'Kyoto Protocol'

There were serious hurdles on the way to bringing the agreement into effect as it needed ratification by 55 percent of emissions from developed countries. Developed nations took refuge to economic issues while the US played the stand off role. With Russia's ratification last year, the figure rose to 61 percent making it easier for a possible solution.

Why the protocol is necessary? Scientists found that polar bears are becoming thinner due to regression of sea ice from which the bears hunt. Sixty-four percent of Chinese glaciers may soon become history if the present trend continues. Evidence of green grass in Antarctica is yet another worry. The polar icecap of the Arctic Ocean is melting in such a speed that commercial vessels can obtain this route in near future. Long running drought in Afghanistan may be an outcome of the climate change. These are only few examples while scientists predict that many places will be under water due to global warming and few places will face consistent drought. Due to emission of huge carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the earth was warmed by 0.6 degree in the past century and the consequences are evident everywhere - glaciers are melting, animals on the move and drought spreading.

Well, Kyoto cannot stop climate change rather it is the first step that would remain in effect up to 2012. Hypothetically, if all nations agree to cut emission, the result would probably be 1 percent of emission below the 1990 level by 2012. Scientists contemplate that in order to avert any possible climatic disaster; developed countries need to cut emissions by 60 percent by 2050. A challenging task indeed. Without the US, Kyoto's nations account for only 32 percent of global emission. The most recent international climate change summit in Argentina ended in frustration when the US declined to discuss the post-Kyoto consequences and eventually created a stalemate situation. Poorer nations do not have any significant role to play as it is the rich developed nations who emit gases through industrialisation.

What will happen now? It depends on political will of the rich developed nations. Post Kyoto rules must be decided by 2007 while the US still remains in its stand-off position.

We all feel that the global climate is gradually changing but we are hardly doing anything to stop these changes -- Kyoto is only the beginning of a protracted struggle.