Imagine our planet having a whole day off from the demands of having to process carbon dioxide through its heavily overburdened system. A day in which to rest and breathe.
That’s the idea behind World Zero Emissions Day on 21 September. This global awareness movement was created to encourage individuals and businesses to avoid the use of fossil fuels for 24 hours, giving Earth a break from carbon emissions and raising awareness about the harm they can cause.
Every day, an astonishing 90 million metric tons of carbon dioxide is pumped into the atmosphere. It’s these emissions that are causing the deterioration in our ozone layer and contributing to global warming.
Enviroserve UAE takes this seriously, and it’s a big factor in our operations. “In 2024, to date, Enviroserve has saved 29,534 metric tons of carbon emissions,” says Amal Kandakji, Enviroserve’s Head of Marketing and Communications. “It might seem like a drop in the ocean, but if every company were to contribute to reducing carbon emissions, we would collectively make a significant difference to the future of our planet.”
Although there is pressure on industry and government to proactively prevent environmental destruction and climate change, each person can also make a difference. Consider your individual carbon footprint. It is the result of your activities and lifestyle, from how much you travel, what you eat, and your use of electricity. Online calculators can help you work out the amount of greenhouse gas you produce in units of carbon dioxide.
“It’s fitting that 21 September is also World Gratitude Day,” says Amal. “Let’s make it a day on which to be grateful that we have a planet that supports life, and do our best to support the planet in return.”