The United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change being held in Paris this year from November 30 –
Dec 11 has an overarching goal : to limit the rising temperature worldwide to
“not more than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels." I am sure
considering the level of political participation and interest - after all 150
world leaders are present at the conference, there will be some concrete
directives that will come through the process. 
However, I
feel that until each and every educated and earning member of the society or a
income-generating household does not contribute to the process and make climate
change a bottom up rather than a top down approach, not much can be achieved.
Considering the number of flights we take everywhere, the electricity we
expend, the garbage we generate, the paper we print and buy and waste, the
plastic we don’t recycle, the list is exhausting and long. I thus pledge myself
to living a more conscious life – a life which does not waste resources
unnecessarily, thinks before using any resource, recycles, and encourages
others to do so. For a scary analysis from WWF see this link - WWF Footprint. After
answering a series of questions it will tell you how many planets do we need if
everyone with “your” lifestyle lives on earth. My answer: 3.94. Scary I know.
You can sign up to reduce your footprint. After which you get regular tips on
how to reduce your footprint – such as buying locally produced food, walk
rather than use car or public transport, etc;
So here is my Pledge:
1. Stop printing paper and encourage others to avoid this as well. Being
a professor I always encourage my students to submit documents electronically.
However a lot of administrative and bureaucratic work required prints, signs,
scans, more prints and postage. This needs to be eliminated. Use digital
signatures to start with. I think a LOT more can be done in this domain.
2. Walk or take a cycle: Less reliance on cabs, taxis, and
other forms of transport. Difficult? Yes. Doable? I hope so!
3. Stop buying from companies that use too much packaging
materials. Or reach out to companies that use too much packaging material to
suggest a change. (Amazon are you listening?)
4. Recycle
5. Use energy efficient electrical equipment, appliances and
lights. And turn them off when not in use!
6. Don’t buy bottled water. Note to self; Order a BRITA Jug.
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| All Photos: Mudra Mukesh |
7. Limit air travel (this is going to be the most difficult to
do! Just look how pretty this Lake is! Which I had to get to on a plane. Obviously. New cycle goals perhaps?)
Well, God Speed to me then!
Do you have any suggestions for reducing your environment
footprint?
