How individuals can save a warming planet 

News: Recently, the IPCC report for the first time included a chapter on “demand, services and social aspects of mitigation”. It implies a paradigm shift in the way we think about climate action. 

The chapter puts people and their well-being at the centre of climate change mitigation.  

What is this new understanding, as mentioned in the IPCC report? 

So far, climate action has been focused on the supply side, i.e., what needs to be supplied to people. It ignored the demand side, i.e., what people need, demand, and aspire for.

The people aspire for a healthy life, food for daily nutrition, a comfortable home, and transportation system, thermal comfort, communication, and participation in decision-making processes. Therefore, the burden of mitigation should be reduced on the supply side. And, focus should shift to the demand side.  

What has been proposed by the report regarding lifestyle changes for climate change mitigation? 

Comprehensive demand-side mitigation strategies must be adopted.

– For example, individuals can go for reduction in food waste, sustainable healthy dietary choices, adaptive heating and cooling choices for thermal comfort etc. 

Individuals having high socio-economic status contribute disproportionately to emissions. Therefore, they have the highest potential for emissions reductions.

Efforts can be made to reduce inequality and forms of status-related consumption. The consumption of goods and services should be focused on the well-being instead of for social prestige. 

Immediate action can be undertaken in our lifestyle. It will enable people to lead low-carbon lifestyles.

– For example, shift in the mode of transport (walking, cycling etc.), industry, buildings, and food. Amongst all, walking, cycling and using electricity-powered transport can be the biggest contributor in climate change mitigation. 

What is the way forward? 

Individual choice alone can make only a modest contribution to reducing GHG emissions. It requires investment in and transformation across every sector. In addition, policy support is also needed which encourages people to make low-carbon choices in all aspects of their lives.  

Structural and cultural changes are important for people to lead low-carbon lifestyles. This enables people to make the right choices.

– For example, individual’s shift to walking and cycling require urban planning for land use, more green spaces, reallocation of street spaces for walking and physical exercise, etc.

In addition, the demand for fossil fuels has to reduce. The use of coal fuel must fall by 90% by 2050. The use of gas and oil need to decline by 25-50%. Further reductions would be required in gas and oil by 2100. 

The IPCC should continue to provide the evidence for policymakers, investors, and all other decision-makers to decide what needs to be done ahead. 

Source: The post is based on an article “How individuals can save a warming planet” published in the Indian Express on 6th April 22.