Celebrated as the World Zero Emission day or simply, ZeDay, Sept21 is a crucial event that encourages us to stop and look back at our Carbon footprint and how we can reduce them. A report by SURFACES REPORTER.
What is a ZeDay?
ZeDay is annually observed across the world on Sept 21, the day of Autumnal Equinox. The idea of ZeDay was conceptualised by Ken Wallace of graphic design firm Sealevel Special Projects during a walk down the street with his baby when he became overwhelmed by the polluting traffic and idling vehicle noises. He envisioned a day where all the disturbing noises and surrounding pollution could halt even for a brief period of time.
While the idea didn’t get much momentum in 1980s due to the limitation of dissemination of information, on March 21, 2008Sealevel launched a website calling for September 21 to be a day for a global moratorium on fossil fuel consumption with a sole purpose 'To Give our planet a Day off'.
The day aims at reducing the consumption of Fossil fuels since the electricity derived from them is the biggest contributor to air emissions in the developed and developing countries. These emissions contribute to smog, acid rain, climate change, and other factors. In turn, climate change is believed to create conditions that cause catastrophic natural events like forest fires, disease breakouts, and droughts.
Guidelines
The guideline for the 24-hr day period is pretty simple; Don't use or encourage the consumption or usage of Fossil Fuel which includes prohibition of all the gadgets powered by the electricity kigenerated from fossil fuels. Since the event is observed on Autumn Equinox, the length of days and nights are equal and the amount of light received is fair in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
India’s POV
While it seems unthinkable to live a life without electricity and rest of the modern gadgets for 24- hrs, the ZeDay is based on the principal already engraved in an Indian mindset which are Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. So one must start by calculating his/her carbon footprints and an oath to reduce them. Here are few ways through which we can easily give our bit to the planet
1) Switching off Airconditioning: Though difficult, try and live a day without cooler or air conditioners as they are a major contributor to the greenhouse gases.
2) Eat Raw- Empty your refrigerators and eat raw fruits and vegetables for a day. It will also help to keep your gut clean.
3) Take a walk: Instead of riding a fourwheeler, it would be better to either walk or use public transport to reach your destination.
4) Conserve water: Invest in eco friendly technologies like rain water harvesting, Solar powered equipments.
5) Reduce plastic: Reduce the use of plastic as much as you can. While it is difficult particularly in COVID pandemic, where things such as masks, PPE kits have become a household name, try and do things a bit differently. Wear cloth mask, limit the use of stepping out of the house and encourage green and eco living.
Understanding the concept; SURFACES REPORTER view
One of the key objectives of observing the Zero Emission day is to make more people aware about the emission of greenhouse gases and carbon footprint left due to day-to-day activities. Among every business, construction is one of the major concerns for increasing carbon footprint and greenhouse gases emission. Nearly 40% of global greenhouse gas emission is caused due to the buildings every year.
However, gradually now the situation is changing as according to 2018 Johnson Controls Energy Efficiency Indicator Study, 50% of 1,900 global organizations in 20 countries plan to have at least one zero carbon (or net zero energy) building over the next 10 years. Additionally, 59% of organizations plan to increase investment in energy efficiency, renewable energy and smart building technology next year. This investment is the key to decarbonizing both new and existing buildings.
While zero carbon buildings may seem like a distant future, already many real estate, architectural firms and other businesses world over are aiming to reduce their carbon emission to zero in the next five to ten years and the trend seem to be significantly growing. Tech giant Microsoft and AstraZeneca has already pledged to be carbon negative by 2030 while Furniture FMCG Ikea will turn 'Carbon-positive' by 2030. Similarly, In India as well, in the final quarter of 2020, as many as 24 private entities including Tata, Reliance, Mahindra, ITC, ACC, Adani and Dalmia Cement, signed a declaration with the Govt of India to voluntarily move towards ‘carbon neutrality’. More companies are joining the bandwagon by rolling out products that are low or zero emission including Asian Paints and Nerolac'slow emission paints and Greenply'szero emission plywood which are a positive step towards saving the environment. SURFACES REPORTER feels that this is a positive step and by observing a day with zero emission, we will be taking large strides towards a carbon negative future.
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