Zero Emissions Day, more commonly known as
ZeDay, annually takes place on the 21st of September and is observed by people in many countries around the world.
This day was specifically chosen because the length of days and nights are equal,
and the amount of light is fair to those in the Northern and Southern
hemispheres and to coincide with the United Nations International Day of Peace.
It was first implemented in 2008 (the present-day
observance) by a Canadian company, Sealevel, with their primary mission
of “giving the planet one day off a year”.
It called for a “Global Moratorium on Fossil Fuel Combustion on September 21”.
The main purpose of ZeDay is to give the earth a ‘rest day’. Life’s
pace is increasing and we simply don’t slow down anymore. It is imperative that
we have a chance to shut down and reboot every once in a while. Thus, the same
applies to Mother Nature, too. Its moral is: “You have the power to benefit
everyone and everything on our planet”. ZeDay is about creating awareness of
the cessation (ending) of burning fossil fuels and spending one day out of the
year producing little to no emissions as possible.People can participate by doing the following: For 24 hours, don’t use gas, oil, or coal, and use minimal or no electricity generated by fossil fuel. The real test is to be able to keep up with it for 24 hours. ZeDay doesn’t have to be celebrated on 21 September only – you can do it on any other day, more than one day per year is preferable. ZeDay has a simple mission but with a profound impact. It gives us a glimpse of what a day on Earth would be like without the use of fossil fuels and about answering an important question: What are we doing with our world? It entails reflecting about the sort of world we want to live in and appreciating what it means to have the use of energy. It is about celebrating human innovation wholeheartedly but also about the possibility of sustainable world and a reminder that we can all do our bit to limit our energy consumption in daily life and to raise awareness of finite resources and how we can daily change our actions to conserve it.
Why
is reducing the use of fossil fuels imperative?
Fossil fuel produced electricity is the
most dominant contributor to air emissions and it has various associated health
and climate risks. The concentrations of these emissions in our atmosphere pose
several threats to all people due to acid rain, smog. The consequences are
increasingly evident in our daily lives.
The amount of energy consumed by modern
society is astounding. Most electronic devices need to be charged and powered;
this power needs to be generated. But most of this electricity generated
globally is still fossil-fuel based, with only a small percentage generated
through renewable sources such as water and wind.
Another health risk associated with the
burning of fossil fuels is climate change. With an increase in CO2 build up,
solar radiation energy is trapped in the earth’s atmosphere and being
redirected back to the Earth. Its warming effect is creating consequences on
climate and weather patterns.
But, thankfully, the consumption and
demand of fossil fuels is changeable and preventable. By making use of
alternatives, we will decrease our dependency on fossil fuels, and,
simultaneously, significantly reduce its many risks. Renewable energy
technologies produce significantly lower emissions than traditional power
generation technologies.
If we live wastefully, it means more resources
are needed and fossil fuels burned in the manufacturing process. But if
sustainable practices are implemented, your carbon footprint will undoubtedly
shrink.
But
why is ZeDay important?
The growth in global C02 emissions from fossil fuels over the past five years being four times greater than for the preceding 10 years. This means that action of Zero Emissions day has never been more needed than right now.
Four guidelines for ZeDay are proposed:
1. Don’t use or burn oil or gas or coal.
The ZED
organisation urges people to go back to the basics by powering down. If you
need to travel a long distance, try to go there the day before. It is important
to structure your life beforehand so that you can easily transition to a day of
not turning things on.
2. Minimize (or eliminate) your use of electricity
generated by fossil fuels.
The organisation
says that “our fossil fuels are our inheritance and yet we are spending them
like there is no tomorrow. We can see a time when there will not be enough
anymore”. Contemplate and actualize alternative sources of energy.
3. Don’t put anyone in harm’s way: All essential and
emergency services operate normally.
Since fossil fuels
power civilization, the ZED moratorium applies to everything nonessential.
4. Most importantly, do your best, have fun, and enjoy
the day!
These guidelines
will assist in making the day a success. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you
make a mistake and forget to turn things off. Just go back to your original
intention for the day. But most importantly, have fun and enjoy the day. Mother
Nature will sure smile at you!
(Source: Zero Emissions Day Organisation).
More families and communities have voluntarily declared Zero
Emissions Days and have participated all year round. By participating in ZeDay,
it will not only have a positive impact on people, but also the environment.
Thus spread the important word via social media and encourage family and
friends to also do their bit for our beautiful planet by, for example, making
use of renewable energy technologies or using their cars less! Go to website http://zeroemissionsday.org/ and share it via
social media.
Here are several ways to reduce emissions
in your own life:
·
The
best course of action is to invest in green power, such as wind or solar
energy.
·
You
can also conserve electricity by buying energy efficient appliances, turning
off the light when you are not in the room, turn off items completely instead
of leaving them on standby mode, washing with full loads on low temperatures,
using outdoor solar powered lights and using long-lasting LED light bulbs.
·
Choose
to bike, walk, or take public transportation to work.
·
The
way you drive does impact the amount of fuel your car needs to run. Plan your
errands in one trip and don’t make unnecessary, multiple trips to the same
area.
Conclusion
Even though the planet needs more help
than on one day of the year, it is still a great reminder of all the ways to
reduce emissions. If you even care remotely about the health and wellbeing of
Mother Nature, then you will wholeheartedly celebrate this important day on the
environmental calendar. It
would be universally beneficial for all to participate in this important
environmental day!
The ZED organisation is of the belief that
“since we are all in this together and realistically all responsible for the
welfare of our planet, it's time to co-create our future”. So the message is
simple: Give Mother Nature a break on Zero Emissions Day and take some pressure
of her. Enjoy the mindfulness and the discipline of not automatically turning
on light switches and appliances for one day. We have to collectively take care
of our planet. So, do your share; our beautiful Earth is counting on ALL of us!
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