Sharing an interesting conversation between a wise senior and his adolescent partner which I overheard during my morning walk today. What was heartening was the curiosity of the boy and the way his senior led him during the discussion to help him understand the relationship between human action and climate change.

Today is the anniversary of the 1999 super cyclone and the #COP26glasgow is about to start in a few days. Discussion of this kind assures us that there is still hope left. But the passivity of the administrative wing of the government is so distant from this global issue while its own policy declaration sheds crocodile tears actually is the real cause of alarm.

Q. What is this Super Cyclone I see being discussed in the media?

A cyclone had happened on this day of 29^th October 1999 over Paradeep. People saw wind speed up to 260 Kmph and some 10,000 people died. It continues to be the worst we have faced so far but we are not sure what’s coming next and when. From that day we have seen so many cyclones big and small and the last one was Amphan which luckily bypassed Odisha. It is happening due to climate change.

Q. What is Climate Change and what is this discussion that I see in the media?

Climate Change is the dramatic change in the weather pattern caused by the rise in Green House Gases in the environment which can be attributed to industrial and individual human activities.

Q. What’s the problem? We seem to be better prepared now to face it.

Yes, on the surface, from 10000 deaths to 218 now we seem to be better prepared, but the total cost of damage is huge, and it reverses so much of developmental outcomes.

Humanity is facing the twin challenges of the desperate need for development and the catastrophic outcome of damages done to the environment because of its activities over the last hundred plus years. Humanity now stands facing an irreversible global crisis that is much bigger than the extinctions of the past. It stands to affect everyone in ways we are not prepared to tackle. The benefits of all the development in one area can get swept away just by one cyclone. Most parts of Mumbai can get submerged if the sea level rises by a meter. This will have a chain effect that will impact those who are thousands of miles away. The economy is like our environment – there are no boundaries. Humanity is collectively facing it together.

Q. What are the choices we have?

We don’t have the choice of opting for one and not the other. Both are not mutually exclusive but are highly interdependent. One has to balance it and slow the pace of damage to bring the earth to an equilibrium.

Q. Then how do we balance it?

It’s left with just one choice to conduct its activities responsibly. That is first by ensuring that the global value chain does its best by closing the leakages at all levels of economic activities to minimize resource depletion, minimization of waste and emission.

This is easier said than done!

Yes, that is the reason why this discussion is being made. Human activities involve just not his lifestyle, attitude, and behaviour in its simplistic manifestation but the same and additionally the interest of the thousands of organizations big and small who take part in production till waste management.

Q. How do we tackle this?

First by being responsible. By being responsible we mean that the fact of depletion, waste, and emission arising directly from his activities should remain in very entities subconscious and he should feel responsible to minimize it by changing his behaviour and constantly looking at newer ways to constantly reduce it.

Q. Is it possible?

Theoretically being carbon neutral is impossible but the intent to go neutral and change in the behaviour at every individual or value chain level can show dramatic change at the level of Society, Environment and Individual.

Q. How?

When we talk of change in behaviour or practice at the level of organizations, we talk of our usage; how properly we use it and keep it maintained. We all know how a properly used and maintained car not only gives good mileage but remains in working condition well beyond its official life. The change in the behaviour can immediately be seen at the level of the environment in reduced emissions, extended life means that the load on the resources at the level of production and manufacturing is lessened and the efficiency and extended life of the car reduces the total cost of ownership of the individual.

Well, it’s simple right?

Though to a motivated person, it is. But very difficult at the level of organizations which have thousands of people, acres of real estate, and thousands of micro and small assets of hundreds of categories. And then there are well-established interests deeply entrenched in keeping the system inefficient and being inefficient in an unsupervised setup.

Q. What is the way?

Technology has come to the rescue of individuals and enterprises to help them do responsible business. It helps organizations establish a system of proper use and maintenance of their assets by its human resources. Smart monitoring tools can not only govern all the organization’s activities but also provide a measurement of the benefits which is accrued at the level of organization, environment, and society.

Q. Then what’s stopping us?

Well, that’s something you need to answer. What is stopping you from being responsible?