Pederson Glacier (Alaska) Glaciers are retreating

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1 Are we to blame?

2 Pederson Glacier (Alaska) Glaciers are retreating

3 Parts of some Antarctic ice shelves are collapsing Larsen B ice shelf, Antarctica, 3250 km 2 of ice, 220 m thick collapsed in 2002 Source: NASA

4 Sea levels are rising Source:

5 All is not well All is not well

6 Source: Vital Climate Graphics, Grid Arendal / UNEP Gases like carbon dioxide are essential for life on Earth.

7 They trap some of the heat leaving the Earth. Without them, Earth s average temperature would be C

8 They are called Green House Gases (GHGs)

9 Some are natural some manmade

10 Not only are we creating new greenhouse gases, we are adding to natural ones as well

11 Atmospheric CO 2 has increased from a pre-industrial concentration of about 280 ppmv to about 367 ppmv at present

12 Methane and nitrous oxide fare no better

13 Source: We re blanketing the Earth with more and more of these gases and the ball is going warm

14 Eleven of the last twelve years were the warmest since thermometer records began in 1850

15 A hot future awaits us Global mean surface temperature could rise between C by 2100

16 Will it affect us?

17 Net cereal production in South Asian countries is projected to decline at least between 4 to 10% by the end of this century

18 Melting of glaciers could seriously affect 500,000,000 people served by the Himalaya-Hindu-Kush region Source:

19 Precipitation There may be more patterns will change intense rainfall on rainy days, resulting in floods and more dry days in a year, causing drought

20 Damages due to floods has cost India over Rs 800 crore every year

21 350 million Indians have been affected badly due to drought in past ten years

22 Groundwater it s finite! 78% of assessed groundwater units in Delhi are over-exploited (extraction > recharge)

23 This will impact food security, human health and economic activity water conflicts

24 Sea level will be a minimum of 40 cm higher than today by the end of 21st century Source: TERI % of Bangladesh's coastal land is likely go underwater, creating 7 to 10 million climate refugees

25 Deaths due to heat waves, water borne diseases and vector borne diseases like dengue are expected to increase

26 Food Water Health the Economy.. Each one of us will be affected

27 But, are we to blame? Aren t the culprits industry and the government?

28 billion billion Population is increasing but natural resources are NOT!!

29 Forests are becoming croplands to feed our growing millions. Fewer trees, more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

30 Intensification of agriculture to feed the growing millions Global fertilizer consumption More nitrous oxide released Source: IGBP

31 Philippe Rekacewicz, UNEP/GRID-Arendal Changing lifestyles More methane generated by anaerobic decomposition of wastes in landfills Source:

32 Changing lifestyles

33 Increasing industrialization to meet our growing demands

34 Increased demand for electricity From domestic consumers From industries From the agriculture sector

35 It s time to adopt a low carbon lifestyle.

36 Will it help? The worst can still be avoided if we immediately and aggressively work towards being part of the solution

37 But can I make a difference? I am just one person. The impact of millions of people who choose to make changes in personal lifestyles cannot be undermined Whatever you may do may seem insignificant to you, but it s most important that you do it. - Mahatma Gandhi

38 Let s focus on CO 2 and methane

39 Every unit of electricity (kwh) used generates 0.82 kg of CO 2 at the power station

40 Switch to CFLs Replace just one 100W bulb (incandescent lamp) with a 20W Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) Reduce annual CO 2 emissions by 84 kg Reduce annual electricity bills* by ` 409

41 If every house in Delhi would just change 1 bulb to a CFL 200,000,000 kg of CO 2 less per year

42 Switch off unnecessary lights and fans Reduce annual CO 2 emissions by 28 kg Reduce annual electricity bills by ` 134 per bulb and fan kept on for just an extra hour each day

43 Switch off unnecessary lights and fans If just 1000 homes do that, that s kg of CO 2 less per year

44 Buying a new home appliance? Look out for the 5 star label and buy a higher star rated product Fans (1200mm sweep) Reduce annual CO 2 emissions by 36 kg Reduce annual electricity bills by ` 176 Refrigerators (Frost-free) Reduce annual CO 2 emissions by 269 kg Reduce annual electricity bills by ` 1312 Air conditioners (1.5 tons split) Reduce annual CO 2 emissions by 283 kg Reduce annual electricity bills by ` 1382

45 Install a solar water heater Reduce annual CO 2 emissions by 687 kg Reduce annual electricity bills by `

46 Use the geyser efficiently. Have baths in quick succession Reduce annual CO 2 emissions by 344 kg Reduce annual electricity bills by ` 1676 Reduce the temperature setting on the geyser. Geysers come with a factory setting of 60 o C but you need water at only 40 o C for a comfortable bath. Reduce annual CO 2 emissions by 172 kg Reduce annual electricity bills by ` 838

47 Don t use the hot wash setting *Reduce CO 2 emissions by 98 kg annually *Reduce annual electricity bills by ` 478

48 Eat together *Heating food at one go to reduce unnecessary use of the microwave for just 5 minutes can reduce up to 30 kg of CO 2 emissions per year *Reduce annual electricity bills by ` 146

49 Switch off appliances at the plug point Switch off the TV, Set top box and DVD player at the plug, not with a remote. Reduce annual CO 2 emissions by 106 kg Reduce annual electricity bills by ` 518

50 Use a pressure cooker Reduce annual CO 2 emissions by 125 kg Save ` 1062 (cost of 3 cylinders) Use fuel efficient cooking methods Reduce gas usage by 20 minutes a day to reduce annual CO 2 emissions by 62 kg and save ` 524

51 Compost your kitchen wastes Reduce annual CO 2 emissions by 68 kg

52 Conserve water Conserve just 100 litres per household per day through various measures. Reduce annual CO 2 emissions by kg Harvest 1000 litres of rainwater every day over 40 days of rainfall Reduce annual CO 2 emissions by 27 to 70 kg

53 Replace old desktops with laptops Per replacement you reduce annual CO 2 emissions by 205 to 279 kg annual electricity bills by ` 1000 to

54 Print responsibly Reduce printing in each department by just one ream of paper a month: Reduce annual CO 2 emissions by 87 kg Just 500 sheets of double sided printing a month: Reduce annual CO 2 emissions by 87 kg

55 Every small car that goes off the road reduces: Annual CO 2 emissions by 1321 kg Annual fuel cost by `

56 Get driven to work.in a bus Reduce annual CO 2 emissions by 1194 kg Save ` if you use the company bus

57 Switch off ignition at traffic signals and when you are in a traffic jam Reduce annual CO 2 emissions by 48 to 64 kg Reduce annual fuel cost by ` 1071 to

58 Studying for exams? Use a table lamp for more effective lighting and CO 2 emissions reduction of 57 kg Reduce annual electricity bills by ` 277 If 1000 children in a school make this change CO 2 emissions reduction of kg can be achieved in a year

59 Come out and play Go out for a couple of hours everyday instead of watching TV or playing on the computer Reduce annual CO 2 emissions by 62 to 93 kg Reduce annual electricity bills by ` 301 to of you going out to play for a couple of hours everyday can help the planet by reducing CO 2 emissions by almost 1000 kg a year

60 Hand down your textbooks to juniors and use one-sided paper for rough work 100 students doing these reduce annual CO 2 emissions by 1740 kg

61 Take a bus to school.instead of being driven in a car Reduce annual CO 2 emissions by 477 kg Reduce annual fuel cost by `

62 THANK YOU