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Twelve ways to combat climate change

Abdus Sattar Moua
THE theme for World Environment Day this year was “Your planet needs you-Unite to combat climate change”. It reflects the urgency for nations to agree on a new deal at the crucial climate convention meeting in Copenhagen in December next.
We all know the planet is ours and we need to combat climate change together. Then how to combat? The UNEP has suggested 12 ways to do this.
• Make a commitment : Reducing the carbon footprint is no different from any other task Only telling people to reduce carbon emissions may seem simplistic, but even simple actions like announcing a commitment to going carbon neutral can be effective, while the simple act of asking for ideas can lead to creative and innovative solutions. In recent months, several countries have indicated that they will go carbon neutral, led by Costa Rica, New
Zealand and Norway.
• Assess where you stand: It is likely that carbon will eventually be judged as an atmospheric pollutant and regulated accordingly, with consequent costs and opportunities for all sectors of society. Knowing where and how we generate greenhouse gases is the first step to reducing them. For individuals and small businesses, online calculators and internal assessments can help start the process. Larger organizations may need specialised advice and tools.
• Decide and plan where you want to go : Based on the assessment of climate-related risks and opportunities, a strategy and action plan can be developed. Targets help focused efforts and also provide a benchmark for measuring success. Most homes or businesses can reduce energy use by 10 per cent which almost always results in a 10 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
• De-carbon your life: There is a broader way to think about carbon and climate. Everything an individual, organization, business or government does or uses embodies some form of carbon, either in products themselves or in the energy and materials it takes to make them. Buildings, fittings and equipment are all proxies for carbon. Integrating climate friendly criteria into decision making can trigger a ripplc effect.
• Get energy efficient : Improving the efficiency of our buildings, computers, cars etc is the fastest and most lucrative way to save money, energy and carbon emission. While conventional buildings can account for almost 40 per cent of CO2 emissions, high performance, environmentally accountable, energy efficient and productive facilities are now economically possible.
• Switch to low carbon energy : We can switch to energy sources that emit less carbon and can reduce costs and emissions Since the lowest carbon energy source the hydro power generation --has long term negative impact and in here, we don't
have enough wind power, we can switch over largely to solar power that is very much available round the year in this tropical country. In many parts of the world customers can choose to have a percentage of their electricity supplied from a renewable energy source. These 'green choice' programmes are maturing and proving to be a powerful stimulus for growth in renewable energy supply.
• Invest in offsets and cleaner alternatives : There is a limit to how much efficiency we can squeeze from our lifestyle or our organization's operations, or how much renewable energy we can employ. Die choice for those who wish to compensate for their remaining emissions is to fund an activity by another party that reduces emissions. This is commonly called a 'carbon offset' or 'carbon credit'.
• Get efficient : Looking at our life or business through a carbon neutral lens can help us in other ways by increasing the efficiency of resource use, avoiding and reducing waste and ultimately improving the overall performance. After all, carbon is generally the waste product of producing energy, and reducing waste and becoming more efficient is always a good idea.
• Offer or buy low carbon products and services : The market for climate friendly products and services is growing rapidly, from energy efficient products to new renewable energy systems. To offer such products, however, it's important to begin at the design stage. Actions as simple as adding energy efficient specifications into the design process, for example, can produce a design that minimizes energy consumption during its use and saves customers the time and energy from making adjustments to a product after a purchase.
• Buy green, sell green : The market for green products and services is growing rapidly. In many countries consumer surveys report that growing numbers of consumers are willing to buy green products if given the choice For businesses, innovative product
design and presentation combined with responsible marketing and communication can help ensure that this consumer interest translates intopurchasing.
• Team up : Many private sector companies are increasingly working with nongovernmental organizations, cities or governments to identify and implement best practice solutions to reduce emissions. The Carbon Disclosure Project, for example, is an independent non-profit organization providing information for institutional investors with a combined US$41 trillion of assets under management.
• Talk : The increasing importance of climate change means that companies and organizations will need to communicate. Transparency is critical. The internet and other new media mean that companies, organizations and governments cannot hide behind green wash. This is where tools for verification and reporting guidelines with recognized indicators are critical. In addition to all the above measures, we can follow UNEP's programme of planting seven billion trees worldwide. In Bangladesh, the tree plantation season has commenced and if every able citizen of this country plants
and nurtures a single sapling, we can have at least 100 million new trees to use carbon and emit oxygen!
Abdus Sattar Motia is a biologist and is a PhD researcher in NIE. Singapore Email: asmolla1@yahoo.com.