Zero emission day is the holiday set for earth from greenhouse gas emission. It is celebrated on 21st September every year. It was first started in Nova Scotia, Canada, 2008. Message provided at that time was " Give your planet one day off a year" which aimed to promote sustainability. On this day, individuals tend to prefer bicycles or walking instead of using any public or private vehicles which is beneficial for human beings and the environment.
Introduction, background, sources and causes of emission:
Emission is defined as the production of substances ( gases or particulates matters) into the atmosphere. Emission standards were first set in the USA in 1963 for Automobile standards. It is of mainly three types namely, Evaporative emissions: (Hydrocarbons emitted into the atmosphere from vehicles is evaporative emission), Refueling losses: (Evaporative emission emitted from fuel tanks of vehicles during refueling process is known as refueling emission), Exhaust emission: (The remaining vehicle emission is found in atmospheric air which consists of CO2, water vapour, and other compounds in both gaseous or particulates form).
All these emissions are produced from different sources which are 11% of pollutants emitted from agriculture, 30% from industries, 31% from residential and commercial, and 25% from vehicles.
Impacts of emission on human beings and environment:
Due to increasing concentration of emission, it has created a negative impact on both the environment and human beings. Headaches, dizziness, restlessness, tiredness, difficulty in breathing due to respiratory disease (asthma), increase in the heart rate and blood pressure has been seen as human health impacts whereas to high amounts of emission due to smog and air pollution has resulted climate change which is causing extreme weather, disruption of food supply, increase in wildfire and other climatic issues.
Precautionary measures to control/ reduce pollution:
Emission is one of the main issues resulting in environmental issues like climate change , global warming, etc. Thus, it need to be reduced before it becomes out of control.
Some of the method that can be implemented to control emission of pollution are mentioned below:
-GHGs emission can be reduced by making climate-friendly energy resources. For eg- use of small scale wind generation, use of renewable resources.
-Reducing air travel.
-Plantation programs should be conducted in various deserted or open areas.
-Introduction of clean energy.
-Reduction in consumption of meat ( red meat).
To limit the carbon footprint we need to change the way we use the good and services and lifestyles such as:
-Avoid using plastic or anything related to plastic, instead use of reusable material could be practiced.
-Harvesting of fish should be done in sustainable way.
-Farming of certain crops should be done at suitable periods of time such as strawberry growing in winter shouldn't be done.
To change the whole world we need to start from ourselves. We can:
-Promote the light which is energy saving.
-Use of cycle or prefer walking rather than using vehicles.
-Use of renewable resources, solar panel.
Purchase carbon offsets and green tags.