CARBON NEUTRALITY

Carbon emissions remain to be one of the biggest threats to our environment. With it taking the lead in the list of the greenhouse gases causing global warming, it is therefore prudent to minimize its emission. This therefore calls for carbon neutrality measures.

This concept encompasses having a balance between the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere and the amount absorbed. Achieving this calls for using environment friendly methods such as; 

• Using biogas for cooking to replace use of firewood and charcoal.
• Use of solar energy to replace electricity.
• Aquamation instead of cremation.
•  Use of electric vehicles instead of the traditional ones.
• Planting more trees to have more forest covers which form the carbon sink among other methods.

Unfortunately, the fight to attain carbon neutrality has not been fruitful in most countries across the globe. Not because individuals are not aware of this methods but the ignorance, poverty levels among other reasons is a major contributor to that. Let’s take an example of Bhutan which has attained a carbon negative mark. It took the change in their constitution to ensure their forest cover does not drop below 60%, ban in log exportation among other measures. So, does it mean attaining carbon neutrality require enforcement from the Government? Is population also a factor as our case study has a low population?

Well, on one hand sometimes we need laws to act. We need law to eradicate ignorance and lame excuses. No one will be willing to be found on the bad side of their country’s law as the repercussions are always unpleasant. Who will cut down trees to burn charcoal if a country’s environmental laws state otherwise? Yes, you might be stubborn but the jail term and fines imposed on an offender of such law will see you stay calm and obedient. If this will be the only way to attain carbon neutrality in various countries, so be it! Let the respective Governments regulate the behavior of its citizens towards the environment.

On the other hand, is population playing a major factor as a barrier towards attaining carbon neutrality. Think of the resources required by a country with low population and that required by a highly-populated country. Are they the same? Definitely, NO!

A highly populated country means more demand for resources thus higher carbon emissions  during extraction and production. This however does not give high populated countries the right to release more carbon into the air. Yes, their carbon emission will be high as explained but a higher population translates to a higher geographical cover where they can plant more trees to act as their carbon sink. They can also practice the carbon neutrality methods explained above and work to maintain their carbon emissions at minimum bearable levels.

References

https://www.gviusa.com/blog/bhutan-the-first-carbon-negative-country-in-the-world/