We are introducing a new column on some of the luminaries residing in our colony, some who we know and some we don’t. This column will have an interview/tete-a-tete, telephonic conversation or a digital interaction. Today, I have the privilege of speaking with Dr. Malti Goel who resides in S Block. Dr. Malti Goel is founder of the Climate Change Research Society. She is Ph.D Physics, IIT, Delhi; D.I.I.T. Post Graduate Diploma in Solid State Physics, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, in First Position with Distinction; M.Sc Degree in Physics, Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani, in First class first with Distinction. Dr Malti Goel is a very accomplished person having got trainings in Japan, Israel and UK in many important fields of coping with global warming, management of energy utilization and technology change among others. She has held a number of important national and international assignments and represented the country as Vice Chairperson in the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum.
Q. Please tell us what inspired you to become a climate change expert?
A. I would say, the work assigned to me made me get involved with atmospheric science, climate change mapping and climate change mitigation.
2. How has climate change affect extreme weather patterns, such as floods, heatwaves, and storms, in recent years?
A. Climate change occurred as a consequence of anthropogenic activities, industrialisation, use of coal in meeting energy needs and others like deforestation etc. Increased emission of CO2 and its accumulation in the atmosphere is mainly responsible for Global warming. With rising temperature the climate change impacts are observed, becoming changes in earth’s dynamic systems.
3. What are the most effective strategies that governments and communities can adopt to mitigate the impact of climate change?
A. India has been a partner country in the International protocols on climate change. We are at the cross-roads. Use of energy for meeting our basic needs and reduction of CO2 simultaneously is our dilemma. Government has the largest solar energy program and has set a target for the use of renewable energy sources as a strategy. Solar energy today is 87 GW and wind 47GW. Almost one third of total power is met by Renewable energy capacity.
4. How can individuals reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to slowing down global warming on a personal level?
A. Adoption of an India led LiFE mission as a global movement suggests what one can do. It is a laudable mission for individuals. Under the leadership of our PM, this mission has been taken forward in the international meeting on climate change in 26th COP held in Glasgow. MoEFCC has launched the app, MERI LiFE and has given focus on 75 individual actions to follow in 7 categories.
