Ooty: Research is underway to produce “Climate smart shirts” to reduce the need for air-conditioners, said Dr E. Vivekanandan, former principal scientist, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute(CMFRI).
Stating that one has to see the opportunities in the obstacles, he said that climate change has already become an emerging science.
Calling upon innovative minds to find avenues to create job opportunities in the backdrop of climate change impact, he said that Japan has already produced ‘climate smart shirts’.
In India some private concerns were engaged in producing such shirts, he said. “Constituents in cotton and other fabrics are modified in a suitable way to produce this shirt to be worn at different temperature in the vicinity which will help manage the impacts rising temperature and reduce the need of air-conditioning, ‘“ he noted.
Dr P. Nammalvar, who is also a former principal scientist at CMFRI, said, global warming poses more threat to water resources, aquatic life and bio-diversity. Extremities of weather pattern will further adversely affect the farming and water needs. “The problems are there. Now, the challenge is to evolve mechanisms to combat them or manage them. The best way is to respect and abide by the rules of nature as nature will protect all forms of life on earth,” he noted.
Dr M. Arumugam, UGC emeritus fellow, University of Madras, in his address appealed for concerted efforts and involvement of local communities, local bodies, NGO’s, students, concerned government departments and policy makers in developing area-specific base line date on climate change to go in for corrective or adaptive or managing measures.
