Thousands run near Delhi for creating awareness on global warming

Thousands of people from different age-groups participated in a half-marathon aimed at creating awareness on the impact of global warming here today.

Noida(UP), Sept 9 : Thousands of people from different age-groups participated in a half-marathon aimed at creating awareness on the impact of global warming here today.

The marathon organised by the District Olympic Association saw over 2,000 participants from across the country running along a distance of 21.5 kilometres.

"This day is celebrated as Ozone day. Ozone layer is getting thinner day by day, which is causing global warming. People should do something to stop global warming," said Parwinder Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (NOIDA).

The "Run against Global Warming" has also flagged off the week-long activities to mark "World Ozone Day".

The winners of the marathon were given cash prizes amounting to over Rs. 500,000.

An alarm has gone about the global warming, with several reports projecting more heat-waves, floods, desertification and rising seas, because of rising temperatures linked to greenhouse gases, mainly from fossil fuels.

India, whose economy has grown by 8-9 percent a year in recent years, is one of the world's top polluters, contributing around four percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Experts say the Indian subcontinent will be one of the worst affected regions, with more frequent natural disasters of greater severity, diseases such as malaria and greater hunger.

Floods and droughts could become more common, diseases more rampant and crop yields lower as temperatures rise, they say.

ANI