Does planting a tree end one's role in Global Warming?

By MajGenKrishanChauhan on 30th Jun 2024

"I planted a tree and am proud of it, I did my duty to end global warming." Should we be happy with such a statement? Should the speaker gloat over it? Yes and no. The person is, at least aware of global warming. By planting a tree, the person has tried to put his thought into action. But this is just one small activity one can do.

Planting a tree may take just half an hour but looking after it for many years till the tree matures to withstand natural calamities and vagrants of animals and humans is another matter. Further, trees are important in controlling global warming, but there are many more things which, one as an individual or a small community can do. Let's learn about those which are doable. Let the "Government isn't doing enough" statements be left to the opposition. We need to focus on what WE; the citizens and our small communities can do.

WHAT CAUSES GLOBAL WARMING? In brief and simple language, Greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions from the planet are enveloping the earth. They trap sun's heat close to the earth, thereby increasing its temperature. The main GHG are carbon dioxide or CO2, methane or CH4, nitrous oxide or N²O, and water vapour. There are numerous other gases under GHG, but their role is limited.

WHAT IS CAUSING AN INCREASE IN GHG EMISSIONS?

Increase in electricity production from coal, petroleum & natural gas, industries especially plastics, rearing larger animals for meat, agriculture, transportation as well as increasing open garbage dumps are the major human activities which cause an increase in GHG. On the other hand, trees which reduce CO² are being cut rapidly or burnt due to human activities.

Secondly, the oceans which act as a giant sink for Carbon are getting polluted. Due to many activities of humans, ocean's capacity is being reduced to sequester carbon.

WHAT CAN INDIVIDUALS DO TO REDUCE GLOBAL WARMING?

Buy Less Clothes. Don't Buy Synthetic Clothes. Plastics contribute to about 5% of GHG which are causing global warming. In another 20 years or so, plastics will contribute to 20% of GHG emissions. Drainage water from washing synthetic/ semisynthetic clothes is the number 1 cause of microplastics in water. Microplastics in water are killing marine life and increasing GHG emissions. Open dumping of these clothes also emits microplastics in air.

Microfibres from synthetic clothes are making their way to farmlands and oceans. P.C. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/pollution/

Travel Less Often by Air. Aviation industry is responsible for 2.5% of GHG. Aircrafts, by themselves are emitters of huge quantities of GHG. We cannot stop the extreme rich from travelling in their private jets, nor can we ask our AirForce to abandon air sorties. But we can limit our air travel to bare minimum. Indian domestic air travel is the third highest in world. Only we can reduce it, if we stop short distance air travel by air.
Road vehicular travel. A lot is written on decreasing air quality when pollution levels are very high from October to December. But February onwards, we forget car-pooling or metro trains. In low AQI periods we avoid walking to the market or friends' homes. Vehicles by themselves emit GHG. But did you know that in US, vehicle tyres are the biggest source of microplastics in air. Microplastics in air cause global warming besides numerous diseases due to pollution.
Stop using Paper Tissues, Napkins and Toilet Rolls. These items were not there 2-3 decades ago. Asians just aped the Western zealots who were madly cutting forests to make softer tissues and napkins. We forgot our cloth hankies and napkins. Using water for ablution in toilets is more hygienic than scrubbing dry paper rolls on our delicate parts. Better quality water jets and sprinklers along with a cotton towel can save numerous trees. Can't plant a tree- no issue. Save hundreds of trees in your life time by saying NO to paper tissues, napkins and rolls. And if you still need them, then use the ones made from bamboo or recycled paper.
Avoid Single Use Plastics. Some examples of single user plastics are plastic water bottles, containers, bags, gift/ food and other item wrappers, cutlery, plastic plates /cups/ glasses, ear buds, banners and many more. Do you know that in every 3 seconds, 1 tonne of plastic bottles are thrown, and these enter water bodies. By 2050, there will be more plastics in our oceans than fish, nay total marine life. Sad.
Clean Your Wetland and Water Bodies. Wetlands like village ponds, urban lakes, marshes, bogs, mangroves, or estuaries must be guarded aggressively against 'development'. These are major carbon sinks with a complex interplay of thousands of living beings - tiny microbes to frogs and even the dragonflies. Some even have crocodiles and tigers (Sunderbans). Some larger animals like rhinos and Bisons which once lived nearby these wetlands have already disappeared from most areas. Let us not throw community garbage in wetlands. Let us clean up our neighbourhood ponds and lakes. Let us not allow multistorey buildings to come up next to them. These maybe the only water source left when our grandchildren become adults.
Bamboos. So, why should we plant bamboos when planting a tree is equally simple and beneficial in reducing global warming?
- Bamboos should be planted in places where water is scarce. Bamboo can thrive with lesser water and care.
- Bamboo growth is very rapid. Bamboo poles can grow to their full height in just 60 days to 6 months. However, they need 3 -5 years for maturity.
- Bamboos can spread laterally by themselves giving rise to more bamboos.
- Bamboos oppose soil erosion. They can be planted on hill slopes to prevent landslides, stabilising mountainous roads.

