Role of Methane in Global Warming

Although the proportion of CH₄in the atmosphere is very low compared to CO₂, the relative contribution of CH₄to global warming is high due to the high radiative forcing contributed by this gas. The global atmospheric concentration of methane reached 1774 ppb in 2005 compared to 1732 ppb in the early 1990s and only 715 ppb in the pre-industrial era (figure). This increase in atmospheric concentration of CH₄is responsible for radiative forcing of +0.48 ± 0.05 W m^–2which is second only to that contributed by CO₂due to CH₄having approximately 25 times higher global warming potential (GWP) compared to CO₂. Therefore, reduction in CH₄emission is more effective and probably an easier strategy than reducing CO2emission.

Figure: Trend in the increase in atmospheric concentration of CH₄ over the last 10,000 years and since 1750 (inset) with corresponding radiative forcing. Source: IPPC (2007)

P.S. References available on request.

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Food Safety Regulation in Nepal

by Yadav Sharma Bajagai 1 Introduction Being member of different international organizations, Nepal has many food safety related obligations to comply with rules and regulations of those organizations. Food safety related issues started to become matter of increased concern and one of the priority areas of the government after the country has become member of the world trade organization (WTO) in 2004. Being a developing country, food chains are generally long in developing countries like Nepal as compared to those in developed countries due to poor infrastructure which makes the food more vulnerable to be contaminated with harmful agents (microorganism and chemicals). In addition, infrastructures related to technical regulation, conformity assessment and safety of food are still in developing phase which requires more focus and investment for better functioning. Similarly, Inspections and regulation of food related business are challenging and difficult due

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by Yadav Sharma Bajagai "Food Security" is one of major elements of development and poverty alleviation and has been the goal of many international and national public organizations. The issue is so important that according to the state of food insecurity in the world 2012 published by FAO around 870 million people (out of which 852 million from developing countries) are estimated to have been undernourished in the period 2010-12. Although the phrase "Food Security" is being used widely, the definition and concept of food security is elusive and being evolved and expanded over time.

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