Low carbon, safer world
Thursday, 5 June 2008
Mohammed Abdul Baten from Stockholm
IN recent years, a significant move towards environmental concern has been observed across the world. Now-a-days, every country from developing to developed one is thinking about impacts of climate change. Unfortunately, most of our efforts have locked up in documents, rather being put in practice.
Evidently, climate change binds all aspects of our living, from individual food habit to larger implications for the micro-economy. Therefore, epistemic communities are now giving emphasis on changing our life styles to combat climate change effects. In this response, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) set this year's slogan of World Environment Day as "Kick the Habit: Towards a Low Carbon Economy".
Biologically, all living organisms on earth are carbon-based. Like trees, we (human) are part of carbon cycle. We depend on carbon from breakfast (bread or rice is carbohydrate) to sleep (our bed sheet is made of fibre that is also carbon-based). Any moment in our daily life is impossible to imagine without carbon. However, as it has now crossed tolerable limit in the atmosphere, being, thus, responsible for global warming, is causing serious problems. Every year, many people died from several natural hazards across the world, especially in the developing countries as a consequence of climate change aggravated by global warming.
Before this development, scientists thought that we could mitigate the problems of global warming by increasing tree-cover as tree acts as sink. Somebody argues in favour of ocean's ability to soak up excessive carbon produced from diverse human activities. However, in recent reports, published in the Guardian, scientists argue that increased tree-cover and ocean are not all solutions the problem of global warming. Trees release CO2 in respiration. Moreover, after death of trees CO2 is again release back to atmosphere, which they are stored while living. By analysing 30 years data, they come to the point that winter in northern latitude is shortening due to global warming which will eventually increase respiration and reduce trees' ability to sink excessive carbon.
Another study shows that the ocean's ability has decreased as well from global warming with increasing evaporation. Now the scientists are suggesting, relying only on tree and ocean is not pragmatic to face the challenges of climate change. We have to change our traditional view. It is of utmost importance to change our life style; otherwise carbon, concentration in the atmosphere will cross then threshold, and then no attempts will succeed to produce any significant improvement.
In face of such a reality, we have to be rational in resource use in every sphere of life. From individual behavioural change to national policy directions that meet lower carbon emissions, all these can save us from the upcoming harsh events of climate change.
Recently, a group of researchers of Imperial College, in the UK, argues that we can reduce a considerable portion of carbon emissions from present rate by just changing our current life style.
We can save our money and resources from being abused only applying some simple plans to help reduce carbon emissions. Water purifications consume huge energy that contributes to global warming. We can save water and slow climate change without costing anything but only with some simple change in our consumption behaviour like:
l Boil only the amount of water we need in the kettle.
l Fill a dishwasher or washing machine before using it.
l Put a water hippo in toilet cistern (or a plastic bottle filled with water).
l Use a container to collect rain water in garden for use on plants/lawn.
l Don't leave the tap running while to wash hands, put the plug in the sink instead.
l Fill the sink earlier and then swab dishes.
l Fill a glass instead of running tap to clean teeth.
l Use a bowl to wash fruits and vegetables and later reuse it to water house plants.
l Keep a full jug in fridge to drink cold water.
l Don't keep running tap while shaving; instead, fill a jug and start shaving.
Humanity on earth is embedded with energy from cradle to grave. We need lighting to continue our regular tasks. Moreover, we use many appliances to make our life comfortable that consume huge energy. Nonetheless, a considerable portion of energy we can save just from little consciousness that will reduce carbon emissions as well like:
l Switching off lights when there is nobody in the room.
l Switching off of all appliances on standby, glowing lights, or little clocks that can each use up to 5 watts of electricity a day (microwave, cooker, hi fi, computer, television, video, mobile charger, etc.).
l Reducing washing machine temperature to 30 from 40 degrees centigrade will save over 40% of the energy used (and save our 40% of the money that otherwise would have spent!).
l Use energy saving light bulbs - just one can save Taka 12,000 over the life-time of the bulb (they last about 12 times longer than ordinary bulbs).
In urban life, we buy everything -- from salt to lime -- maintain our life setting. If we become aware in case of shopping, then we can save money and reduce wastage as well, which eventually contributes to lowering of carbon emissions.
For instances:
l We can use a ' jute bag for life' or take re-usable shopping bag instead of disposable one. This will save water and energy and help overcome the effects of air pollution, from sourcing raw materials, transport, manufacture, distribution etc., and will, thus, eliminate the final 'rubbish'.
l We can only buy what is needed to prevent waste - make a shopping list and stick to it.
l The use of local farmers markets, or 'buying Bangladeshi goods' can be encouraged to ensure fresh produce that has not travelled the world. This will reduce pollution from transport and help towards reducing the effects of climate change.
l Buying 'concentrated' products and refills and avoiding heavily packaged convenience foods can be encouraged. This will lead to less packaging and less waste as concentrated items and refills tend to be smaller and the more can then be transported in one-go, reducing traffic pollution.
l The use local stores, rather than driving to places out of town stores should be preferred. If the use of a car becomes unavoidable, we should make sure tyres are at the correct pressure and that the services are up to date.
l We can use public transport for shopping trips away, when possible. Emissions will then be reduced because of the fact that, travelling by train/bus will mean that we are minimising total carbon emissions by limiting the use of cars.
l We should choose re-usable products rather than disposable ones like razors to help minimise waste, energy-use in manufacturing process and reduce the use of transports as well as the depletion of natural resources.
