|
|
|
|
|
Each one of us, just by the seemingly inconsequential act of doing our daily chores, emits carbondioxide that accumulates in the atmosphere to cause global warming. Our drive to work or school burns fossil fuel in a vehicle causing global climate change. These few simple steps can help us heal the world. Transport
Green
Power industry, which tends to be much less energy intensive than the manufacturing of steel, cement and other primary materials. The services sector, however accounts for only six percent of the share of India’s energy consumption while the manufacturing sector accounts for about 50 per cent. Household use of fuels, on the other hand, is likely to increase GHG emissions faster as more kerosene and LPG is used for cooking in place of fuel wood and charcoal, and as Indian households acquire more appliances and elctronic products. The rise in commercial buildings in urban areas too will add significantly to future fuel and electricity use. Mitigation measures typically focus on technological solutions. Energy efficient buildings, while limiting the growth of CO2 emissions, can also improve indoor and outdoor air quality, improve social welfare and enhance energy security. There is a dire need to move to renewable sources of energy. Many companies are already installing wind energy to assure constant supply to their plants and individuals can help by installing solar water heaters. The use of biofuels needs to be encouraged. They play an important role in addressing GHG emissions in the transport sector, depending on their production pathway. Agriculture There is a need to reduce energy-use in agriculture and promoting cost-effective alternatives to fossil fuel use in agriculture. The agricultural sector can reduce its own emissions, offset emissions from other sectors by removing CO2 from the atmosphere (via photosynthesis) and storing the carbon in soils, and reduce emissions in other sectors by displacing fossil fuels with biofuels. Through adoption of agricultural best management practices, U.S. farmers can reduce emissions of nitrous oxide from agricultural soils, methane from livestock production and manure, and CO2 from on-farm energy use. Improved management practices can also increase the uptake and storage of carbon in plants and soil. Furthermore, biomass from the agricultural sector can be used to produce biofuels, which can substitute for a portion of the fossil fuels currently used for energy. Agriculture can also reduce GHG emissions by providing biofuels—fuels derived from biomass sources such as corn, soybeans, crop residues, trees, and grasses.
Application of best management practices in agriculture and use of
biofuels for GHG mitigation can have substantial co-benefits. Increasing
the organic matter content of soils (which accompanies soil carbon
storage) improves soil quality and fertility, increases water retention,
and reduces erosion. More efficient use of nitrogen can reduce nutrient
runoff and improve water quality in both surface and ground waters.
Similarly, improving manure management to reduce methane and nitrous
oxide emissions is beneficial to water and air quality and reduces
odors. Biofuel use, particularly substituting energy crops for imported
petroleum for transportation, has important energy security benefits.
However, as biofuel use expands, it will be important to ensure that
biomass is produced responsibly, taking both environmental and socio-economic
impacts into consideration. Considerable mitigation potential is also
available from reductions in methane and nitrous oxide emissions in
some agricultural systems. Forestry Changing
climate requires dynamic forest planning and management strategies.
There is a need to incorporate climate change concern in the long-term
forest planning and policy making process. Examples of forest policies,
which may reduce the vulnerability of forest ecosystems to climate
change, include preventing fragmentation of forests, forest conservation,
enhancing the coverage under protected areas and linking them, large
afforestation with multiple species to reduce pressure on natural
forests, and involvement of local communities in forest conservation
and management. India has a large afforestation programme of over
one million hectares annually and also has a plan to bring a third
of the geographic area under forest cover. These newly planted forests,
particularly the long rotation species such as teak, will be subjected
to changing climate parameters. Thus, it is important to consider
and incorporate adaptation practices even in the afforestation programme…..
Forest-related mitigation activities can considerably reduce emissions from sources and increase CO2 removals by sinks at low costs, and can be designed to create synergies with adaptation and sustainable development. About 65% of the total mitigation potential is located in the tropics and about 50% of the total could be achieved by reducing emissions from deforestation. Waste
management Management of municipal solid waste presents many opportunities for greenhouse gas emission reductions. Source reduction and recycling can reduce emissions at the manufacturing stage, increase carbon sinks, and avoid landfill methane emissions. Diverting organic materials from landfills also reduces methane emissions. Sending your domestic waste to the landfill contributes to climate change. This is because the heavy vehicle that takes your garbage to the landfill releases greenhouse gases as it burns fuel. And when your waste begins to decompose in the landfill, it releases methane gas into the atmosphere. Methane is one of the key greenhouse gases that cause climate change. Composting your domestic waste means fewer truck loads of waste transported to a landfill or industrial composting facility which means fewer fossil fuels are burnt and less GHGs emitted. Using your home-made compost means less GHG emission in the production, packaging and transportation of fertilizers and soils. So by composting, we not only reduce the amount of harmful greenhouse gases released into the atmospheres, but by nurturing trees and plants we also help in the process of removing CO2 (a GHG) from the atmosphere. Lifestyle
Other
practices
Together, we can make a difference Use
the green power
Be
automobile-wise Improve
your surroundings
|
Working
towards a change........
For individuals
this is perhaps the biggest contributor to their footprint and needs
to be reduced. Transport Demand Management, which includes urban planning
that can reduce the demand for travel and provision of information
and educational techniques that can reduce car usage and lead to an
efficient driving style can support GHG mitigation .This can be achieved
by using bicycles for short distances, using public transport or even
a carpool. 
