Until not so long ago, a normal eco-friendly citizen of this planet just had to sort garbage into the right bins and recycle. The goal posts have now shifted a long way from that, what with people having to face the inconvenient truth and doomsday forecasts about global warming, climate change, rising seas, abnormal and extreme weather conditions, and natural resource depletion. The upshot of all this is that eco awareness is now effectively being equated with a carbon neutral lifestyle.
It's a simple but strikingly brilliant concept. If every entity, be it an individual, business or organization, learns to take responsibility for curbing their own carbon emissions, there isn't anything more that needs to be done. It doesn't work that way in reality because people have other priorities that take precedence over leading a green lifestyle.
The biggest problem, however, is that most people still don't know how important this is. That's why most governments and non-profit organizations focus more on raising awareness than on passing laws or forcing people to make choices that are less harmful to the planet. The events held worldwide on Earth Day and Earth Hour are not just to save energy, but to engage millions of people and let them know how they can take responsibility for their own energy consumption and why it's important.
But let's get past all that and say an already-aware citizen now feels like leading a green lifestyle. There are two methods that can and must be deployed. To start with, emissions must be eliminated or reduced to a minimum. After that, whatever is left over needs to be balanced using carbon credits.
Emission reductions are there for the taking in every aspect of an individual's life. Vehicle owners can eliminate the harm done by their driving by getting an electric vehicle and charging it using clean power from a solar generation system. It's a hassle to make the switch, and it's expensive too. But the end result of zero-carbon transport with no gas costs is well worth the trouble.
At home, there are a whole slew of green practices and technologies that can help people reduce their consumption and make it less harmful. Green (as in LEED certified) designs and energy retrofits will reduce power usage and save money. Dual-flush tanks and artificial grass will save water. Use of local and sustainable produce in meals will reduce the emissions associated with food and drinks.
An eco-friendly workplace is just as important, and this is where corporate responsibility takes over from the individual. Companies must implement green practices and make use of natural materials in their products that can be easily recycled. Factories must have solar arrays on the rooftop providing clean power, and offices must go paperless in order to help stop deforestation. Industrial waste must be processed and recycled instead of being pumped into landfills, rivers and oceans.
Even with all such efforts deployed, it's still impossible to be a zero carbon entity. Thankfully, whatever is left over can be offset by purchasing credits. There's a price to be paid, but it's simple - the seller plants trees, generates clean power or undertakes some other such activity that actually reduces carbon emissions. The buyer can pay for credits equivalent to a specific part of that reduction.
It's a simple but strikingly brilliant concept. If every entity, be it an individual, business or organization, learns to take responsibility for curbing their own carbon emissions, there isn't anything more that needs to be done. It doesn't work that way in reality because people have other priorities that take precedence over leading a green lifestyle.
The biggest problem, however, is that most people still don't know how important this is. That's why most governments and non-profit organizations focus more on raising awareness than on passing laws or forcing people to make choices that are less harmful to the planet. The events held worldwide on Earth Day and Earth Hour are not just to save energy, but to engage millions of people and let them know how they can take responsibility for their own energy consumption and why it's important.
But let's get past all that and say an already-aware citizen now feels like leading a green lifestyle. There are two methods that can and must be deployed. To start with, emissions must be eliminated or reduced to a minimum. After that, whatever is left over needs to be balanced using carbon credits.
Emission reductions are there for the taking in every aspect of an individual's life. Vehicle owners can eliminate the harm done by their driving by getting an electric vehicle and charging it using clean power from a solar generation system. It's a hassle to make the switch, and it's expensive too. But the end result of zero-carbon transport with no gas costs is well worth the trouble.
At home, there are a whole slew of green practices and technologies that can help people reduce their consumption and make it less harmful. Green (as in LEED certified) designs and energy retrofits will reduce power usage and save money. Dual-flush tanks and artificial grass will save water. Use of local and sustainable produce in meals will reduce the emissions associated with food and drinks.
An eco-friendly workplace is just as important, and this is where corporate responsibility takes over from the individual. Companies must implement green practices and make use of natural materials in their products that can be easily recycled. Factories must have solar arrays on the rooftop providing clean power, and offices must go paperless in order to help stop deforestation. Industrial waste must be processed and recycled instead of being pumped into landfills, rivers and oceans.
Even with all such efforts deployed, it's still impossible to be a zero carbon entity. Thankfully, whatever is left over can be offset by purchasing credits. There's a price to be paid, but it's simple - the seller plants trees, generates clean power or undertakes some other such activity that actually reduces carbon emissions. The buyer can pay for credits equivalent to a specific part of that reduction.
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