We need to travel for errands. In urban settings, many people own cars. Though it is a sign of advancement and status, yet it contributes to climate change by emitting greenhouse gases. However, if we become aware to maintain our vehicles, being conscious about the purpose of travelling, we can save money and reduce carbon emissions.
Dirty spark plugs, air filters or fuel-filters all affect the fuel economy as far as maintenance of personal cars is concerned. We can improve our fuel economy by keeping tyres inflated to the recommended level. The excess weight can also be removed by keeping boot and back-seat, empty of things that unnecessary. We can take off roof rack as it also causes drag. We need such. Acceleration, braking hard and speeding all contribute to a decrease in fuel economy. We should try to read the road ahead and drive smoothly. Likewise, we should use the highest gear possible. Lower gear means more power, and more fuel. To improve fuel economy, we should drive with the gear at its highest possible limit when cruising at a steady speed. We should not move in a sport mode. We need to clean by keeping the car washed and waxed as it improves aerodynamics and, therefore, affects fuel economy.
Furthermore, we should avoid excessive idling. When a car is idling, it is using fuel, yet it is not going anywhere. We need to switch it off, whenever it is practical.
Air conditioners use more fuel, but driving with windows down at higher speeds can be even worse due to the increase of drag on the vehicle. Therefore, we should drive slowly and while around the town or in city traffic, it is better to keep the car windows open.
For short distances, walking or cycling is preferable to using cars.
The adoption of the above-mentioned measures or actions it is not expensive; rather, these are cost-effective. These demand only our commitments and awareness.
The world is now in a transition period. The Stern report (2006) warns us that up to a fifth of the world's wealth could disappear and the lives of billions, be put at risk within the century unless we invest now in creating a global low-carbon economy. Therefore, we should start now at every level. Our little efforts at the individual level can save innocent millions every year -- and those do otherwise die from natural calamities as a consequences of climate change.
The writer is at Stockholm Resilience Centre, University of Stockholm, Sweden. He can be reached at e-mail: baten_123@yahoo.com
IN recent years, a significant move towards environmental concern has been observed across the world. Now-a-days, every country from developing to developed one is thinking about impacts of climate change. Unfortunately, most of our efforts have locked up in documents, rather being put in practice.
Evidently, climate change binds all aspects of our living, from individual food habit to larger implications for the micro-economy. Therefore, epistemic communities are now giving emphasis on changing our life styles to combat climate change effects. In this response, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) set this year's slogan of World Environment Day as "Kick the Habit: Towards a Low Carbon Economy".
Biologically, all living organisms on earth are carbon-based. Like trees, we (human) are part of carbon cycle. We depend on carbon from breakfast (bread or rice is carbohydrate) to sleep (our bed sheet is made of fibre that is also carbon-based). Any moment in our daily life is impossible to imagine without carbon. However, as it has now crossed tolerable limit in the atmosphere, being, thus, responsible for global warming, is causing serious problems. Every year, many people died from several natural hazards across the world, especially in the developing countries as a consequence of climate change aggravated by global warming.
Before this development, scientists thought that we could mitigate the problems of global warming by increasing tree-cover as tree acts as sink. Somebody argues in favour of ocean's ability to soak up excessive carbon produced from diverse human activities. However, in recent reports, published in the Guardian, scientists argue that increased tree-cover and ocean are not all solutions the problem of global warming. Trees release CO2 in respiration. Moreover, after death of trees CO2 is again release back to atmosphere, which they are stored while living. By analysing 30 years data, they come to the point that winter in northern latitude is shortening due to global warming which will eventually increase respiration and reduce trees' ability to sink excessive carbon.
Another study shows that the ocean's ability has decreased as well from global warming with increasing evaporation. Now the scientists are suggesting, relying only on tree and ocean is not pragmatic to face the challenges of climate change. We have to change our traditional view. It is of utmost importance to change our life style; otherwise carbon, concentration in the atmosphere will cross then threshold, and then no attempts will succeed to produce any significant improvement.
In face of such a reality, we have to be rational in resource use in every sphere of life. From individual behavioural change to national policy directions that meet lower carbon emissions, all these can save us from the upcoming harsh events of climate change.
Recently, a group of researchers of Imperial College, in the UK, argues that we can reduce a considerable portion of carbon emissions from present rate by just changing our current life style.
