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Message from Our Chief Mentor
There was recently a news report about the dramatic proposal to ensure that Arctic sea ice cover be restored by pumping water on the surface of the ice each winter at a cost of about $500 billion. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has projected in its Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) Arctic sea ice vanishing completely by September, 2050, if no additional mitigation activities are undertaken. The AR5 also stated that over the last two decades the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have been losing mass, and Arctic sea ice and Northern Hemisphere spring snow cover have continued to decrease in extent. It has also been very well known for several decades now that zonal mean surface temperature warming at high latitudes exceeds global average temperature change. In fact, even in the AR4, the IPCC had estimated that the Arctic region was warming at twice the rate of the global average. While these observations and projections are of deep concern, another important factor that could lead to very rapid release of GHG emissions is the melting of the permafrost in the Northern Hemisphere. Permafrost temperatures have increased in most regions since the early 1980s, with a 3 degrees C warming in parts of Northern Alaska, 2 degrees C in parts of the Russian European North, with reduction in permafrost thickness and areal extent. The southern boundary of permafrost as a result is moving northward. This issue is very important because near-surface permafrost extent at high northern latitudes will be reduced as global mean surface temperature increases. The carbon and methane reservoirs in that region are very large, and further warming of the planet could lead to a large increase in emissions of GHGs in that region which would enhance the rate of climate change and its impacts beyond our abilities of adaptation. The scientific facts about climate change are often obscured to the extent that we believe that climate change only represents a smooth and steady increase in temperature. Such a view completely ignores the increase in frequency and intensity of extreme events and the enhancement of emissions that could occur in view of rapid warming of the permafrost region in the Northern Hemisphere. While any single event cannot on a scientific basis be attributed to human induced climate change, it can be stated with a high level of confidence that the massive rainfall which occurred recently in Los Angeles at the high levels of precipitation, which endangered the Oroville Dam in California, will increase in frequency and intensity. To this projected trend can be added the high risk associated with melting of the permafrost and high northern latitudes. The AR5 has projected that by the end of the 21st century the area of permafrost near the surface (upper 3.5m) is projected to decrease by 37% to 81%. The lower figure relates the RCP 2.6 scenario of the IPCC which provides very high assurance of limiting the temperature increase by the end of the century to 2 degrees C. In this context it is pertinent to raise the question whether the 2 degrees C limit set at Paris is really adequate for eliminating the serious risks associated with the impacts of climate change. Clearly, 37% reduction in the area of permafrost carries some serious threats of increased emissions, which human activities cannot directly control, and, of course, there is a threat of sea level rise even with a 2 degrees C increase, which poses serious risks to different parts of the world. While the IPCC is working on the Special Report for impacts associated with a 1.5 degrees C increase in temperature, human society should start looking at the growing scientific evidence which might help us to condition our minds to set a limit to temperature increase at a maximum of 1.5 degrees C by the year 2100. Dr. R. K. Pachauri Chief Mentor |
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Meeting with Governor, Jerry Brown
The Chief Mentor of the POP Movement and an associate Mr. Paraj Tyle met the Governor of California, Governor Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown Jr. The meeting took place in the Governor’s office in the State Capitol Building in Sacramento, California, and lasted for 45 minutes, during which the Governor discussed various issues related to climate change. He was informed about the POP Movement’s plans for launching an activity involving the Scouts of California as part of the POP Movement. The Governor appreciated this initiative and expressed his willingness in being present at the launch of the Movement when it takes place. He also provided a brief video message which is included here. |
Message from Governor, Jerry Brown
Message from Governor, Jerry Brown
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Meeting with Senior Managers of DNV-GL at Berkeley
The Chief Mentor, Dr. R.K. Pachauri addressed the senior managers of DNV-GL in a program that is organized annually at the Haas School of Business in the University of California, Berkeley. This is a unique program for sensitizing the top management of the company on issues of global relevance which has major implications for society and business at large. The program was instituted by Dr. Henrik Madsen as Group President and CEO of DNV-GL, and its value to the organization and to society has been the basis for continuing it as an annual activity.
The Chief Mentor, Dr. R.K. Pachauri addressed the senior managers of DNV-GL in a program that is organized annually at the Haas School of Business in the University of California, Berkeley. This is a unique program for sensitizing the top management of the company on issues of global relevance which has major implications for society and business at large. The program was instituted by Dr. Henrik Madsen as Group President and CEO of DNV-GL, and its value to the organization and to society has been the basis for continuing it as an annual activity.
