nations of the west which have been the greatest polluters should provide more money for research. Greatest responsibility lies on America which spends one fifth of its budget on defence (which includes offence in Iraq and elsewhere). Last year the world spent $1100 billion on defence. It must seriously think about spending about 3 to 5 per cent of this amount on developing technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. There is no other way out. Reduce emissions or be ready for warming to death.