International Day of Climate Action 2024

International Day of Climate Action is celebrated every October 24th?and is a reminder of the importance of preserving biodiversity, reducing carbon emissions, and working towards a greener and more sustainable future for all.

Image & Content Courtesy: International Day of Climate Action | Sustainability

Lots of campaigns and drives are carried out worldwide to reemphasize Assertive Climate Action on the ground including tree plantations, cleanliness activities, plastic removal, waste segregation, education and advocacy initiatives to raise awareness and improving climate literacy and so on. Competitions such as Quizzes, Drawing, Painting, Essay/Slogan writing etc. are organized in schools, colleges, on social media and web at various levels. Multilateral Institutions, Governments, Corporations, Civil Society Organizations showcase processes, progress, policy updates, commitments etc. for informing and inspiring one and all about Climate Action.

Climate Change certainly is the defining issue of our time and we are at a do or die front. From shifting weather patterns that threaten food production, to rising sea levels that increase the risk of catastrophic flooding, the impacts of climate change are global in scope and unprecedented in scale. Without drastic action today, adapting to these impacts in the future will be more difficult and costly.

It is therefore an apt question to ask:

Are we changing ourselves to respond to Climate Challenges??

I have said this many a times before and saying today as well: Change begins with me. Mahatma Gandhi's words being the inspiration and conviction- Be the change that you want to see in the world.

I have to change before I can ask/expect others to change.

Mansa Vacha Karmana (????, ????, ??????) These three components, often referred to as the triad of mind, speech, and action, form the foundation of human existence, shaping our interactions with the world and influencing the course of our lives including material, ethical and spiritual journeys.

For change to be effective for good, these three must be aligned. I must think before I speak and behave consistently through my actions as per the previous two.

In the context of Climate Action this simply means that I become conscious of my responsibility to rejuvenate the environment and proactively take pertinent actions.

Individual actions may seem small in isolation, but collectively they drive significant progress in climate action. Every mindful choice contributes to reducing emissions, preserving ecosystems, and inspiring others to take action. By aligning personal habits with sustainability, individuals become part of the larger solution to climate change:

1. Reduce Energy Consumption

• Use Energy-Efficient Appliances: Look for appliances with Energy Star or other energy-saving certifications to reduce electricity use.
• Switch to LED Lighting: LEDs consume up to 90% less energy than traditional bulbs and last much longer.
• Unplug Devices: Electronics continue to consume power even when not in use, so unplugging or using power strips with an off switch can save energy.

2. Choose Sustainable Transportation

• Walk, Bike, or Use Public Transport: Opting for alternative transportation reduces emissions significantly compared to driving.
• Carpool or Use Ride-Sharing: Sharing rides with others can cut emissions and save money.
• Consider Electric or Hybrid Vehicles: If purchasing a car, look for low-emission or zero-emission options.

3. Adopt Sustainable Food Consumption

• Reduce Meat and Dairy Consumption: Producing meat generates high levels of greenhouse gases. Eating less meat lowers your carbon footprint.
• Buy Local and Seasonal Foods: Locally-sourced foods require less transport, and seasonal options often have a smaller environmental impact.
• Minimize Food Waste: Plan meals, store food properly, and use leftovers to reduce waste, which helps lower methane emissions from landfills.

4. Minimize Waste and Increase Recycling

• Reduce Plastic Use: Choose reusable bags, bottles, and containers to reduce single-use plastics.
• Recycle Properly: Educate yourself on local recycling guidelines to ensure items are disposed of correctly.
• Compost Organic Waste: Composting food scraps keeps them out of landfills and creates a natural fertilizer for plants.

5. Conserve Water

• Use Bucket & Mug or Shorter Showers: Limiting water use in your bath helps conserve water as well as energy used in heating water.
• Fix Leaks: A dripping faucet can waste gallons of water; fixing leaks helps save this precious resource.
• Use Water-Saving Fixtures: Install low-flow showerheads and faucets to reduce water consumption.

6. Support Renewable Energy

• Choose Green Energy Providers: If available, switch to energy providers that use wind, solar, or hydroelectric power.
• Install Solar Panels: For homeowners, adding solar panels can significantly reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
• Advocate for Renewable Energy in Your Community: Supporting policies and projects that expand renewable energy options helps reduce collective emissions.

7. Advocate for Climate Policies and Community Initiatives

• Support Sustainable Legislation: Contact representatives to express support for environmental policies, like renewable energy incentives and emissions reductions.
• Participate in Local Initiatives: Community tree-planting, clean-up events, and conservation programs all contribute to environmental health.
• Engage in Climate Education: Sharing knowledge and encouraging others to take action amplifies impact and raises awareness.

8. Buy Sustainable Products

• Choose Durable, Eco-Friendly Products: Go for for items made from sustainable materials that are designed to last, reducing waste.
• Support Companies with Green Practices: Purchase from brands with strong environmental commitments, such as zero-waste practices, carbon neutrality, or sustainable sourcing.
• Avoid Fast Fashion: Buy secondhand, choose quality over quantity, and opt for sustainable clothing brands to reduce waste in the fashion industry.

9. Offset Your Carbon Footprint

• Invest in Carbon Offsets: Some programs allow you to offset your emissions by funding projects that reduce CO?, like reforestation or renewable energy.
• Plant Trees or Support Reforestation Programs: Trees are natural carbon sinks, so planting or donating to tree-planting initiatives can help absorb emissions.
• Minimize long distance Air Travel: Use digital technologies for conducting business meetings, personal functions and other occasions

10. Stay Informed and Educate Others

• Keep Up with Climate Science: Understanding the latest in climate science helps you make informed choices.
• Share Knowledge: Engage in discussions and share insights with friends, family, and social networks to spread awareness.
• Join Climate Action Groups: Get involved with local or national environmental organizations to stay active in the movement.

Water is at the core of sustainable development and is critical for socio-economic development, energy and food production, healthy ecosystems and for human survival itself. Water is also at the heart of adaptation to climate change, serving as the crucial link between society and the environment.

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6?is to “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”. The targets cover all aspects of both the water cycle and sanitation systems, and their achievement is designed to contribute to progress across a range of other SDGs, most notably on #health, #education, #economics and the #environment.

Water is also a human rights issue. As the global population grows, there is an increasing need to balance all of the competing commercial demands on water resources, so that communities have enough for their needs. In particular, women and girls must have access to clean, private sanitation facilities to manage menstruation and maternity in dignity and safety.

Global warming of 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels has been caused by over a century of burning fossil fuels and unequal, unsustainable energy and land use. This has led to an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, which have caused dangerous impacts on nature and people worldwide.

Each increment of warming results in rapidly escalating hazards, such as more intense heatwaves, heavier rainfall, and other weather extremes that increase risks for human health and ecosystems. Climate-driven food and water insecurity is expected to shoot up with increased warming. When these risks combine with other adverse events, such as pandemics or conflicts, they become even more difficult to manage.

To close the gap between existing adaptation and what is needed, accelerated action to adapt to climate change is essential in this decisive decade. Keeping warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels requires deep, rapid, and sustained greenhouse gas emissions reductions in all sectors. Emissions should be decreasing by now and will need to be cut by almost half by 2030 if warming is to be limited to 1.5°C.

The IPCC has proposed adopting a “climate-resilient development” model that involves integrating measures to adapt to climate change with actions to reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions in ways that provide wider benefits.

For instance, access to safe and clean potable water is the only sustainable way to release pressure on already diminishing natural water sources. The water levels have gone down drastically in all major aquifers around the world. Drinking water has contamination threatening the health of the habitats. A lot of proactive on the ground action is underway to resolve the crisis but much more is needed as doing nothing is not an option. Alternative sources of water are needed pronto.

One such unique source is harvesting Water from Air-

Air to Water Generators: The Future of Sustainable Water Production

Air to Water Generators (AWGs) are innovative devices that extract humidity from the air and convert it into potable water. As water scarcity intensifies worldwide, AWG technology has gained attention for its ability to provide a reliable, scalable, and eco-friendly water source. AWGs operate through condensation processes, making them highly adaptable and independent of traditional water sources like rivers, lakes, and groundwater, which are vulnerable to pollution and climate change impacts.

AWGs utilize two primary methods:

1. Cooling Condensation: Air is drawn into the system and cooled to the dew point, where water vapor condenses into liquid. This water is then collected, filtered, and stored.
2. Desiccant-Based Extraction: Special hygroscopic materials absorb moisture from the air, which is then released as purified water through heat application.

AWGs can be powered by renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, or hybrid systems, enhancing their sustainability in various climates and locations.

Advantages of Air to Water Generators Over Other Methods

AWG technology offers significant benefits compared to conventional water sourcing and desalination:

1. Sustainability and Environmental Impact

• Minimal Ecological Footprint: AWGs don’t deplete natural water sources, reducing environmental stress.
• Low Pollution: They produce water with minimal chemical input and energy consumption, especially when paired with renewable energy.
• No Byproducts: Unlike desalination, AWGs don’t produce brine waste that can harm marine ecosystems.