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Nobel Peace Laureates' Summit in Bogota
The Chief Mentor, Dr. Pachauri was requested to organize a workshop for youth on climate change and its implications for global peace during the annual Nobel Peace Laureates’ Summit held this year at Bogota, Colombia. Among the youth who attended and took part in this workshop were approximately 120 Scouts from Mexico and Colombia. The panelists for this event included Ms. Laura Seydel, Mr. Alexander Likhotal, Ms. Olivia Ries. The panel was moderated by Dr. Pachauri. |
Source: Grupo Scout 32 San Miguel Arcangel
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MoU with Scouts, Inter-American Region
The POP Movement signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Director of the Scouts in the Americas, Señor Raul Sanchez in Panama City on February 4, 2017. Under the umbrella of this memorandum, it is expected that Scouts across North and South America would take part in the POP Movement in the coming months and years. |
Visit to BROAD Group, Changsha, China
The POP team consisting of the Chief Mentor, Dr. R.K. Pachauri; Senior Mentor, Dr. Ash Pachauri; and Youth Mentor, Ms. Prerna Shah visited the BROAD Township in Changsha during the period February 14 to 18. The POP Movement expresses its deep gratitude to Chairman Zhang Yue of the BROAD Group, who has offered to support and provide infrastructure facilities for the POP Movement, and as part of which, a team has now been established at the BROAD Township in Changsha consisting of Ms. Prerna Shah who has joined the POP Movement and other members of staff of the BROAD Group.
Initially this team will focus on expanding the activities of the POP Movement in the province of Hunan, and then move to other provinces of China and to other countries in Southeast Asia as well as Australia.
The POP team consisting of the Chief Mentor, Dr. R.K. Pachauri; Senior Mentor, Dr. Ash Pachauri; and Youth Mentor, Ms. Prerna Shah visited the BROAD Township in Changsha during the period February 14 to 18. The POP Movement expresses its deep gratitude to Chairman Zhang Yue of the BROAD Group, who has offered to support and provide infrastructure facilities for the POP Movement, and as part of which, a team has now been established at the BROAD Township in Changsha consisting of Ms. Prerna Shah who has joined the POP Movement and other members of staff of the BROAD Group.
Initially this team will focus on expanding the activities of the POP Movement in the province of Hunan, and then move to other provinces of China and to other countries in Southeast Asia as well as Australia.
Tour of BROAD Town
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Senior Mentor, Dr. Ash Pachauri and Youth Mentor, Ms. Prerna Shah who visited the BROAD Township for the first time, were given a tour of the BROAD headquarters in Changsha, the capital city of the Hunan province in South China. Senior Vice-President of BROAD, Ms. Juliet Jiang and Customer Manager, International Department of the BROAD Sustainable Buildings, Mr. Liu Ming (also known as Lauren) guided the tour of this 1 square kilometer, eco-village on February 15, 2017.
Famed as a hub for technological innovation, community integration and environmental preservation, BROAD Town is more than what meets the eye. The J-57, a 57 storey skyscraper built in a record 19 days is a prime example of modern architectural brilliance integrated with resource efficiency (less than 1% construction waste) and energy savings (i.e., five-fold higher energy efficiency than that of traditional buildings). Moving towards the west periphery is an 8-storey building called P-8. Teeming with a bunch of young, enthusiastic and entrepreneurial youth, it is a center for ideas, innovation and creativity. From an in-house remote controlled drone adorning one of the walls of P-8 to beautiful scarfs made of natural indigo drying in the art hall, it is a visual delight to be part of a myriad of activities undertaken in this energizing space. Further south is an area of 0.68 square kilometers reserved as an ecological protection zone and organic farm. With a culture of zero food waste, production of organic food, self- processed cereals, edible oils and strict classification of garbage into 8 categories, BROAD closely abides by its moral tenet of environmental preservation. A theatre, gym, yoga studio, boutique hotel and 44 statues of the most influential persons are scattered around the campus, making it a unique blend of environmental and social values. |
Meetings with Chairman, Zhang Yue
Chairman Zhang Yue is a remarkable and uniquely successful leader of business, an environmental activist and a dedicated professional totally focused on sustainability and dealing with climate change. The POP team had two very productive meetings with Chairman Zhang as well as a dinner meeting with him and his family. The Chief Mentor of the POP Movement also held a dinner meeting with Chairman Zhang in the company of some French diplomats. Chairman Zhang will provide facilities and support for the functioning of the POP Movement in his unique BROAD township in Changsha. It is difficult to do justice in describing the personality and qualities of a remarkable person like Chairman Zhang, but the link here, based on a BBC report about him, is perhaps worth glancing over by the readers of this newsletter.
