El Nino reminder of fragile environment
Sun XiaohuaChina Daily  Updated: 2004-11-02 11:27

As an unwelcome guest, El Nino is returning this year, according to sophisticated scientific surveillance.

As an extreme climatic phenomenon, El Nino is a disruption of the ocean-atmospheric system in the tropical Pacific. Every few years, a vast stretch of the Pacific suddenly warms, then ill winds blow and the world's weather goes haywire.

"That naughty kid" has been sent by Mother Nature to punish human beings for their damage to the environment, some believe.

People have paid a high price for what they have done.

Take El Nino for example. During last visit of El Nino from 1997 to 1998, the global damage caused by floods, drought or storms reached US$20 billion.

Different from previous El Ninos, experts warn that China will likely suffer more than before.

Because of the warm winter that Chinese may undergo, preparations should be made for possible upcoming floods, drought and insect plagues.

The government needs to work out an all-around plan for protecting citizens' lives and property when natural disasters occur.

Among losses, special attention should be paid to farmers since their produce may easily be affected by weather and climate, floods, drought or insects. Any such events could easily turn their toils into nothing. Protective and compensatory measures should be worked out in advance.

After all, fighting against El Nino is just a temporary task, since it comes every four or five years and is only one type of extreme climatic phenomenon within the scope of climatic change. How to cope with such events, mainly seen in the gradual warming of the earth's atmosphere, deserves priority.

China has actively participated in the discussion and signing of the United Nations Frame Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol, committing itself to the fulfilment of its responsibilities to curb its emission of greenhouse gases.

China has also carried on research and development on producing more recyclable and clean energy, which does less damage to the environment.

Compared with other developed countries, China has other pressing tasks such as seeking a balance between emission control and economic growth, since it is still a developing country and economic development serves as its top mission.

Anyway, climate changes have a bearing on everybody living on this planet and need joint efforts from all countries, especially developed countries that hurt the environment more.

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