There is already a lot of talk about global warming, the importance of curbing emissions etc. But a new post from me would be like a drop in the ocean! (Thats how I convince myself whenever I am using my vaccuum cleaner or washing machine, hair dryer or AC - the impact of my using them on global warming is just like a drop in the ocean. How much does it affect it!)
Anyways, my reference point is the article below.
Most of the articles I have read till now talk about how developed countries are more responsible than the developing countries or how developing countries cannot act irresponsibly towards global warming . Everybody is blaming each other! But nobody is talking about what are the steps developed and developing countries can take to curb the emissions. What are the 'practical' steps?
One Option:
Do you want China to stop the factories? But how would the developed world survive? China is not manufacturing just for itself. China's major manufacturing is done for the West. And if China takes steps to improve the quality of its manufacturing to curb emissions, is the West prepared to pay for the increase in product prices? Wouldn't they just shift the manufacturing from China to maybe Africa or wherever it is cheaper?
And maybe then West will start blaming Africa then!
Another option:
Do you want Indians to stop buying cars? Can you force the likes of GMs and Toyotas to manufacture low price hybrid cars and sell only those to Indians? People in India don't care whether they are driving petrol cars or hybrid cars. They have just enough money to buy one. So you provide them hybrid cars at the same price and they will go for it. Can you do that?
One more option:
Do you want to teach the people from developed countries to decrease their usage of electricity? Afterall, electricity & heat accounts for 24.6% of worldwide gas emissions. Residential buildings alone account for 9.9% of worldwide gas emissions and commercial buildings account for another 5.4%. Most of this electricity is probably being consumed in developed countries. We haven't talked about transportation here which contributes 13.5% gas emissions worldwide. Also we are not talking about how the consumer demand for goods and products (which is probably highest in the developed countries) makes industries contribute 10% of the worldwide gas emissions. There is a lot that the general public in developed countries can do. Since most of the population is literate and well educated and understands the implications of global warming, it will be a good start to teach them to decrease their usage of electricity, consumer goods and transportation. That will help decrease emissions from sources that account for 50% of total worldwide emissions!
What is needed is to stop the blame game, and think about 'practical' steps for the whole world to follow to curb emissions. And please don't discuss whether Indians should buy cars or not. That is practially unstoppable unless you stop producing, buying and using cars.
2 comments:
Dear Ritesh,
Indeed thoughtful thoughts.
Considering the fact that developed nations (few in number) account for a major portion of the emissions, it seems to make sense to put a bigger portion of the responsibility on them. Moreover, they have a more 'developed' population too which can appreciate that there indeed is a problem.
However, I don't find myself in any position to really thinking effectively in this line of thought ('who is responsible' line of thought). It requires one to really know a lot about what the world is like, and what's going on out there. I, who doesn't even read newspapers or watches news, am hardly one such person. I think in a very microscopic level. And here are my small contributions to your thoughts.
- I guess, it does make sense to do things which save energy. Not because the physical contribution to the saving in emissions, but in a slightly more complicated way. So, here's a more general theoretical funda:
In whatever we do, we are continuously setting examples. People around us continuously pick up little things from us -- gestures, mannerisms, dressing sense, lifestyle elements -- , depending upon the credibility/identification/idolisation they associate with us. This credibility is earned when it gets proved that our ways result in 'more successful' and a 'better' life as understood by the onlooker. This rules out an out and out austere style of life for most people, because, even if the global physical benefits of leading an austere life might be tremendous, it fails to connect to many others. In short, what I do in the direction of saving energy shouldn't merely communicate my concern, but also the fact that overall, I personally am better off by doing so. People learn those things faster which work for oneself, rather than those which work for others, resulting in personal austerities.
Hence, I repeat: it does make sense to save energy here and there. And everytime I do it, it also makes sense to pass on a little tacit message that it's not much trouble doing so (possibly by doing it with a smile on my face). If I myself feel it's too much trouble to save that extra bit, I won't it. That way, I would create 10 sceptics by saving an iota of emission. That doesn't make sense.
Second point: I feel that Indians should indeed start thinking rather early that they are too many of them. Western models of development have no hope of scaling in an inclusive way in India's case. There should be an active (re)search for alternative models of development which don't pivot on energy consumption. If we are able to come out with such a model, it would perhaps be another of the great contributions that this nation makes to the world. But it involves the risk of falling behind in the race of 'development.' It's a tradeoff.
Sounds theoretical? Well, that's OK! ;)
Of course I had to comment on this one :)
To me this issue goes beyond a "blame game" because unless something is done, and done efficaciously EVERYBODY LOSES. Sadly, some studies show that global warming will hurt developing countries as much and very possibly more than developed countries.
I also think India and China would be just so smart to take on this issue and seriously tackle emmisions. This would put them clearly on the moral high ground (which counts for A LOT these days) and, for better of for worse, would make the United States look, well, incompetent and somewhat backwards. I find it interesting that China has higher fuel economy standards than the US -- the American Auto Industry claims it is too expensive. . .And there is no clear evidence that using clean technologies is bad for business so. . .why not.
We are actually saving lots of money at home by saving energy so it is a win-win for us personally (with compact flourescent bulbs and energy efficient appliances).
Interesting topic. . .
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