The key to a greener, cleaner future

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the main greenhouse gas that is considered to be a root cause of climate change. Others include nitrous oxide, water vapour, methane, and ozone levels in the atmosphere. Reducing CO2 levels means slowing down the process of climate change that has been responsible for rising sea levels, increased coastal flooding, glacial deterioration, droughts, desertification, the depletion of water resources, and unpredictable and severe weather conditions. The energy sector is viewed as the single largest emitter of greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide makes up the major portion of emissions as industries, factories, transportation and various other sources have been pumping the gas into the atmosphere. The 2012 EPI (Environmental Sustainability Index) has set a common target of carbon dioxide reduction for all countries. The target reflects a 50 per cent global reduction below the year 2000 level by 2050. Almost all countries have been refining laws and adopting new policies to regulate human activities responsible for carbon emissions. "The world is more alive to the issue and different countries have been adopting strict measures to monitor and reduce the emission of the carbon dioxide gas," said Syed Nadeem Hassan, an environmentalist in Al Ain. The International Energy Agency (IEA), he said, has also been monitoring carbon dioxide emission from fossil fuel combustion in all the countries. He said developing countries have to increase their efforts in reducing carbon dioxide as growing industrial development, demand for energy generation and consumption combined with less efficient transportation systems, are making a major dent in global efforts to control climate change. The Kyoto Protocol has also set targets for developed countries to reduce emissions and it became legally-binding for more than 55 countries when it was ratified on February 16, 2005. According to IEA statistics, CO2 emissions decreased globally in 2009 due to the efforts of individual countries. It was, however, not sustained and a significant increase was noted in 2010. The increase was due to emerging countries such as China and India. But the good news is other developed countries succeeded in decreasing their CO2 emissions by 3.4 per cent. International drives for environmental protection have played a positive role in creating public awareness on the issue. Tree plantation, forest protection, more fuel-efficient transport vehicles, the development of mass transport systems, and alternate sources of energy are some of the measures being taken around the world.