IMHO (In my humble opinion)
Last December 2007 I submitted an essay to Canada West Foundation. The $5,000 question was:
Who should have the greatest responsibility in reducing Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions: governments, industries or individuals?
Sad to say Ididn’t win theessay writing contest.I could havegiven the $5,000 to my parents for spending for my tuition. But I still would like to share what I wrote.Grassroots: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions on an individual levelBy: Kristine MonteiroNorthern Alberta Institute of TechnologyEvery breathe we take, even our mere existence on this planet, contributes to greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Every car whose engine is left idle, every light bulb left on and every furnace kept burning in a warm house consumes energy that increases greenhouse gas emissions. These daily habits, mundane as they may be, have the potential of leading us to our own destruction. It is time for us to become responsible for our actions because as we go about wasting away resources while going through what we think is the normal course of our daily lives, we are actually contributing to the destruction of the environment.One might wonder: why is so much attention given to climate change, global warming and greenhouse gas emissions? These concepts are not just for environmental ‘warriors’ or ‘activists’ who are trying to change the world. Climate change, global warming and greenhouse gas emissions affect each and every living thing on our planet. Recent weather-related catastrophes brought about by climate imbalances are caused by global warming which in turn is caused by greenhouse gas emissions.Individuals are responsible for the increasing levels of greenhouse gases in every way. It is common to blame the government and major industries. But while studies have shown that industries and the transportation sector contribute the biggest percentage of greenhouse gas emissions, these entities are controlled by individuals who have the power to bring about change. We could easily say the government has been lax in implementing laws to control industries, but who holds public office and implements these laws? Who operates these major industries? Aren’t these institutions run and operated by individuals like us who are capable of making decisions and instigating change? And lastly, who votes for the candidates who could pass laws to control greenhouse gas emissions?People, our selves included, are guilty of contributing to the problem. A once well-balanced dwelling for humans and other living creatures, the Earth was a self-sustaining planet until we humans interfered with its seamless design. We should evaluate the way we live our lives. Taking full responsibility for our own actions means making a commitment to changing our lifestyle towards a greener and more energy-efficient way of doing things. These are the first steps in reducing greenhouse gases. So much has been said in information campaigns and advertisements, but action and solutions are necessary at this pointGreenhouse gas emissions are on the rise in Canada as well as in other parts of the world. Both highly industrialized countries and developing countries contribute to this pressing global issue. It is surprising however that compared to developing nations, Canada has one of the highest levels of greenhouse gas emissions despite its small population. Canadians tend to take many of their creature comforts for granted. I grew up in a developing country with scarce resources where even city residents do not have constant running potable water and homes do not have centralized air conditioning systems (or heating systems as they have here in North America). Resources are still abundant here in Canada, and people tend to take it for granted. They seem oblivious to the fact that these resources will run dry if not managed properly.Provinces like Alberta are experiencing great economic boom. Oil sands production is growing rapidly, with Alberta being the largest emitter of greenhouse gas in Canada (230 million tons in 2005). My observation as an outsider looking in is that with prosperity comes the desire for abundance. More money means spending for bigger things. But bigger cars mean higher fuel consumption which leads to higher carbon dioxide emissions. Bigger houses mean furnaces have to work double time to keep the house warm. As electricity consumption increases, more fossil fuels are burned. It is hard to control the tendency to increase consumption especially in an atmosphere of prosperity. It is especially at this point that changes in lifestyle have to be made.What can we do to help? We do not have to be super heroes to change the world. It is always the little things that truly matter. Here are just some of the many ways an individual can start to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions: