Imagine an India without the Everest. Actually, strike that. Imagine an India without south Mumbai or worse, Goa!
Sounds like a lame conspiracy theory but the truth is in a few years, our cities like Mumbai & Chennai face a clear & present danger of disappearing from the face of the planet.Wanna do something about it? Wake up to the problem first
Cars (especially SUV's) are big environmental pollutants. They release toxic carbon dioxide and thus not just burn a hole in your pocket but also in the ozone layer! So the next time you want to go somewhere, why not cycle instead?
Using paper & wood
Using paper isn’t half as good as you think it is. Deforestation is responsible for 25% of all carbon dioxide release entering the atmosphere so when we cut down trees, we’re increasing global warming. The next time, use cloth bags instead of paper/plastic.
Eating supermarket meat
The digestive tracts of some animals like goats, cows and lambs produce methane, a major greenhouse gas. In addition animal husbandry is responsible for 18% of global greenhouse gas emissions. So the next time you crave meat, think twice!
Using earth - unfriendly appliance
Most of the electrical appliances in your house, such as the A/C, refrigerator and yellow bulbs are using up loads of non renewable resources, releasing greenhouse gases and increasing global warming at this very moment! So, switch them off if there is no need!
Extreme weather
When the temperature in summer hits a blistering 50 -55 degrees you know things aren't what they used to be. When global warming rises, summers get hotter, winters get colder, drought and floods become even more common. It may not matter to you when you’re sitting in your air conditioned apartment, but maybe your overheated monthly energy bills will clue you in to the problem.
Sinking landmass
The Himalayas are melting. And with it our cities and even countries are sinking. Want to go to Maldives? Well in a few years, places like Maldives and Venice will be buried many leagues under the sea. Global warming as caused melting ice caps and rising sea levels resulting in the slow sinking of many land masses. This leads to large scale migration and with it, dire economic consequences.
Health effects
Erratic weather patterns and climate change contributes to disease and premature deaths. From malnutrition to disease and injury from forest fires, storms, droughts and heat waves, we are all going to be sick more than before. According to a 2009 study by University College London academics, climate change and global warming pose the biggest threat to human health in the 21st century
Increased animal extinctions
Climate change is a big threat to species diversity. A doubling of present carbon dioxide levels (as predicted by many climatologists) and rising temperatures could potentially eliminate 56,000 plant and 3,700 animal species in the 25 hot spot regions. That means no polar bears, and subsequently no animals in the entire arctic.
Clean Energy
Something as simple as changing a regular light bulb to a CFC one goes a long way towards helping the environment. Other clean energy solutions like wind, solar & even water will help us move towards a sustainable way of living. Where you can help is simply by making the right choices. When consumers demand green energy, investment increases and the entire system is sustainable
Responsible governance, responsible citizens
New laws & regulations to control climate change can make a real difference. Simple but far reaching initiatives such as governance, stricter rules against pollution & emission, reducing traffic & congestion can go a long way towards a cooler planet. As a citizen demand more from your leaders and spread the word amongst people you know
Offsets & Credits
Global solutions such as carbon offsets and carbon credits have been proposed to control climate change. Using these instruments, individuals can exchange carbon credits for fuel / electricity. One carbon offset represents the reduction of one metric ton of carbon dioxide or its equivalent in other greenhouse gases.
Each one, teach one
Global warming has largely been expedited by humans. And its up to us to save ourselves.
Educate yourself on the facts, causes and things you can do as an individual. Khud Jaago aur doosron ko jaagao.
Choose clean power.
More than half the electricity we consume comes from polluting coal-fired power plants. And power plants are the single largest source of heat-trapping gas
Unplug the freezer.
When you're not using your refrigerator, remember to pull the plug. You'll be reducing your family's carbon dioxide emissions by almost10%.
Light bulbs matter.
At home, replace your incandescent bulbs with more efficient compact fluorescents.You'll cut back on heat-trapping pollution & electricity.
Plant a tree.
Plant a tree. Trees provide for cooler and cleaner air, shade, reduce our energy requirements and most importantly, fossil fuel use.
Let policymakers know you are concerned about global warming.
Start a citizen movement & put pressure on policymakers to take informed decisions and act on the global warming crisis.