ACCELERATING
SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

It all started in the 90s when international conferences took up a crucial issue of sustainable development. Decades after discussing climate-related challenges, now governments, people and corporations are actually assessing and contributing to the sustainability journey of the planet. The target set to lower the global temperatures is one such step. Such initiatives have turned people’s heads towards ever-pressing issues of global warming and associated challenges.

Here, often we are stormed with a sea of information that we focus majorly on the context rather than the significance of terms on an individual basis. Sustainability, climate change, net-zero, carbon emissions are the buzzwords. The context remains the same as that of climate change but fundamentally they are different. Everyone, including companies, tend to understand the climate lingo but hardly they are clear about the goals. Read on further and know the difference among the concepts of carbon-neutral, net-zero and climate positive.

Carbon neutral:

As the name suggests, carbon-neutral is the balancing out of carbon emissions from your firm. It is more like owning a complete responsibility for one’s own carbon emissions. Corporates and companies need to assess and analyse their carbon emissions. Such analysis gives an idea about the number of carbon emissions that need to be balanced out. It is then that firms plan to come out carbon neutral by saving an equivalent amount of carbon emissions somewhere else in the world.

Net-zero:

The Net-zero concept is a simple concept of balancing out the net emissions created. Here emissions are of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide. These levels are reached when anthropogenic emissions balance out with the help of pre-determined activities.

Climate Positive:

It lies in that much-awaited stage in the sustainability journey, wherein companies or entities tend to remove an additional amount of carbon from the atmosphere. It has reached the level of achieving net-zero emissions and now stands beyond the same. This term is often used interchangeably with climate negative.

Is your company carbon neutral or climate positive or has net-zero emissions?

Well, after knowing these are different and important concepts, a firm needs to introspect about these. Raising these questions can help us achieve our environmental goals faster. Prior to that, your company needs to analyse emissions. Accordingly, you can set realistic goals and plan a roadmap. For the same, consult a team of professionals dealing in the same.

Hopefully, tech giants and corporates are taking steps towards assessing their goals and contributions. However, a lot needs to be done collectively on this pressing issue, until we balance out our needs with our climate’s needs.

Humans don’t realize the importance of saving the environment unless the effects of their doings dawn upon them to destroy their existence; It's not all their fault because the average human life is 79 years (give or take) & earth is so vastly big that the effects of what humans do, don’t reflect until the generation which actively got involved to do it, gets wiped off the face of the earth in a natural biological life course. The next generation then again takes time to get acquainted with the fact that there are ill effects of what is being done.

Talking about the health of our mother earth; here are 5 shocking facts to put things into perspective:

1. Witnessing irreversible effects by 2030

If global warming goes above the recommended limit; more than 70% of Earth's coastlines will have their sea-level rise greater than 0.66 feet (0.2 meters), resulting in excessive coastal flooding, beach-sand erosion, salinization of water supplies & other impacts on humans & ecological systems which will be very harmful to the human life on earth. (Source: https://climate.nasa.gov/)

According to the findings of the survey conducted by the UN Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), critically urgent action is needed to avoid the catastrophic effects of global warming over the world. Without the change in our actions towards our environment, we would see an increase in widespread flooding, extreme heat, drought & poverty.

2. Greenhouse gas levels are ever-peaking

Due to the rise in earth’s temperature, greenhouses gases accumulation is affecting nature’s natural processes more than ever. Fossil fuels combustion, Carbon-mono oxide emissions, & the environmental impact because of intensive farming has filled the atmosphere with CO2.

Scientists say that this is the fastest & the largest increase in CO2 emissions; the world has ever seen.

3. Species headed straight towards early extinction

One of the environmental deterioration signs is the extinction of various species from earth, be it animals, birds, reptiles etc. Most of other species' existence are endangered too

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, which involved more than 1000 experts, says that about 24 species a day get wiped out from the earth which comes to about 8700s species, per year (Source: e360.yale.edu).

4. Climate change is creating a refugee crisis

As global temperature sees a rise, millions of people living in areas that are very much prone to sudden collapse due to any natural adversity are fleeing their homes to avoid the impacts of potential droughts and foreseeable extreme storms. These numbers are only set to rise in the coming future. The International Organisation on Migration gauges that up to 200 million people would be displaced by the effects of climatic changes by 2050.

