As part of an environment awareness program, a student’s climate change sensitisation, action and outreach exposition, “The Heat is on - Together Let’s Kool It”, was held at the Seminary of Our Lady recently with the technical support of Science and Technology Council and Goa Energy Development Agency.

The aim of the seminar was to bring about multitude of awareness, concern and consciousness on the ill-effects, impacts and consequences of global warming.

Chief Guest, rector of the Seminary, Fr Tony Salema welcomed the delegates. He stressed on the need to adopt simple but effective measures towards combating climate variations. He advised the seminarians to switch off gadgets and close taps when not in use. The rain water harvesting program adopted in the seminary coupled with greening of campus was a vital initiative in the present environmental crises.

Chief scientist, Dr Joseph Rauto De Souza GEDA engineer, and Ms Anupa Redkar were guest speakers on the occasion. The program was coordinated by Fr Lawrence Mascarenhas and Fr Avito Almedia.

Around 100 future pastors were imbibed with the knowledge of the importance of environment and respect for nature as also the trends of climate change and its impacts. The seminar was designed at generating a high degree of awareness on climate, its prospects so as to commission adequate knowledge on the impacts of climate change and effectiveness of harnessing green energy towards replenishing the finite fossil fuels.

In his presentation Dr Joseph impressed upon the significant amounts of the greenhouse gases - methane, ozone, water vapour, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide – that trap infrared radiation causing the earth's surface to warm. These changes potentially have a wide-ranging effect on the natural environment as well as on human societies and economies. These variations have resulted in change in climatic pattern, inconsistent rains, rise in sea level, floods, droughts, desertification, variations in temperature, melting of ice caps, submergence of coastline and so forth. Dr Joseph further stated that this has caused a serious impact on availability of adequate water, energy sources, food and shelter, resulting in malnutrition and increase risks on human health, impact on biodiversity and extinction of species, etc. However, despite earnest efforts put forth in understanding the climate system and changes, the projections of climate change and its impacts are still, with large reservations, predominantly at the provincial and local levels.

Thus, he further sought support from the student community and teachers at large for the noble mission and advised the delegates that they could play a significant role in making a difference, beginning at school, home and surrounding, by propagating “use less - waste less” concept. He further stressed on the need to plant and nurture trees, as they are carbon dioxide sinks, the need for a shift from paper to e-mails so as to minimise paper usage, and in order to reduce usage of fossil fuel he advised that a swing from mechanical transport system to the cycle system should be adopted. The presentation also advocated the promotion zero waste concept, use resources judiciously.

Ms Anupa Redkar stressed upon the need of conserving conventional energy and opting of renewable resources. She demonstrated the operation and principles of the working of the solar gadgets and the benefits from the said usage. She said that the usage of solar water heaters had been fairly satisfactory, especially in commercial and domestic sectors. After the technical session, a tree planting drive was undertaken in the seminary, towards cutting down carbon dioxide emissions.

Bro, Mathew Almeida and Melito D’Costa compared the program, whilst Fr Lawrence Mascarenhas proposed the vote of thanks.