Urban lifestyles and consumption patterns have far-reaching and long-term effects on the environment. Cities and towns in most countries around the world have been gaining considerable attention due to the large number of households, migrating to cities and its consequent effects can be seen as increased ecological footprints due to over exploitation of resources that has led to global warming. Many people are migrating to cities due to the easy access of goods and services that cities offer. Thus cities are emerging as the major form of settlement over the last few decades. By the turn of this century, we will be witness to a ubiquitous scenario, where more people will live in and around the cities than in rural areas. The explosive growth of urban areas has a host of negative effects. Population concentration in increasingly smaller land masses has caused a drastic decline in the quality of living, both in the residential areas and at work.

Today, urbanisation is growing at a faster pace than ever. According to the United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA) Report in 2008, more than half of the world’s human population (3.3 billion people) lives in the urban areas. By 2030, it is expected to increase to almost five billion. With the rapid increase in the urban population, the consumption patterns will have an impact on the carbon released, thus urbanisation might be one the major cause for climate change.

Carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases produced by the human activities. It is measured in units of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is the most harmful of the greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases also produce methane, nitrous oxide and chlorofluorocarbons (also known as aerosols), but all of these have the element of carbon in common.

Carbon footprint has two parts

Primary Footprint - This is a measure of direct human emissions of carbon dioxide, created by the burning of fossil fuels. These include energy consumers like electricity and modes of transportation.

Secondary Footprint - This is a measure of indirect human emissions of carbon dioxide, created by the shipping and manufacturing of a product. This includes food and drink items from foreign countries.

Activities that contribute to
your carbon footprint
Eating & drinking
Clothes & personal items
Public transportation
Car emissions
Shared services
Waste and consumer goods
Shared Infrastructure
Recreational activities

Every individual contributes towards carbon dioxide emissions in one way or the other. Everyday activities that seem virtually harmless can increase the carbon footprint and add to the greenhouse gas problems.

The best way to calculate the total carbon dioxide contributions is to complete a carbon footprint calculator. Carbon footprint calculators measure the total carbon emissions based on what you do at home and how you travel.

It is important to move towards a low carbon economy, a way of life that is less carbon intensive. This may involve a fundamental change in lifestyles. The most critical step in achieving carbon neutrality is accounting for the emissions that are to be eliminated and this involves bringing about a change in the way we operate and take responsibilities of our actions.

CLEAN India: The community lead environment action network an initiative of Development Alternatives has over the last 15 years worked towards developing a greener and cleaner environment for our towns and cities mobilising individuals, communities and various stakeholders to take community responsibilities for environmental stewardship in all major cities and towns across the country. The participatory approach of the programme has helped bring about behavioral changes that contribute to low carbon emissions. The most popular being the paper recycling units that have been adopted by various institutions across the country to recycle and reuse their paper wastes thereby reducing the emission of methane that contribute to global warming. The tree plantation programmes have helped increase the green cover across many towns and cities that act as natural carbon sinks thereby helping in carbon sequestration.

Terrace/City Farming: The best way to reduce carbon footprint is to grow your own organic food, where space is available. The CLEAN Programme across various towns and cities have adopted this concept that use less fertilisers and pesticides, thereby reducing the impact on the environment by decreasing green house gas emissions. A film on this CLEAN –India initiative of how organic waste can be used for city farming is been made by Television for Environment, Asia Pacific which feature grassroots initiatives, taken by local communities in practicing and promoting sustainable living.

Carbon Calculator, which is an important initiative by DA has been customised for Indian users. It helps a person estimate his/her carbon footprint and also goes a step further in suggesting simple ways in which one can minimise their impact on climate change. This has been popular among individuals and institutions that use the calculator to calculate their carbon footprint thereby consciously making a deliberate effort to reduce their footprint.
 

A similar initiative, "Community Led Assessment, Awareness, Advocacy and Action Programme for Environment Protection and Carbon Neutrality in Himachal Pradesh (HP-CLAP)" has been taken up by the Government of Himachal Pradesh in association with Development Alternatives, which follows the multi stake holders participatory approach, that aims at mobilising community and building their capacities to assess their footprints and then take action to reduce it at source.

Green Building: The green building initiatives of the organisation are aimed at zero emissions and 100 per cent carbon neutrality like the world head quarters building at New Delhi that uses 40 per cent less operational energy, 30 per cent less embodied energy and has a wide range of resource saving strategies that range from indoor climate control to rainwater harvesting and natural lighting. The building has been constructed using low energy natural materials like mud and fly ash blocks instead of burnt bricks or concrete, since 90 per cent of the material has been sourced locally, transportation is minimised, thereby reducing the foot print. The various innovative construction techniques like funicular roofs, micro concrete roofing options, arched panels and the rat trap bond method minimises emission of green house gases, thereby reducing the impact on global warming.

Renewable energy: Development Alternatives has been a pioneer in setting up decentralised renewable energy plants, be it the DESI Power, Solar energy, or the Gaushala Model, which contribute to low carbon pathways.

Development Alternatives has been assigned the task of "developing a Knowledge Base for energy efficiency and decentralised renewable energy in India", under the umbrella of Mitigation and Adaptation Information Network (MAIN) for sustainable living. The objective of MAIN is to bring together expertise, knowledge, and local experiences in a common network that empowers communities across the globe to create, share, use, and store knowledge to support sustainable living.

The DA Climate change programme aims at demonstrating low carbon pathways in the adaptation and mitigation approach by including policy and action research, outreach through awareness and advocacy and building capacities of strategic partners for effective delivery systems. q