(Source: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2021/09/13/climate-change-could-force-216-million-people-to-migrate-within-their-own-countries-by-2050)

5. Our oceans are dying

Our planet is only as healthy as its oceans. The UN has warned that marine life faces irrecoverable damage from the millions of tonnes of plastic waste that ends up in the oceans, every year. More than half of the world’s coral reefs have died in the last 30 years, and 2/3 of the Great Barrier Reef has been damaged by coral bleaching; due to sea temperature going too high up.

(Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/scientists-work-to-save-coral-reefs-climate-change-marine-parks)

The earth itself indeed acts like a living organism; it restores what is being destroyed. But we are causing more damage than the earth can repair. The natural flooding, timely earthquakes, the occasional droughts don’t affect the earth one bit but it destroys human, animal and plant life as we know it.

The Earth will stay alive and kicking much longer after the last traces of the human race could be found on its land. So, it is our decision to challenge the natural course of action or to get aligned with it.

It's high time we take control and make positive changes otherwise doomsday is just around the corner waiting for us

In the relentless struggle against climate change, two unsung heroes have emerged from the Earth's embrace - land and forests. While these resources may seem unassuming, they wield unparalleled influence in mitigating the colossal challenge posed by rising global temperatures. Let's delve into the intricate ways in which land and forests play a pivotal role in combating climate change.

The Carbon Dilemma: A Tale of Sinks and Sources

At the heart of the matter lies carbon dioxide (CO2), the notorious greenhouse gas responsible for trapping heat in our atmosphere. Forests, trees, and grasses collectively act as nature's "sinks" for CO2, heroically absorbing a significant portion of this harmful gas emitted through human activities. This process, known as carbon sequestration, is akin to Earth's own carbon capture and storage technology.

Yet, like a multifaceted puzzle, this story isn't solely one of absorption. The land also serves as a source of CO2 emissions, a consequence of activities such as deforestation and land degradation. These actions release stored carbon back into the atmosphere, contributing to the alarming rise in CO2 levels. Thus, understanding the delicate balance between land as a sink and a source is crucial in comprehending its role in the climate equation.

The Dance of Estimation and Uncertainty

Scientists shoulder the responsibility of deciphering the intricate dance between land, forests, and carbon. They endeavor to estimate the net impact of these natural systems on carbon emissions. This intricate task is no easy feat, considering the myriad variables at play - from diverse forest ecosystems to ever-changing human interventions

Enter climate change, a disruptor that further complicates this intricate ballet. Escalating temperatures place stress on forests, rendering them susceptible to devastating wildfires. As landscapes transform, their ability to sequester carbon is jeopardized. In essence, forests, once reliable carbon sinks, are challenged by the very crisis they seek to alleviate.

Peering Through the Numbers: Insights from Research

Research, as a beacon of understanding, illuminates the intricate nuances of this relationship. A study published in Nature Climate Change (2021) unveiled a striking revelation. Over the span of two decades, global forests sequestered twice as much carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) as they emitted. This delicate balancing act, led by Nancy Harris and her team at the World Resources Institute, demonstrated that forests annually absorbed approximately 15.6 billion tons of CO2e, overshadowing emissions from disturbances.

In parallel, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Climate Change and Land 2019 corroborated this narrative. Land use, it indicated, contributed to 13% of human-induced CO2 emissions while concurrently acting as a net sink of around 11.2 billion tons CO2 per year. This net carbon absorption equated to a staggering 29% of total CO2 emissions during the same period.

The Green Road Ahead: Reforestation and Beyond

With our planet at a precipice, the preservation and expansion of forests are thrust into the global spotlight. As nations grapple with the inadequacy of emission reductions, reforestation emerges as a beacon of hope. The idea is simple yet profound: by nurturing existing forests and strategically planting new trees, we amplify nature's ability to counteract our carbon emissions.

However, this endeavor poses multifaceted challenges. Land ownership, equitable distribution of benefits, and the true cost of preserving these ecosystems become focal points. It is imperative that the noble cause of reforestation does not inadvertently perpetuate social or economic inequities.

In a world where climate solutions are paramount, the significance of land and forests as allies cannot be overstated. They stand as testament to nature's resilience and offer tangible pathways to confront climate change head-on. As we navigate the path to a sustainable future, the role of land and forests serves as a compelling reminder of the interconnectedness that binds humanity to the environment.