Prof Chetan Singh Solanki Advocates Inactivity for Climate Repair

Pro. Chetan Singh Solanki Professor at IIT Bombay

As the temperature increases, it is discussed everywhere that plant trees, increase greenery, only then the heat will reduce. This thinking is partially correct, but not the whole truth. The main reason for the unbearable heat we are experiencing today is not the cutting of trees, it is the greenhouse gases that we are continuously releasing into our atmosphere. These gases cover the Earth like a blanket and do not allow the Sun’s heat to go out.

Today the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is about 53% more than the normal level. This means the Earth’s ability to trap heat has increased by 53%. Due to this extra heat the temperature of the earth is continuously increasing. Currently, the biggest reason for this excess heat is our energy consumption, which includes the use of petrol, diesel, gas, electricity and everyday products.

At present, about 75% of the total carbon emissions come from this. Land use change, farming and deforestation also cause carbon emissions, but together they account for about 25%. Even in this 25%, the carbon emissions caused by cutting of trees are only about 10%.

This simply means that a major part of the problem is related to our lifestyle and consumption. This is where we go wrong personally, socially and politically. We focus on a small part of the problem and look for solutions around that. Planting trees is certainly necessary, but it is not a fundamental solution to climate change.

If our consumption continues to increase like this, then even millions and billions of trees will not be able to balance this problem. We have to accept an uncomfortable, but necessary truth – today humanity is using far more resources than the Earth can carry. We are living as if we have more than one Earth, when in reality there is only one.

What could be the first and most effective step in this situation? We have to reduce our consumption of energy and goods by almost half. Unless we strike a balance between our needs and desires, no technology, no policy or no campaign can provide a lasting solution. Unfortunately, every effort of governments and every advertisement of companies encourages you to consume more and more, and you get trapped in its vicious cycle.

We often say – prevention is better than cure. This holds even more true in the context of climate change. Planting trees, installing solar panels or adopting electric vehicles – all these are commendable efforts for treatment. But prevention is to reduce unnecessary consumption.

And the most interesting thing is that this prevention is not dependent on any big technology, huge investment or government policy. It completely depends on our own decisions. What we buy, how much we use, and what we can discard – that’s what matters.

The biggest step towards climate change is in-activity, i.e. doing nothing. This means not buying or using unnecessary things. Its impact is huge. If we don’t stop today, history will remember us the same way we remember dinosaurs. Years later, a new species will come to Earth and say, once upon a time there used to be humans on Earth!

(These are the author’s own views)

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