2. Adaptability and Accessibility

• Flexible in Different Climates: AWGs function efficiently in humid environments, including coastal and tropical regions, where air humidity is naturally high.
• Off-Grid Capability: AWGs can operate in remote, off-grid areas and require minimal infrastructure, making them accessible for communities without established water systems.
• Scalability: AWGs can range from small household devices to large-scale industrial machines, making them suitable for both personal and community use.

3. Reliability and Safety

• Consistent Water Supply: AWGs provide water regardless of local water table levels, pollution, or infrastructure issues, offering an independent water source.
• Quality Control: The water from AWGs undergoes filtration and is generally free from pathogens and contaminants, addressing public health concerns in water-scarce areas.

MEGHDOOT AWGs by Maithri Aquatech

MEGHDOOT Air to Water Generators represent a breakthrough in sustainable water production, offering a versatile, eco-friendly solution to growing water scarcity issues.

Unlike other technologies, these AWGs provide reliable, clean, and scalable water with a minimal environmental footprint, making them ideal for both urban and remote areas.

With state-of-the-art advancements in our AWG technology's efficiency and the integration of renewable power sources, MEGHDOOT now is well poised to become a cornerstone of global potable water landscape, helping to ensure safe drinking water access worldwide.

Maithri Aquatech has been involved with government entities across the world, corporates, MNCs, Fortune 500 companies like Amazon, CISCO, SAP, DELL, Google and other industrial houses - where we are enabling them to move from being NET CONSUMERS?of water to NET PRODUCERS?of water - by generating their own water. We believe that the millions of liters of water saved this way, every day, would go a long way in impacting the water tables in the local environments - which will then positively impact the water availability for local communities. We are already present in 37 countries and counting!

Besides we are proud to proclaim that our AWG solutions are the most economical?in the world in terms of cost per liter of water generated - thus enhancing the investment value of these sustainable water solutions.?

We are part of the United Nations Global Compact Global Compact CEO Water Mandate?and committed to contribute to the achievement of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Mr. Ramkrishna Mukkavilli ,??Founder & Managing Director of Maithri Aquatech was recognized as the first?UNGC Global SDG Pioneer 2022 for Water Stewardship.

MEGHDOOT is the only Water from Air System (Atmospheric Water Generator) that has ever been tested, approved and recommended by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, RD & GR, Govt. of India .?

Maithri Aquatech has a strategic tie up with India's oldest R&D Centre the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT)? who have?provided technical inputs for MEGHDOOT that includes pre-filtration of air by PP cloth of 5 to 10 um porosity to remove dust particles? + Remineralization of the water by dosing of proprietary salt mixture / mineral cartridge? + Post treatment by micron filter cartridge followed by UV and Ozone for disinfection of the water and activated carbon column treatment for removal of odor and better taste. Ultrafiltration membrane is sometimes provided for complete reduction of turbidity depending upon location.

We are also the first company to establish a bottling plant?and have been delivering to various geographies directly and also using e-commerce platforms for greater reach. The quality of water generated by MEGHDOOT is also in line with drinking water quality standards of the World Health Organization (WHO) , Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), United Nations Standards among others.

We have successfully replicated these solutions in large-format applications using renewable energy including solar and wind power to make our offerings 100% carbon neutral, natural and sustainable. Our solutions are bringing smiles and happiness to people in 37 countries and counting.

The MEGHDOOT Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG) by Maithri Aquatech is not only a preferred choice for generating water sustainably from the atmosphere, it also offers several advantages for cold room applications saving energy, emissions, clean and green cold storage for basic necessities such as farm produce, milk and similar perishable items:

1. High Efficiency: MEGHDOOT is designed to extract water even in low-humidity conditions, making it adaptable to various climates and suitable for controlled environments like cold rooms.
2. Humidity Control: It helps reduce excess moisture from the air, which is essential for cold rooms to prevent condensation, mold growth, and product spoilage.
3. Scalability: MEGHDOOT comes in various capacities, from small units producing 60 liters/day to industrial units generating thousands of liters daily. This flexibility allows it to cater to the specific needs of a cold room, depending on its size and water requirements.
4. Energy Efficiency: MEGHDOOT is designed to be energy-efficient, with options to integrate renewable energy sources like solar panels. This feature can reduce operational costs, especially in facilities aiming for sustainability.
5. Purity and Safety: The water produced meets the WHO drinking water standards due to its multi-stage filtration process. This makes it suitable for use in industries like food storage and pharmaceuticals, where water quality and safety are critical.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGgv8oEM4NQ

These natural water solutions are the way forward to reclaim, restore and redevelop our ecosystems!

You have to make the choice right now, a little later might be too late!

www.maithriaqua.com Reimagining Water, Enabling Life

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