How should people realize a low-carbon lifestyle and further promote the development of low-carbon economy?
Two reports released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in World Environment Day this year give an unexpected answer-it may be easier to achieve the goal of "eliminating carbon dependence" than imagined: you just need to adopt a climate-friendly lifestyle, which will not cause much change to your lifestyle, let alone make any big sacrifices!
One of these two reports is called "Getting rid of habits: climate neutrality that cannot be ignored", which is a general guide for low-carbon lifestyles. Another book, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in the Tourism Sector, was written by experts in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Tourism Organization.
On June 10, China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) jointly released the China Ecological Footprint Report, indicating that it is urgent to promote low-carbon lifestyle and low-carbon economic development in China. According to the report, since 1960s, the per capita ecological footprint of China has continuously increased by about two times. If China wants to reduce the ecological deficit, it can start from two aspects, that is, starting with simple things and giving priority to solving the problem of slow effect.
These continuous reports echoed the theme of World Environment Day this year-"Changing traditional ideas and promoting low-carbon economy" from different angles. On the one hand, it shows that if people can change the traditional high-emission lifestyle, it will play a positive role in promoting the low-carbon economy; On the other hand, it also highlights that under the background of increasing global warming, all countries in the world are trying to reduce their carbon footprint in order to promote the development of low-carbon economy.
China's per capita ecological footprint: tripled in 50 years.
China Ecological Footprint Report was jointly commissioned by China International Cooperation Committee on Environment and Development and World Wide Fund for Nature (China), and completed by Global Ecological Footprint Network and Institute of Geographical Sciences and Resources of Chinese Academy of Sciences.
This report analyzes the ecological deficit in China since the early 1970s, and points out the innovative path for China to achieve the goal of sustainable development, so as to realize its long-term rational utilization of natural resources.
According to the report, China, as a country, consumes15% of the global biological carrying capacity; Despite the increasing biological carrying capacity, the demand of China is still more than twice the sustainable supply capacity of its own ecosystem.
According to the report, the per capita ecological footprint of China is 1.6 hectares worldwide, which means that an ordinary person needs 1.6 hectares of ecologically productive land to meet their lifestyle needs. China's per capita ecological footprint ranks 69th among 147 countries, which is lower than the global average ecological footprint of 2.2 hectares, but it still reflects the important challenges faced by China. In fact, China consumes more than twice as much resources as its ecosystem can provide.
The conclusion of the report shows that if China wants to reduce the ecological deficit, it can start from two aspects, that is, starting with simple things and giving priority to solving the problem of slow effect.
Starting from simple things can produce immediate short-term benefits and promote the development of society towards reducing ecological footprint. In order to completely reduce China's ecological deficit, we need to consider the decisions that may have a long-term impact now.
The report also puts forward "circular" ways to reduce the ecological footprint: reducing urban development (c), personal action (i), reducing the amount of potential waste (r), carbon emission reduction strategy (c), land management (l) and improving energy efficiency (e).
The report also pointed out that compared with other parts of the world, the per capita ecological footprint of the Asia-Pacific region is relatively low. However, the huge population makes the total ecological footprint of this area rank first in the world.
Low-carbon lifestyle: small actions bring big changes
People living in developed countries and some fast-growing cities can "eliminate carbon dependence" immediately-it is not difficult.
Changing Lifestyle: A Guide to Climate Neutrality and the United Nations points out that only a few simple measures can reduce a person's daily greenhouse gas emissions by half. If companies such as power companies, automobile manufacturers and aviation equipment manufacturers also strive to achieve a green economy, then we can reduce more greenhouse gas emissions.