Reduce our emissions
If we wait 10 years, 20 years or even longer to do something about climate change and global warming, the problem will be greater and more difficult to address-and the consequences of our inaction will be worse.
Governments
The governments of Cambodia, Laos Thailand and Vietnam can:
- Encourage the use of renewable energy sources (such as wind and solar power) rather then continuing with coal fired power plants
- Eliminate subsidies that encourage the use of coal and oil by making them artificially cheap
- Protect and restore forests, which serve as important storehouses of carbon.
- Improve and maintain public transport and encourage bicycle riding where feasible and safe.
- The people of the Greater Mekong can:
- Use more efficient sources of electricity
- Avoid driving when public transport is an option
- Drive more fuel efficient and less polluting motorbikes and cars
- Use energy efficient appliances
- Promote and implement more sustainable farming practices to preserve and maintain valuable forest reserves.
Businesses
The businesses of Lao PDR, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam can increase efficiency and save money by doing the same things as above but on a larger scale. And utilities can avoid building expensive new power plants by encouraging and helping customers to adopt efficiency measures.There are solutions to global warming available to us today, and it is time we put them to use. These solutions will reduce the amount of heat trapping gases that we emit into the atmosphere.
Indivdiuals
Here are some simple ways that you can change your behaviour to help reduce emissions of GHG:
Work
- Reduce the amount of lighting and use energy-efficient lightbulbs
- Turn off all lights, AC and office equipment when not in use
- Use teleconferencing instead of travelling
- Print and copy on both sides of the paper to avoid waste
- Create an office “green team”
Travel
- Walk, cycle or take the bus
- If you’re buying a car, choose one that’s fuel-efficient
- Drive eco-efficiently (avoid rapid acceleration and breaking)
- Use motorbikes and cars less by planning and combining frequent short trips into one
- Reduce plane trips
Home
- Turn down your AC by one degree and lower your energy bills by 10 per cent
- Buy energy efficient lightbulbs and appliances
- Unplug appliances when not in use
- Reduce the temperature of your water heater
- Insulate or seal your home to make it easier to heat and cool
Shopping
- Always reuse or recyle before buying new goods
- Choose eco-friendly labeled products
- Buy less meat, dairy and processed foods, which can all create high carbon emissions
- Don’t buy or consume illegal wildlife products
- Choose reusable over disposable products
