Methane contributes approximately 20 per cent to the annual increase in global warming. And landfills and sewers contribute to approximately 15 per cent of global methane emissions (West et al., 1998). If methane is allowed to leak into the atmosphere before being used, it effectively traps the sun’s heat and contributes to global warming. In […]
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Carbon, an essential element, occurs in organic substances such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats and nucleic acids such as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Most carbon on Earth was originally released from the interior of the Earth as gaseous carbon dioxide, which now constitutes about 0.03-0.04 per cent by volume of the air. This gas helps insulate the […]
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Living systems evolve naturally, ensuring system sustainability. Elimination, or modification of any component of a living system, requires a system readjustment. Predicting the change in a scenario where one species disappears, or a physical component changes is difficult. Biodiversity utilisation processes since ancient times, have given rise to complex management systems through long processes of […]
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Earth’s energy balance If one were to monitor from space the quantum of incoming and outgoing radiation; and average it over centuries – both radiations would be approximately in balance, keeping the earth in radiative equilibrium in a long term sense. But the spectral quality would certainly shift from a predominantly visible spectrum to infrared […]
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Build-up to the carbon credits mechanism From a theoretical construct proposed by politician and academicians during early to mid 90s, to an important part of Kyoto Protocol in 1997, the greenhouse gas premise has today given way to a vibrant and active market. The ‘97 Protocol targets a 5.2 percent reduction of greenhouse gases below […]
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