On September 23, the world marks Zero Emissions Day-a global initiative that tries to give the earth a break from the emissions generated by humans. The goal is quite simple: people, companies, and governments need to stop or reduce their emissions for one day and remind people of the dire state of the climate and the urgency of reducing carbon footprint. This year, Zero Emissions Day gives the flexibility to reflect on the sustainability for India and its emphasis on ESG principles. The country has supported low-carbon growth.
Why Zero Emissions Day?
Zero Emissions Day was instituted in 2008 to bring attention to the rising environmental concerns due to climate change and increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) and other perilous greenhouse accumulations in the air. It is just one of those days that rallies the whole world to hold themselves back for a day from generating emissions such as in fossil fuels in cars, factories, and energy production. It encourages other measures like use of renewable energy, reduce consumption of electricity, and avoid using vehicles on the given day.
While a single day without emissions will not solve the climate crisis, it reminds everyone that there is an urgent need to undergo transformation towards sustainable and responsible practices. It brings attention to individual actions in the grand effort of controlling climate change.
India’s Urgent Role in Reducing Emissions
India serves as the world’s third-largest carbon dioxide emitter, playing an increasingly critical role in the battle against climate change. To this end, it has set ambitious commitments toward reducing its emissions under the Paris Agreement whereby it promised to lower its intensity of gases with emissions at 33-35% below the level of 2005 by 2030. It has further committed to producing at least half of its power coming from non-fossil resources within the same year, well aligned with its sustainable plan for urban development.
Zero Emissions Day happens at a time when India, now under growing pressure on the government to marry its economic growth with environmental sustainability is at barely the doorstep of striking this balance between its economic growth and sustainability. This country saw rapid industrialization and urbanization over the past decades that resulted in increasing levels of pollutants and carbon emissions in the atmosphere. Of course, India has been at the forefront in adopting renewable energy sources, notably solar power, as a substitute for fossil fuels.
Sustainability and ESG in India
In the last few years, India’s corporate world has witnessed a spiking rise in ESG discussion. ESG is a set of standards that companies follow for being socially responsible, environmentally conscious, and ethically operationally. This change has its way into media with increasing importance of investor consideration of ESG factors as major performance metrics for long-term sustainability in a firm’s outlook.
The Indian government has indeed considered the fact that ESG can be used to achieve climate goals. Consequently, it has brought up policy measures to encourage corporate responsibility on this issue. Companies listed on the Indian stock exchange are therefore now obligated to report on their ESG initiatives, demonstrating the increased importance of sustainable business practices in the country.
This will see Indian companies begin to add renewable energy in their operations, better practices on waste management, and a concerted carbon footprint reduction. All these are active sectors, which include manufacturing, retail, and finance areas still investing in cleaner, greener technologies with the global ESG standards. Days like Zero Emissions Day encourage such initiatives as they bring awareness to what role corporations and individuals can play in combating climate change.
India’s Zero Emission Future Renewable Energy
Indian strategy for reducing emissions is highly focused on the promotion of renewables. In India, some of the largest solar power installations in the world are located-many of which have been finalized in Rajasthan state. Solar power in this country has increased significantly during the past decade, thus reducing the dependence of this vast country on coal and other fossil fuels.
As part of the wider energy transition, electric mobility was also adopted in India. The Indian government has set a target up until 2030 whereby 30% of all vehicles in the country should be electric, which is a huge step forward to cut down the emissions from the transportation sector. Even though electric vehicles are still in the infancy of adoption, schemes like the FAME initiative for the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles helps accelerate the deployment of EV infrastructure-related development activities, including deployment of charging stations and battery manufacturing facilities.
Citizen Involvement on Zero Emission Day
While much can be said about the reducing of emissions by the governments and businesses, concern and effort at individual levels cannot be undermined. Participating on Zero Emissions Day can perhaps start with little changes that ultimately bring much to the table. Such changes include;
Avoiding unnecessary usage of energy by switching off or turning off electrical devices
Using public transport, walking, or cycling instead of taking or driving the car
Single use of plastics have to be avoided, instead, choose other considerable alternatives.
Promoting local and eco-friendly products that generate less carbon
Even in a country like India, immediate, palpable reductions from individual actions of lowering emissions could be realized as many cities face real air pollution. Air quality enhancement and reduction of fossil fuels improve public health, aside from ensuring this promotes a decrease in climate change.
Conclusion
Zero Emissions Day reminds all of us that urgent action to reduce emissions and protect the planet is more than essential- it’s now urgent. In India, it’s an opportunity to reflect on steps towards betterment in renewable energy, ESG compliance, and sustainable development. But still, the road to a zero-emissions future is not over yet.
Such massive commitments by the government, corporate sector, and citizens will undoubtedly make India well-positioned to have tangible progress towards lowering emissions. Considering how broad growth in industrialization and urbanization is taking place, sustainability practices will significantly need to be injected into daily life for the country to successfully meet its long-term goals on climate-related issues.
On this Zero Emissions Day, let’s take a step back, think about our impact on the planet, and commit to changing things for the better-that is, a cleaner, greener future.