Visit to Nanping Jinyuan Primary School
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It was an eye-opener and an enormous delight to visit the Nanping Jinyuan Primary School, which I am sure compares with the best in the world. What was particularly heartening is the fact that while being a Government school, it has excellent infrastructure and facilities, which are, undoubtedly, second to none. The major orientation of this school is towards sustainability and protection of the environment. The school leadership with support from the Mentor Association is working diligently and with remarkable vision in ensuring that this school sets a benchmark in sustainability in everything that it does. The POP team left the school with the challenge of cutting down energy consumption by 20% and bringing about a sustainable pattern of transportation for the students traveling to the school and back to their homes. Guidance will be provided by the POP Movement to the school leadership and students, by which the Nanping Jinyuan Primary School emerges as a model institution, and its achievement and activities will be highlighted and brought to the attention of others in the province of Hunan, inspiring them to similar actions and achievements.
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Environmental Anthem by Nanping Jinyuan Primary School Students
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Visit to Yuyan Lake, Changsha, China
Yuyan Lake is subjected to a substantial amount of pollution like other bodies of water in China and elsewhere in the world. The parents of school children decided to change this situation, and, by involving young students, have been able to use organic means to bring about a cleaning of the lake. The results are for anyone to see, because the cleanliness of the lake contrasts starkly with the stream which flows into and out of it. The POP team spent time at the lake in the company of students and their parents and some teachers, to appreciate the work done in this voluntary manner. |
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Lunch at Lai Xu Yang Dong
It was particularly refreshing for the POP team to have lunch at a vegetarian restaurant in Changsha, and the owners, a husband and wife combination, are passionately committed to vegetarianism for environmental reasons and concern for animals. The owner Mr. Wang Zhong Dong was so passionate about his cause that he recorded a video giving his views on why he and his wife established this restaurant, despite the fact that they hardly make money to keep it going. He advocates a vegetarian diet, and is concerned about increase in meat consumption in China. |
Mr. Wang Zhong Dong, Vegetarian Restaurant Owner
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Meetings with Mentor Association and
Mr. Zhong, EPA, Yuhua District
The Mentor Association, which was founded by Mr. Ai and Mr. Zhu, is a dedicated NGO, committed to environmental education in schools in Hunan and other parts of China. The leadership of this organization spent the entire day with the POP team, which also visited their offices apart from holding meetings in their company with SEE and visiting the primary school in the morning. It was good to see the close relationship and productive coordination between the Mentor Association and the local government. Mr. Zhong, Director General, Environmental Protection Agency, Yuhua District came to the office of the Mentor Association for a meeting with the POP team, and expressed interest and support for the POP Movement being promoted in the territory under his charge.
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Meetings with SEE
The Society for Entrepreneurs & Ecology (SEE) is a non-government, not-for-profit organization run by representatives of business leaders and managers. The POP team spent an entire afternoon with the President, two Vice Presidents, the Secretary General and other members of the board of this organization. Deep interest was evinced in SEE joining hands with the POP Movement, and discussions were initiated for signing an MOU between two organizations. Procedurally, this may take some time, because SEE is a country-wide entity and MOUs need to be authorized by the headquarters based in Beijing.
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Meeting with Central South University of Forestry and Technology
On the morning of Saturday, February the 18th the POP team visited the Central South University of Forestry and Technology, which has a rich and beautiful botanical garden and a student-led initiative for sustainability on campus. Considerable time was spent with the students working as part of the sustainability initiative, some members of the faculty and representatives of SEE who are active in this University. The institution has a strong focus on environmental protection and sustainability, and it is expected that they would launch the POP Movement in that University. |
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Prerna Shah's Role at the POP Movement
The POP Movement is delighted to welcome Ms. Prerna Shah, a bright young professional, who has been working in Singapore in recent years, and is now going to be based in the BROAD township in Changsha on behalf of the POP Movement. She would not only follow up various initiatives in Changsha and Hunan provinces, but also use the opportunity to develop activities of the POP Movement in Southeast Asia and Australia. Prerna’s brief bio is provided with this newsletter, and her association with this Movement will lead to a substantial increase in our activities in China, Southeast Asia and Australia. |
Prerna Shah, Youth Mentor
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POP Movement on An Interactive Map
Click the markers on the map to glance at the POP Movement's activities in different parts of the world