Too many things have been written and same story has been told too many a times. Composition of carbon dioxide and green house gases has been constantly rising in the Earth’s atmosphere, and we have emitted more gases in the atmosphere than anytime before. Molecules of these gases acts as heat trap thus resulting in increase in earth’s temperature. Most of the Climatic changes observed in the recent years have been attributed to Global Warming and high emission of GHG in Earth’s atmosphere.

Answer to the problem

Answer to the problem can be summed in one line; ‘Reduce carbon and green house gas emission in the atmosphere before it’s too late’. Stop dependency on fossil fuels and look out for renewable energy which can be substituted for the energy needs.

Problem with the Answer: The Paradox

It’s easy said than done.

First, rapid industrialization, growth and current life style has brought us to a point where our demand for high energy needs is growing every day. The primary source of this demand is fulfilled by coal and petroleum.

Second, we have failed to find any alternate source of energy other than the fossil fuels. Even after decades of research and innovations we still haven’t been able to find any other source of energy which can remove dirty fuels from their dominance. Wind, Solar, Bio, Nuclear all exist but they haven’t been able to come out and make a mark. They show more problems than they solve and economic viability of these energy sources has always been a topic of debate.

Now we cannot give up our automobiles, thermal power stations cannot be shut down, cement and steel plants cannot be locked, we end up in a circle a paradox which we need to break and find a solution to the answer.

The Solution:

We have to understand and accept the fact that emission of carbon and GHGs cannot be stopped completely and as we move ahead it’s only going to increase. We have to find a solution that not only solves the bigger problem but also goes hand in hand with the economic growth.

Kyoto: UN leads the way

To tackle the problem and come out with a solution which was globally accepted UNFCCC – United Nation Framework Convention of Climate Change in 1998 proposed a framework against climate change and global warming popularly known as ‘Kyoto Protocol’.

Kyoto is based on the principal of ‘off-setting what we are emitting’, or in a simpler term ‘buying your right to pollute the environment’. E.g. If a factory is producing 100 tonne of carbon dioxide each year, they have to offset this pollution by investing in a green project or buying carbon credits equivalent to 100 tonne of CO2.

Kyoto in its guidelines goes on to define carbon offset target that needs to be met by each country. So if a country is emitting x tonne of carbon per year it has to bring down the level by y%. Idea is to offset the emission of carbon so that it becomes globally sustainable and controlled. Kyoto defines various mechanisms how countries can offset the emission.

Learn more about Kyoto Protocol.

Learn more about Carbon Trading

Offset: The Best of the solutions

Offsetting is one of the best solutions which can actually lead the way to find a solution to climate change and global warming.

First, it tries to make a balance with the emission. In future if every carbon emission has an offset, we can maintain the level of carbon we have reached and probably even reduce as we progress more.

Second, carbon emission can be offset any where in the world. If a factory is operating in Germany they can run an offset project in Mexico as the impact of offset is global and does not necessarily has to be at the same place.

Third, since countries have option of choosing where to run the offset projects, they can choose an option where it is financially cheaper. Developing nations of Asia and Africa are the biggest gainer by this. Project investment in these countries not only fuels their economic growth but they also reduce their own carbon emission by hosting such project.

Fourth, it does not stop business and factories to operate. Companies can carry their ‘business as usual’ and continue with their growth and expansion.

Offset mechanism included projects like a-forestation and reforestation, wind energy, solar energy, bio-fuel, Hydro energy, Land fill gas to name a few.

In the End

Global Warming and Climate Change has made us think, how we have progressed in last 50 years. Our dependency and life style has to go through a change but it cannot be done in a single day or short span of time. ‘Switching off my yellow light bulb’ and ‘planting a tree outside every house’ are all good, but impact of such things have to measured on a global term and in that respect ‘offset’ is the best solution we have.