We can save our money and resources from being abused only applying some simple plans to help reduce carbon emissions. Water purifications consume huge energy that contributes to global warming. We can save water and slow climate change without costing anything but only with some simple change in our consumption behaviour like:
l Boil only the amount of water we need in the kettle.
l Fill a dishwasher or washing machine before using it.
l Put a water hippo in toilet cistern (or a plastic bottle filled with water).
l Use a container to collect rain water in garden for use on plants/lawn.
l Don't leave the tap running while to wash hands, put the plug in the sink instead.
l Fill the sink earlier and then swab dishes.
l Fill a glass instead of running tap to clean teeth.
l Use a bowl to wash fruits and vegetables and later reuse it to water house plants.
l Keep a full jug in fridge to drink cold water.
l Don't keep running tap while shaving; instead, fill a jug and start shaving.
Humanity on earth is embedded with energy from cradle to grave. We need lighting to continue our regular tasks. Moreover, we use many appliances to make our life comfortable that consume huge energy. Nonetheless, a considerable portion of energy we can save just from little consciousness that will reduce carbon emissions as well like:
l Switching off lights when there is nobody in the room.
l Switching off of all appliances on standby, glowing lights, or little clocks that can each use up to 5 watts of electricity a day (microwave, cooker, hi fi, computer, television, video, mobile charger, etc.).
l Reducing washing machine temperature to 30 from 40 degrees centigrade will save over 40% of the energy used (and save our 40% of the money that otherwise would have spent!).
l Use energy saving light bulbs - just one can save Taka 12,000 over the life-time of the bulb (they last about 12 times longer than ordinary bulbs).
In urban life, we buy everything -- from salt to lime -- maintain our life setting. If we become aware in case of shopping, then we can save money and reduce wastage as well, which eventually contributes to lowering of carbon emissions.
For instances:
l We can use a ' jute bag for life' or take re-usable shopping bag instead of disposable one. This will save water and energy and help overcome the effects of air pollution, from sourcing raw materials, transport, manufacture, distribution etc., and will, thus, eliminate the final 'rubbish'.
l We can only buy what is needed to prevent waste - make a shopping list and stick to it.
l The use of local farmers markets, or 'buying Bangladeshi goods' can be encouraged to ensure fresh produce that has not travelled the world. This will reduce pollution from transport and help towards reducing the effects of climate change.
l Buying 'concentrated' products and refills and avoiding heavily packaged convenience foods can be encouraged. This will lead to less packaging and less waste as concentrated items and refills tend to be smaller and the more can then be transported in one-go, reducing traffic pollution.
l The use local stores, rather than driving to places out of town stores should be preferred. If the use of a car becomes unavoidable, we should make sure tyres are at the correct pressure and that the services are up to date.
l We can use public transport for shopping trips away, when possible. Emissions will then be reduced because of the fact that, travelling by train/bus will mean that we are minimising total carbon emissions by limiting the use of cars.
l We should choose re-usable products rather than disposable ones like razors to help minimise waste, energy-use in manufacturing process and reduce the use of transports as well as the depletion of natural resources.
We need to travel for errands. In urban settings, many people own cars. Though it is a sign of advancement and status, yet it contributes to climate change by emitting greenhouse gases. However, if we become aware to maintain our vehicles, being conscious about the purpose of travelling, we can save money and reduce carbon emissions.
Dirty spark plugs, air filters or fuel-filters all affect the fuel economy as far as maintenance of personal cars is concerned. We can improve our fuel economy by keeping tyres inflated to the recommended level. The excess weight can also be removed by keeping boot and back-seat, empty of things that unnecessary. We can take off roof rack as it also causes drag. We need such. Acceleration, braking hard and speeding all contribute to a decrease in fuel economy. We should try to read the road ahead and drive smoothly. Likewise, we should use the highest gear possible. Lower gear means more power, and more fuel. To improve fuel economy, we should drive with the gear at its highest possible limit when cruising at a steady speed. We should not move in a sport mode. We need to clean by keeping the car washed and waxed as it improves aerodynamics and, therefore, affects fuel economy.
Furthermore, we should avoid excessive idling. When a car is idling, it is using fuel, yet it is not going anywhere. We need to switch it off, whenever it is practical.
Air conditioners use more fuel, but driving with windows down at higher speeds can be even worse due to the increase of drag on the vehicle. Therefore, we should drive slowly and while around the town or in city traffic, it is better to keep the car windows open.
For short distances, walking or cycling is preferable to using cars.
The adoption of the above-mentioned measures or actions it is not expensive; rather, these are cost-effective. These demand only our commitments and awareness.
The world is now in a transition period. The Stern report (2006) warns us that up to a fifth of the world's wealth could disappear and the lives of billions, be put at risk within the century unless we invest now in creating a global low-carbon economy. Therefore, we should start now at every level. Our little efforts at the individual level can save innocent millions every year -- and those do otherwise die from natural calamities as a consequences of climate change.
The writer is at Stockholm Resilience Centre, University of Stockholm, Sweden. He can be reached at e-mail: baten_123@yahoo.com