The Adverse Effect Of Carbon Dioxide On Climate
The IPCC or Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change told the United Nations that the Earth’s climate is warming up without a doubt. The panel also said that the accelerated warming we have seen in the past 50 years is due to the contributions of humans. Why is this alarming?
As the level of CO2, along with other greenhouse gases, rises in the atmosphere, more and more heat gets trapped on Earth. This leads to a corresponding increase in global temperatures. Higher temperatures change:
- The length of seasons
- The timing of seasons
- The amount of rain
- The frequency of rain
Combined, these factors bring about massive climate change, which results in flooding, droughts, increased sea levels, and irrevocable modifications to ecosystems. In the end, it affects all life on earth.
One major contributor to carbon emission all over the world is the industry sector. This writeup explores how industries create emissions and what steps can be taken to undo the adverse effect. Click Here – https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46347453 tells About The Climate Changes Due To Co2.
How Do Industries Generate Greenhouse Gases?
Industries, including MSME, create goods or raw material every single day. This production emits greenhouse gases. In industrial production, the emissions are classified under 2 categories:
- Direct emissions are those gases that are released by the production facility on-site.
- Indirect emissions are those which occur off-site and are connected to the energy the facility utilizes.
With industries and enterprises increasing CO2 levels almost every step of the way, it stands to reason that even the smallest actions can make a huge impact. This is why businesses are taking a cue from climate change measures implemented by the government and other nations. Firms listed under the BSE Top 200 are already setting a target to:
- Diminish the amount of CO2 their operations yield
- Amplify the usage of renewable energy
- Turn units more efficient by reducing energy consumption
What’s surprising is that it is not just the top stock market performers who are taking these steps. Yes, Mahindra, Essar Oil, Infosys, TCS, and Dr. Reddy’s are responding to climate change, but even the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises are taking them.
Almost 500 units in India covering 8 sectors that utilise the most energy have reduced CO2 emissions by 31 million tonnes in a period of three years. This is 1.93% reduction in the greenhouse gases India produces!
What Steps Can An MSME Take To Lessen Carbon Production?
- Evaluating the carbon footprint
The simplest way to fight global warming is to measure how much pollution your MSME unit generates. To do so, assess your carbon footprint using a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions assessment. After you know the footprint, change your policies, and put in place strategies that reduce CO2. For example, make use of better technology and improve your process/product management. Even basic steps can reduce the overall emission drastically.
- Lessen energy use
Buildings, even those used by MSME, are one of the biggest energy users. Therefore, the second step to reducing CO2 emissions is to use less energy. If you are constructing a new warehouse, plant, or facility, make sure it is energy efficient. For already existing buildings, you can turn down the central heating/conditioning during the night. By keeping moderate temperatures at all times, a building can save CO2 emission by 2000 pounds a year!
- Invest in renewable energy
More than reducing energy, it is changing the source of it that helps. MSMEs can switch to solar power by installing panels on rooftops. If that is not possible, then invest in wind energy. When that is not feasible, try carbon offsetting, which includes actions like reforestation.
Although India Inc and the small and medium-sized enterprises are indeed working towards reducing the carbon footprint, more is required. India is an emerging country, which means in the coming years, greenhouse emissions may rise to 85%. Therefore, industries need to ramp up their efforts and take many more steps.