‘Organic farming best way to battle climate change’

“Global warming and climate change have started affecting the world and if we fail to take any action now, it would be sleep-walking to extinction,” said noted scientist and environmentalist Vandana Shiva.

Addressing the international economic convention on global warming and climate change organised by Hyderabad (Sind) National Collegiate Board, RD National College and WA Science College, Shiva stressed on the need for organic farming to combat climate change. According to Shiva, combination of biodiversity and organic farming was the best solution as around 40% of problems related to climate change were linked to fossil fertilisers.

“Organic farming helps in increasing resilience of soil and reduces greenhouse gases. With more organic substances going into the soil, there is increased storage of carbon there,” Shiva said. Extensive and mindless use of fossil fuel has resulted in destruction of recycling capacity of Earth, which is one major reason of carbon emission, she said.

She said drastic increase in atmospheric carbon levels post industrialisation is bound to have catastrophic effect on nature. “Rapid melting of ice caps has resulted in less reflection and more absorption of heat which is causing sea level rise. If we contribute towards combating climate change, it would ultimately be a contribution towards secured future of mankind,” Shiva added.

“Climate change is a result of war against atmosphere. People should know the limitations of the planet. We can no longer afford to abuse the atmosphere and renewable cycle of nature,” she said.