Cleaner production: a measure to curb global warming

Cleaner production may seem to be a new thing to our ears but I bet global warming is not. For those who may not be well conversant with the term global warming, it is a term relating to carbonic emissions that are generated by fuels, gas and oil used in machines to generate energy. They are commonly known as greenhouse gases. These emissions are suicidal to human life and science has it that they form a blanket-like layer that harbours carbonic temperature, so that if these temperatures rise by 2 degrees Celsius, there would be a great catastrophe that has never existed in world history. To be certain some of these catastrophes are already in existence, such as hurricanes, storms, floods and droughts that have in the recent past hit the world to cause a shortage in food supply all over the world. After these great climatic changes in the world that claim human lives in the most disastrous way that continue to occur even today, I thought about my home country Rwanda. It has recently gone through a flood experience that washed hundreds of houses away and destroyed food plantations. We are not any different from other countries that have suffered environmental degradation. And if we are not so careful we may see more of global warming disasters come our way. The answer to these problems of course lies in how to reduce temperatures created by the carbonic emissions. If nothing much is done, science shows that in the next 100 years, temperatures will rise by the 2 degrees Celsius mentioned above. I would have loved to give examples of floods in Cuba where more than a million people were put into camps, or China where they faced a similar problem recently, but I won’t. Instead I will use home experience where in Rubavu, homes were demolished by floods and displaced hundreds of people. Most of the people do not know the ground cause of these catastrophes. They will only be heard saying the seasons have changed. The earth institute at Columbia University states that Humankind is both driver of and responder to climate in its pursuit of well-being. Anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases affect the heat balance of the earth and the direct exploitation of natural resources has significant impact on climate. Then one wonders what emissions of greenhouse gases may be. This is where governments and other stakeholders should intervene to enlighten people globally about the emission of greenhouse gases so as to unite in fighting the global warming monster. But we also should not forget effective measures on natural resources. This is where I get a mind to thank Rwanda Environmental Management Authority (NEMA). Recently a group of people from Kenya and Uganda, on REMA and PSF account came in Rwanda to give tips on how Rwanda industrialists could come up as a family to fight the toxic emissions created by industrial waste products that greatly plunder the environment. The conference that was held at Hotel Novotel, advocated for application of Cleaner Production. Cleaner Production is a system that has been adopted by many countries in the world to deal with hostile emissions produced by industrialists. It aims at using systematic clean technology that would minimise toxic gases that are produced by industries. Rwanda is the only country that had not yet adopted the system in the East African Community. But we shall hail REMA and PSF for taking a step in starting the system in Rwanda. Environmental pollutants who only mind about short term earnings or profits for their day-to-day life, forget that even the children they try to raise with the same earnings need to live a longer life but cannot with the global warming disasters. It’s therefore a role for every industrialist to see this problem curbed as they are the greatest contributors to the greenhouse emissions that have seen temperatures rise and seasons change to the worst. Aiming at producing products with high value using methods that are environmentally friendly, industrialists can provide a bigger percentage in dealing with the global warming problem. The conference further advocated for integration of environmental aspects into the product development process, by balancing ecological and economic requirements. Cleaner production as a concept provides best available techniques that reduce the acceptable levels of greenhouse emissions to the environment. This would see development and implementation of sustainable energy including solid bio fuels, ethanol from residues and waste, biodiesel and bio refineries. Cleaner Production represents a win-win strategy both for the company and the environment. The continuous application of Cleaner Production will help a company to be more competitive in the market. Processing, recycling or disposal of waste materials in an effort to reduce their effect on human health and environment would see a more vibrant economy that grows with a global climatic change that would see reduction in the greenhouse gases. Contact: tumusteve2008@yahoo.com

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Cleaner production: a measure to curb global warming