Are we to blame?
Pederson Glacier (Alaska) Glaciers are retreating
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
Sea levels are rising Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/go_greener_oz/3047060508/
All is not well All is not well
Source: Vital Climate Graphics, Grid Arendal / UNEP Gases like carbon dioxide are essential for life on Earth.
They trap some of the heat leaving the Earth. Without them, Earth s average temperature would be -20 0 C
They are called Green House Gases (GHGs)
Some are natural some manmade
Not only are we creating new greenhouse gases, we are adding to natural ones as well
Atmospheric CO 2 has increased from a pre-industrial concentration of about 280 ppmv to about 367 ppmv at present
Methane and nitrous oxide fare no better
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/perryham/3577638548/ We re blanketing the Earth with more and more of these gases and the ball is going warm
13.2 14.8 14 Eleven of the last twelve years were the warmest since thermometer records began in 1850
A hot future awaits us Global mean surface temperature could rise between 1-4.5 0 C by 2100
Will it affect us?
Net cereal production in South Asian countries is projected to decline at least between 4 to 10% by the end of this century
Melting of glaciers could seriously affect 500,000,000 people served by the Himalaya-Hindu-Kush region Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ilker/2493908853/
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
Damages due to floods has cost India over Rs 800 crore every year
350 million Indians have been affected badly due to drought in past ten years
Groundwater it s finite! 78% of assessed groundwater units in Delhi are over-exploited (extraction > recharge)
This will impact food security, human health and economic activity water conflicts
Sea level will be a minimum of 40 cm higher than today by the end of 21st century Source: TERI 1996 11 % of Bangladesh's coastal land is likely go underwater, creating 7 to 10 million climate refugees
Deaths due to heat waves, water borne diseases and vector borne diseases like dengue are expected to increase
Food Water Health the Economy.. Each one of us will be affected
But, are we to blame? Aren t the culprits industry and the government?
1940 2.3 billion 2050 9.2 billion Population is increasing but natural resources are NOT!!
Forests are becoming croplands to feed our growing millions. Fewer trees, more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
Intensification of agriculture to feed the growing millions Global fertilizer consumption More nitrous oxide released Source: IGBP
Philippe Rekacewicz, UNEP/GRID-Arendal Changing lifestyles More methane generated by anaerobic decomposition of wastes in landfills Source: http://maps.grida.no/go/graphic/the-richer-we-get-the-more-we-discard-human-consumption-waste-and-living-standards
Changing lifestyles http://www.flickr.com/photos/lingaraj/2415084235/
Increasing industrialization to meet our growing demands
Increased demand for electricity From domestic consumers From industries From the agriculture sector
It s time to adopt a low carbon lifestyle.
Will it help? The worst can still be avoided if we immediately and aggressively work towards being part of the solution
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
Let s focus on CO 2 and methane
http://www.flickr.com/photos/davipt/164341428/sizes/z/in/photostream/ Every unit of electricity (kwh) used generates 0.82 kg of CO 2 at the power station
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 http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpaudit/2479706841/sizes/z/in/photostream/
If every house in Delhi would just change 1 bulb to a CFL 200,000,000 kg of CO 2 less per year http://www.flickr.com/photos/mkuram/4577359628/
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 http://www.flickr.com/photos/krossbow/4316763553/sizes/z/in/photostream/
Switch off unnecessary lights and fans If just 1000 homes do that, that s 28000 kg of CO 2 less per year
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
Install a solar water heater Reduce annual CO 2 emissions by 687 kg Reduce annual electricity bills by ` 3352 http://www.flickr.com/photos/90417577@n00/2413226470/
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 http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisandhilleary/159821463/
Don t use the hot wash setting *Reduce CO 2 emissions by 98 kg annually *Reduce annual electricity bills by ` 478
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
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 http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrwalker/311058131/
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 http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevendepolo/4226949360/
Compost your kitchen wastes Reduce annual CO 2 emissions by 68 kg
Conserve water Conserve just 100 litres per household per day through various measures. Reduce annual CO 2 emissions by 24-63 kg Harvest 1000 litres of rainwater every day over 40 days of rainfall Reduce annual CO 2 emissions by 27 to 70 kg http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevendepolo/3761878381/
Replace old desktops with laptops Per replacement you reduce annual CO 2 emissions by 205 to 279 kg annual electricity bills by ` 1000 to 1360 http://www.flickr.com/photos/arbron/56216464/
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 http://www.flickr.com/photos/der_dennis/1824103662/
Every small car that goes off the road reduces: Annual CO 2 emissions by 1321 kg Annual fuel cost by ` 29352 http://www.flickr.com/photos/naturewise/4947484737/
Get driven to work.in a bus Reduce annual CO 2 emissions by 1194 kg Save ` 29352 if you use the company bus http://www.flickr.com/photos/85296574@n00/795107184/
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 1417 http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulk/26896050/
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 57000 kg can be achieved in a year
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 453 http://www.flickr.com/photos/kkseema/2372998076/ 10 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
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 http://www.flickr.com/photos/tracer/308179418/
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 ` 6941 http://www.flickr.com/photos/lavaland/4879089591/
THANK YOU