Bamboos improve soil quality and prevent soil erosion. P.C. https://www.guaduabamboo.com/

Tobacco, Smoking, Vaping and Hookah. They cause global warming in 4 ways. Firstly, tobacco production by itself, causes emissions of 80 million tonnes of CO². Secondly, cigarettes, vapes and hookah users emit another 26000 tonnes of CO² and 52000 tonnes of CH⁴ annually. Thirdly, cigarette packet, Vaping pen and hookah are made from various types of plastics, for which GHG has been released. Lastly, cigarette filters/ butts look like cotton but 98% of them are actually made of plastic fibres. Trillions of these toxic laden fibres release toxins and GHG, slowly, in soil, water and air.
Dare to say NO to Free Government Electricity; YES, to Building Top Solar Panels. Solar panels on home or community buildings (schools, businesses and offices) are a great way in reducing GHG emissions. They not only save our money from electricity bills but also cut off sunrays from our roofs, reducing the temperature within the building. Cool, isn't it? However, vote- greedy politicians and scrupulous individuals are taking advantage of free electricity. Each house is sub divided in smaller sections with multiple electricity meters. This ensures consumption below 300 units, hence 'free' electricity. These households will never install solar panels, even if provided free by government. Who pays for this street smartness?
Large Animals Meat. As per Food and Agriculture Organisation, agency of UN, the current production levels of meat contribute between 14% and 22% of the 36 billion tonnes of CO²- equivalent GHG the world produces every year. Producing 250 gm of hamburger in US, the patty of meat equals to GHG emissions of a 1500 kg car, driven for 15 km. I am no vegetarian, but with this knowledge, I will not indulge in red meat in future.
Setting AC Temperature. As per famous scientist cum environmentalist - Sh. Sonam Wangchuk of Ladakh, Indians are adapted to higher ambient temperature than those living nearer the poles. Hence, our ACs should be set at 32°C rather than European recommended 24°C as our body can tolerate heat better. Easier said than done, however, we may at least increase by 2°C over our earlier comfort zone. Switching on the fan at slow speed helps circulation of cold air.

TEACHING CHILDREN

Not wasting readers time on these very important matters. Setting examples is important.

Children must be taught to be frugal in utilising these two important facilities - water and electricity. After all, their misuse now not only means a warm future for them but also less water to drink, cook and bathe.
As per research published in a leading medical journal- 'Lancet', Indians are the most 'Inactive people in the world'. They are struck with Diabetes, Hypertension/ Heart diseases, Cancers and Arthritis at least 10 years earlier in life as compared to other countries. If you want to live longer and would like your children to be healthy, teach them to be more active. Take them for shopping trips - walking or cycling. If their school is not too far, encourage them to walk to and from school. College going students can be gifted e-scooter if college is far. Besides staying healthy, walks/ cycling will help save precious fuel and reduce GHG emissions/ global warming.
Make a project of rainwater harvesting at home/ residential colony with the help of school children. You will be surprised with the innovative solutions some of these children of today can come up with. Harvesting rainwater in multiple colonies can cool down the temperature of the cities/ towns.

Example of a Rain water harvesting project

There may be other actions which can be taken in each place- depending on the topography. Think. We should simultaneously plant trees and/ or bamboos. One who is rich enough can even grow a mini- forest on vacant plots by Miyawaki method. Bamboos, trees and forests are long term projects, take care of these living beings (plants and trees) atleast till they mature.

This year the world saw the longest recorded heat wave in many countries, impacting about 5 billion people. It affected 600 million with 40,000 heatstroke cases amongst Indians, killing 100. 1300 Hajj pilgrims died because of heatstroke. What has future in store for us?

Here are a few of my poetic thoughts around this: