Smriti, a class 4 student from a Mangaluru school, was puzzled to know that even the Earth has fever, upon entering the Science Express Climate Action Special train stationed at Mangaluru Junction Railway Station on Friday.
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The resource person in-charge of the coach explained that due to unregulated human activities resulting in greenhouse gas emission, the temperature on the Earth is constantly on the rise.
Impact
The next coach had information about the impact of climate change in India and why the country should be concerned about it.
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She was told there are steep variations in monsoon and increase in temperature directly impacting agriculture, water, forests, biodiversity and human health. The next two coaches had information on how one has to adapt to climate changes, though there are efforts to mitigate them.
Miniature display
There was a miniature display of road space occupied by different modes of transport; while pedestrians occupied a meagre space, cars occupied the largest space with bicycles and public transport coming in between. Children were coaxed to go either for non-motorised transport or public transport.
Going back to earlier practices of using earthen utensils, utilising locally available foodgrains, conserving as much water as possible, using energy efficient technologies, exploiting clean sources of energy, etc., are some of the ways of mitigating climate change, she was told.
Coach 8 listed out over a 100 positive action ideas that can reduce carbon footprints thereby promoting sustainability.
Coaches 9 and 10 had an exhibition by the Department of Biotechnology on bio-resources and nature conservation, while Coach 11 had an exhibition by National Innovation Foundation showcasing select innovations by common people. One of the displays there included a cost-effective milking machine by Raghava Gowda of Dakshina Kannada, which can be operated either by hand or by power.
Initiative
Science Express Climate Change Special Train will remain at Mangaluru Junction till March 28 and is open to general public, students, teachers and children between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. It has been travelling across India for seven years.
The train has so far covered over 1.22 lakh km receiving more than 1.33 crore visitors at its 391 halts in 1,404 days.
It has now been redesigned on the theme “Climate Change” and from October 15, 2015, it is running as “Science Express – Climate Action Special (SECAS)”.
It is a unique collaborative initiative of the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Ministry of Railway.
With a mission
Science Express Climate Action Special Train remains stationed at Mangaluru Junction Railway Station till Monday
It is open between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. and entry is free
Of the 16 air-conditioned coaches, eight are dedicated to climate change
One each coach is dedicated to children and hands-on-laboratory
The train’s next call is Ashokapuram in Mysuru, between March 30 and April 2