Make your new year celebration carbon-neutral & start it on a positive note

Are you going through the new year’s resolution fad?: quitting smoking, reducing alcohol, new gym membership to start workouts and up your veggie intake?
Despite best intentions, the majority of us quickly abandon our resolutions as the new year progresses.
 
Why not undertake a new resolution in 2023 that has planetary as well as individual benefits?
Instead of focusing only on weight loss take a challenge to adopt a much more aware lifestyle where you can track your carbon footprint, get advice on how to reduce emissions that contribute to global warming and get opportunities to offset and attain net zero.
 
We have many tools to manage our health, fitness, finances and many other aspects of living a simple and sustainable life, but none to manage our behavioural influence on the environment.  This lack of awareness leads to us being more taxing on the environment without realising that we are neglecting our impact.
 
With almost 72% of carbon emission being linked to consumer behaviour, it has become important that consumer becomes aware of their impact. Myplan8 is an app-based solution which helps users automatically calculate users their carbon footprints based on their behaviour data. In addition, we have added a feature where you can evaluate your New year party’s carbon emissions for you and make the event carbon-neutral. A good way to enter and start 2023 with a zero carbon footprint. Apart from New Year bash, you can also evaluate attending or hosting a birthday party, your anniversary and weekend parties.
 
How this one-time action can be your Kickstarter to carbon neutrality?
While you will be excited to have a gala at any of these events every activity of it has its carbon footprint. Let’s say you had a non-veg meal and a bottle of wine you can expect a carbon footprint of 6.5 kgs per person in an event which is equivalent to half a year offsetting done by a fully grown tree. If you are hosting, multiply the impact.
Like when you have a party, how much your travelling and knowing other aspects can help you understand the impact and allow you to offset it. A small one-time event is easier and quicker to offset. This helps you to take baby steps to fulfil your resolution in 2023.
 
Where can I find information on how to reduce my carbon dioxide emissions?
 
Using a questionnaire about your lifestyle choices including how often you drive or fly, what you eat, and how much electricity you use, Myplan8, a free online application, offers users an estimate of their carbon footprint using 8 categories linked to their lifestyle.
Myplan8 compares users’ carbon footprints to global targets and provides options in each category for reducing their impact on the environment.
These can be as simple as switching to water-saving faucets rather than regular faucets or as involved as becoming a vegetarian or switching to a green energy source.
Users may pick and choose where to make adjustments, and then see the cumulative effect on their carbon footprint. “It’s about discovering what works for your lifestyle and your wallet.” 
 
Why does India need to focus on carbon footprint reduction?
To restrict global temperature rise to 1.5°C by the end of the century, a 45% decrease in anticipated 2030 greenhouse gas emissions is needed, according to a new UN assessment released today. This includes a submission from India.
In August 2022, India changed its NDCs. The new NDC commits India to lower GDP emissions intensity by 45% by 2030 from 2005 levels. It also plans to instal 50% non-fossil fuel-based electricity by 2030. India added a healthy and sustainable lifestyle, “LIFE – Lifestyle for Environment,” to battle climate change.
The analysis reveals that the amended NDCs will reduce India’s emissions. According to the analysis, India’s emissions won’t peak until 2030. Studies show emissions reduce substantially after peaking. According to a 2017 World Resource Institute analysis, delaying the peak will make the global temperature rise harder.
At COP 26, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged net-zero emissions by 2070, 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy capacity by 2030, 50% renewable energy, 1 billion tonnes of carbon emissions reduction, and 45% economy-wide carbon intensity reduction.
India has encouraged the Group of 20 nations (G20) to reduce per capita greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the global average, so freeing up “some” carbon space for poor countries.
The developed world is predicted to occupy 67-75% of carbon space. This is significant in the run-up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference, which will be held in Glasgow this November. In its presidency for G20 2023, India must set up an example of achieving success the same as a developing nation and show progress.
So if we need a major impact, consumer needs to become aware of sustainable living and choices. And, the New year’s resolution and the celebration bash are a good place to start.