Need for collective scientific efforts to combat climate change: Manmohan Singh

HYDERABAD - The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on Tuesday, called for collective scientific efforts to combat global challenges, including climate change.

Addressing a conclave of scientists here, Dr. Singh said developing countries lack a well organised system besides facing problems of shortages of skilled manpower and appropriate research facilities to cater to the needs of modern day challenges.

“The challenges that developing countries face are similar, whether it is in combating tropical diseases, transforming traditional agriculture, or predicting and tackling natural disasters. These problems of under-development do not receive adequate attention in the advanced industrialized countries. Nor should we expect others to solve our problems for us,” he added.

“We have seen how the path of development followed by the industrialized countries has the potential to threaten our existence and way of life. I have therefore wondered whether there is an alternative and more sustainable way of developing our societies and economies without injuring and destroying the natural bounty of Mother Earth,” he said.

“If we can find such a path - that does not unduly constrain our ability to deal effectively and quickly with basic challenges of development - then we should follow it in our enlightened self-interest,” he added.

He appealed to the advanced scientific community to join hands with the developing world by pooling together the resources and wisdom to fight transnational problems like diseases, hunger, poverty and the adverse impact of global warming.

Dr. Singh said that in the absence of technology transfer from the advanced countries, the developing nations have to renew their determined efforts to find solutions relevant to their needs and circumstances.

To strengthen the institutional framework in science and technology, Dr Singh said: “India has offered to strengthen three institutions in Africa engaged in research activities, which have cross-cutting impact across the African continent.

“These initiatives can be and should be expanded and multiplied across the developing world. I hope that your Academy can be the instrument to catalyse such partnerships not only between institutions but also between the scientific establishments of the developing world. India is ready to do more in this direction,” he added.

He further said India has been a strong advocate of South-South Cooperation on challenges facing developing world. The India Brazil South Africa Forum provides a unique framework of cooperation among three major democracies from three different continents.

“Under the IBSA framework, there has been a series of collaborative activities in science and technology including in ocean research, space sciences, biotechnology, agriculture, health, climate change, nano-technology and cooperation in the Antarctica,” he added. (ANI)