Climate change is not a myth
The experts who assess the health of the planet are showing numerous evidence that the earth has been getting warmer and most of them believe that human activity particularly deforestation and burning of fossil fuels is catalysing the build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Why Carbon dioxide is a problem?
Globalisation encourages deforestation and it has an indirect but very significant cause of the greenhouse effect. Clearing and logging reduce the volume of Carbon dioxide (CO2) that plants convert into oxygen. This translates into an equivalent increase in the volume of CO2 in the atmosphere and thus adds to the greenhouse effect. Burning the cleared wood releases vast quantities of CO2 and these emissions from deforestation would increase the concentration of Green House Gases in the atmosphere. The tropical primary forest lost 11.9 million hectares of tree cover in 2019, according to data from the University of Maryland.
Climate change is not a myth, it is real!
Nearly eight years ago, noted Ecologist Madhav Gadgil had warned about the impending natural disasters threatening coastal states, unless critical steps were taken to conserve the ecologically fragile Western Ghats spread over six states is a treasure trove of biodiversity and source of major rivers, including the Godavari, Krishna and Cauvery. The recommendations, which have been ignored by state governments, are back in focus due to the recent monsoon fury with floods and landslides killing hundreds across Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra. The report has highlighted that many of the reservoirs, especially in the steep valleys, are silting up prematurely due to the massive encroachment and deforestation of catchments consequent of dam construction.
The year 2019 turned out to be the “lost decade” for the world’s tropical forests, with surging deforestation from Brazil to the Congo Basin where fires were burning through rainforests on four continents. Recent studies appear to show that deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon was skyrocketing during June and July.
When temperatures rise and ice melts, more water flows to the seas from glaciers, and ocean water warms and expands in volume which can result in rising sea level which has the potential to bring incredible changes to the coastal line. NASA’s laser altimeter study shows the edges of Greenland’s ice sheet shrinking. The Kilimanjaro have melted more than 80 per cent since 1912. Glaciers in the Garhwal Himalaya in India are retreating so fast that researchers believe that most central and eastern Himalayan glaciers could virtually disappear by 2035.
A new UNESCO study says the world’s coral reefs, from the Great Barrier Reef off Australia to Seychelles off East Africa, are in grave danger of dying out completely by mid-century unless carbon emissions are reduced enough to slow ocean warming. Of the 29 World Heritage reef areas, at least 25 of them will experience twice-per-decade severe bleaching events by 2040 — a frequency that will “rapidly kill most corals present and prevent successful reproduction necessary for the recovery of corals,” the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization quoted.
Indonesia’s rainforests are one of the earth’s most biologically and culturally rich landscapes. The world’s largest archipelago, Indonesia consists of almost 18,000 islands and 3,000 animal species including Sumatran tigers, pygmy elephants, rhinoceros and orangutans. But sadly Indonesia has the highest rate of deforestation in the world. Since the 1960s, the demand for commodities like palm oil, pulp, paper, and plywood combined with political and corporate interest has resulted in skyrocketing forest clearing in Indonesia where Many unique species like the Javan tiger are already extinct and many others, like the orangutan, are gravely threatened. Due to the widespread demolition, Indonesia is now the world’s third-largest emitter of greenhouse gasses after the U.S. and China.
Consume differently to make a change
It’s up to all of us
Globalization is the current norm in any business undertaking. With ambitions come collaterals organisations are trying to achieve a global footprint by exhausting natural resources. Document management is derived from a vital part of the natural resources through deforestation. The usage of paper in an organization should be checked to minimise the impact of globalisation on the environment.
Industrialization is the major culprit behind climate change, even when countries are participating in global summits for addressing environmental concerns. Optimum Digitisation and paperless office can help in overcoming the adverse impact of deforestation. The green initiative is not only a part of CSR but also plays a vital role in the sustainability model of an organization. Papers used for documentation in business are produced by an exhaustive use of natural resources like water and tree pulp which adds up to deforestation, and land and water pollution.
Even though the paper is never blamed on its own for climatic changes or global warming but it adversely affects the globe at every stage of its production. Paper is the third or fourth-largest source of industrial greenhouse gas emissions in most developed countries. Trees are being cut down at an alarming rate. This, in turn, will increase global warming and create an imbalance in the ecosystem. Considering the current global scenario, many companies are trying to reduce the use of paper. We all have to look for sustainable alternatives at the company and personal levels. Before spreading awareness change should come within.
Electronic media and the advanced technology of digitisation are the new rays of hope in the 21st century to conserve trees. A robust sustainable model must be implemented to save biodiversity. Digitization of documents and proper recycling of waste paper is the key factor of this model. It’s the peak time that people should start being more eco-friendly by avoiding print materials and shifting to digital platforms like cloud documentation. It’s the peak time to address the issue. No more research, No more talks, it’s time to act. We are the future hope of the planet.
