Environmental problems are a widely understood phenomenon although not much has been achieved in this direction. Pollution, particularly carbon-based emission is the core of the environmental negative effects. Although the world aspires for a low carbon society (LCS), the modalities of achieving it and the results achieved so far are debatable.
The world nations have decided to cut emission to pre-industrialization levels by 2050. This is in fact a very bold aspiration reflecting the unanimity of thought among the member nations. However, is this really achievable and even if achieved, is this actually sustainable?.
The impact of the ozone layer by chloro fluorocarbons was learnt for the first time in 1970. Chemicals mostly used in aerosol and refrigeration were found to destroy ozone in the earth’s stratosphere, which permitted harmful UV radiation to pass through. Greenhouse effect traps heat in the lower atmosphere of the earth, and with heat not being able to escape , earth becomes warmer.
Excessive energy consumption due to industrialization has led to higher CO2 emission worldwide, accelerating global warming. Global warming and the role of man in it was highlighted only in 1995 by the Inter-governmental panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Climate changes have already brought about several undesired climate changes including heat waves, frosts, storms, loss of forests and species extinction. These can all be attributed to institutional and governmental failures. However fortunately carbon emissions is well integrated with social and economic infrastructure. Subsidization of fuel has led to excess fuel usage, which in turn produced more Greenhouse gas emissions.
Trees are capable of removing CO2 in the air and forests can absorb CO2 over 10 times than that absorbed by grasslands or crops. But with about 50 million acres of rain forests destroyed annually, the level of CO2 emissions only keep increasing 0.4% every year. The LCS is an ambitious plan by the global community to reverse this situation.
Nations have framed alliances to work together in achieving their respective LCS. The need for a research network to help achieve LCS was emphasized in Kobe as early as 2008 when the G8 environment ministers met. The International Research Network LCS-RNET was subsequently set up to compare and share political, strategic and research concepts.
Meanwhile the global carbon emissions rose by 3% in 2011, hitting a record of 34 billion tons with China, US, EU, India, and Russia being the 5 top emitters.
The international community intends to reduce Greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by the year 2050, so as to restrict global average temperature change within two degree centigrade with regard to pre-industrial times. These goals can be achieved through the realization of LCSs, particularly in Asia.
This is a huge challenge for Asia whose outcome is very relevant to global welfare. With over 50% of the global population, establishing LCSs being in Asian countries; they require designing methodologies and policies based on their individual needs. Given the fact that power generation and transport are the main sources of emission, replacing them within a time-based, policy-based framework is a mammoth task for Asian countries. Economic, social, and technological barriers do exist in achieving LCSs, particularly in Asia.
Although the EU and the US has met short term goals and are on track to realize LCS, emissions from China rose by 6.9% and from India by 6% in 2011. As for India, the country is already plagued by several issues and achieving LCS seems to be another man’s problem.As for China, it already has a poor track of contributing to global welfare.
Both these countries would find it difficult to invest socially in the development of LCS. With a massive rich-poor gap, LCS development is considerably hindered due to its social set up. Achieving LCS should go hand in hand with all its stakeholders and this would not be easy for India and China.
Nations like India and China should primarily bring about a public awareness on the environmental situation, and assume the role of torch bearers for Asia in achieving LCSs. While technology transfer and its adaptation should not be difficult, particularly with the global will to share, the social set up in Asian countries must be compatible to it.
People need to be educated, made aware of the current crisis and the uncertainty ahead. Undoubtedly when it comes to achieving LCSs in Asia, the challenges like loss of livelihoods, lower incomes, inability to adapt, would be mammoth tasks for the governments.
