Earth Day, Climate Change, Global warming, carbon emissions, methane emissions…….

Why is the progress excruciatingly slow? Why is the goal post moving further away every year?

We have heard all the above terms. Lack of awareness is no longer the issue. Balancing economic growth while managing & growing sustainably is the key challenge.

It’s not resources either. Bhutan, Suriname, and Panama are CARBON NEGATIVE and they have done it. On the contrary companies with billions of dollars or trillion-dollar market cap or countries with high GDP are setting targets of 2040/50/70 etc for being carbon neutral. What it boils down to is commitment & priority.

Kudos to all companies, and countries for reducing carbon emissions and methane emissions and moving toward carbon neutrality by 2030 or already neutral and not grandiose plans like 2050, 2070, etc.

Developing countries want to quadruple their GDP, developing countries want to double their GDP in the next one or two decades Companies want high double-digit growth YOY. Individuals want to become prosperous. Nothing wrong with all this.

At the same time, reality is staring at us starkly. It's happening on a regular frequency. What happens if we don’t limit the temperature rise to < 1.5 degrees celsius? Floods, the storming of all coastal cities, extreme droughts, heatwaves, loss, and shortage of agricultural crops, etc.

The reason for the slow progress is the problem is not hitting our doorstep or our homes/cities. It seems so distant and not immediate. What if the temperature increases? We will air-condition all buildings and your homes for those who can afford to pay.

COVID-19- If all the countries in the world could collaborate, work together despite differences, develop multiple vaccines and vaccinate a large percentage of the adult population under thirty months of covid-19 starting, there is no reason why it can’t be done in an accelerated manner for CLIMATE CHANGE.

During Covid-19, the economy went down by several GDP points, stock markets crashed and most importantly DEATH visited us at our home, our extended family, and friends directly and indirectly. It is this fear of death and fear of losing power that made governments and leaders take action and it has worked well, so far.

If every day is EARTH DAY, What should we be doing as citizens to accelerate the journey towards being carbon neutral?

1. Buy products and services from companies who have achieved carbon neutrality or promised to do by 2030. 2035, 2040, and 2050 won’t do. Service sector companies having 2035 and above as target is simply unacceptable.
2. Support transition to renewable energy from fossil fuels. Buy products, share and support companies/individuals in the renewable energy sector so that it becomes more than 70% of the energy consumed in each country.
3. Transit to Electric Vehicles so that it becomes more than 70% of new vehicles produced by 2030, be it two-wheelers/ three-wheelers, four-wheelers. Support governments/ companies transitioning to a 100% EV fleet.
4. Reduce meat consumption significantly by non-vegetarians and rice consumption by vegetarians which contributes to methane emissions. If you can’t reduce much, consume products sourced locally.
5. Support and buy sustainable and energy-efficient products only.