Not much being done to tap seas, oceans for energy: Pachauri

Panaji, Jan 3 (IANS) The seas and oceans should be tapped to produce energy, scientist R.K. Pachauri Thursday advised marine scientists, adding that not much was being done in this regard.

“It is disappointing that not enough is being done (research) to produce energy from the oceans. I would like to ask you to focus on this area,” Pachuari said, speaking at a function at the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) located here.

Pachauri said that there was immense potential in tapping energy from wave, currents, thermal, tidal, salinity gradient and other forms, adding that “even if it is not successful, it is important that some research be done”.

He also said that coastal cities, especially those in developing countries had the biggest challenge before them in form of climate change and that something needed to be done to arrest the same.

“95 percent of fatalities as a result of extreme weather conditions take place in developing countries, whereas developed countries account for just 5 percent of fatalities,” Pachauri said.

Illustrating, he said that when the cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar recently, over 130,000 people died, but at the same time, when a much worse storm hit the eastern coast of US, only 250 people were killed, despite the colossal damage to property.

Cities in the developing world like Dhaka, Kolkata and Shanghai he said, had “much to lose” as a result of climate change.

IANS 2013-01-03 23:46:10