Home ›› 07 Dec 2021 ›› Opinion
Since our ultimate aim is to reduce carbon emissions globally, a large portion of individuals can undertake the solutions on their own for climate change. These personal level attempts or solutions can be promoted through different levels of initiatives at home and outside.
The initiatives can be like community campaigns, corporate strategy development, individual awareness increases etc. We believe that community movement is a powerful process for a change of any global interest. The movement might be started on a small scale or in any community. Still, the process may become very impactful on global awareness even if it can reduce global carbon emissions. In the case of the recent climate conference in Glasgow (COP26), we have seen many large processions by climate activists in many countries.
However, apart from the world leaders' failure and success, a large portion of the world population (e.g., climate activists) have already been exposed to their powerful movement to motivate world leaders. That means our roles in day-to-day activities can have very significant outcomes to mitigate climate change. Countries' individuals could promote their movement with significant climate actions irrespective of class, gender, country, or power. Through an accumulated contribution from individual attempts, global leaders must realise their country's contributions and be inspired in reducing carbon footprint jointly.
Climate change is altering our planet, causing extreme weather events like tropical storms, wildfires, severe droughts and heatwaves, negatively affecting crop production, causing disruption to animals' natural habitats, and more. Because greenhouse gas emissions are the main perpetrator that causes global warming (and therefore climate change), it's important to understand how carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions affect the environment. A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide and methane) generated by our actions. The average carbon footprint for a person in the United States is 16 tons, one of the highest rates in the world. Globally, the average is closer to 4 tons. To have the best chance of avoiding a 2oC rise in global temperatures, the average global carbon footprint per year needs to drop under 2 tons by 2050. We can start making a big difference by making small changes to our actions, like eating less meat, taking fewer connecting flights.
Properly designing a place of residence is a prerequisite for insulating our home. The natural heating or cooling process of our room can be a good solution for this purpose. We can improve our insulation system in the home by changing windows, walls, and ceilings. According to the energy saving trust (EST), a draught-proofing home system can be the cheapest and most effective way to cut energy. This simple technology includes blocking up undesirable gaps that let warm air out and cold air around doors, windows, or skirting boards. Many other options to switch to green energy in our home system can be explored, significantly reducing the household's carbon emissions.
This raft change around our place is cost-effective to cut the carbon emissions at individual household level rather than installing a heater or cooler in the places. Moreover, we can switch to sustainable energy use from our existing gas or oil-powered cooling or heating system. Or, if we have to use this conventional system, it is better to use it periodically or at certain intervals by using the electric operating system. On a routine basis, switching off lights, fans and appliances can be practised when not in use. This practice can not only save our money but also reduce our impact on climate change. Few governments like the UK government will offer grants of around 5000 Pounds for the installation of the electric heat pumps from 2022.
We know that livestock creates around 14 per cent of all the greenhouse gases globally, while cattle are the largest contributor. Our dietary modification can be the most effective and simplest way to reduce our impact on the earth while reducing meat, especially beef and dairy products, in our regular diet. For both meat-lovers and vegans, we find good news on how plant-based protein food can substitute meat-based food. There are many delicious foods around us and are available to replace meat protein gradually.
Research shows that individual carbon reduction is not only a part of the dietary planning, but the carbon footprint of any food also depends on its production process, especially where it comes from or its seasonal impacts. We can check our daily food consumption and household food waste for food waste while the global current food waste is between 25 per cent and 30 per cent. This significant volume of food waste releases carbons indirectly caused by huge carbon emissions during food production.
Transport is accountable for almost a quarter of global carbon emissions. Leaving personal cars and taking fewer flights as much as possible can be a good step for reducing carbon emission at the individual level. Here are some environment-friendly tips for our daily transport practices like walking, riding a bicycle, using public transport, sharing vehicles, electric vehicles, etc. All the countries don't have equal opportunities or sustainable infrastructure to change their individuals' transport lifestyle. But our government transport policies should promote environmentally friendly transport infrastructure and vehicles that are common and convenient access. One important thing, we should have such mindsets to avoid domestic flights more rather than international flights to reduce the global carbon emissions.
Are we aware of the water consumption for making one pair of jeans? The UN's Environment Programme says that it takes around 3,781 litres of water to produce one pair of jeans, which release huge carbon emissions through a range of cotton production, manufacturing, transporting, and washing.
In this regard, buying second-hand dresses can reduce waste, money, and carbon emissions at a personal level. We can limit our impact by restoring minor faults of a dress rather than replacing, donating, or trashing. Choosing higher-quality products can be sustainable for their last longer nature.
Sometimes, 'rent a cloth' can be promoted by different corporate houses. Also, choosing the right household appliances for bedrooms, bathrooms, or kitchens can positively affect carbon footprint at an individual level. We should focus on the energy efficiency of all the items before buying those for home.
The writer is a researcher on environment and sustainability. He can be reached at polin.msls2009@gmail.com
