A Sacred River Endangered by Global Warming

One of Hinduism's most revered traditions is a trip to the Ganges River. But the sacred river may vanish as the Himalayan source, the Gangotri glaciers, melt with rising temperatures. With the current rates of melting, the glaciers could vanish by 2030 – and scientists predict that, in the long term, the Ganges will become a seasonal river that relies on monsoon rains. An immediate effect of the warming trend is declining water supplies. More than 500 million people depend on the river for water. However, the Indian government joined the US during the Group of 8 summit meeting, refusing to support limits on greenhouse-gas emissions. India does not agree with the US completely though: Like China, India argues that the wealthiest nations, such as the US and those in Europe, should set the lead in reducing emissions, while giving developing nations a chance to catch up with economic development and the accumulation of cars and wealth. Environmentalists call such reasoning shortsighted and urge nations to demonstrate global leadership by moving quickly on reductions, setting examples for all. – YaleGlobal