SANTO DOMINGO – Climate change has become a threat to the development of countries. Some will be more affected than others, but the reality is that all are under scrutiny. According to the World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) annual-to-decadal global climate update, temperatures will continue at or near record levels for the next five years across the planet, increasing climate risks and having increasingly severe consequences for societies and economies.
According to the WMO, the average annual global temperature near the Earth's surface is projected to be between 1.2 and 1.9 degrees Celsius higher than the pre-industrial average (1850-1900) between 2025 and 2029. The organization predicts an 80% probability that at least one of the next five years will surpass 2024, the warmest year on record.
The increase in temperatures is related to what has been called the carbon footprint, which, according to the United Nations, is "the measure of the impact of all greenhouse gases (GHG) produced by our activities (individual, collective, occasional and of products) on the environment.".
In other words, most of the activities that humans perform every day generate greenhouse gases that directly impact the atmosphere. These are: carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapor (H2O), nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), and ozone (O3).
According to Yomayra Martinó, a consultant in sustainability, energy transition and climate action, the carbon footprint “allows us to know the sources of these emissions, their quantity and the potential for reducing them (mitigation)”.
Yomayra Martinó. (External source).
To estimate it, internationally recognized methodologies are used, such as the GHG Protocol or ISO 14064, which consider energy consumption, transport, production processes, use of materials, water, waste generation and other factors.
Several reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), such as the AR-6 Assessment Report, have shown that the sustained increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to human activity is increasing the concentration of these gases in the atmosphere, altering global climate patterns. Historically, the planet had been able to self-regulate these changes, but currently, due to the high levels of concentration, this is no longer possible.
“This warming and its concentration in the atmosphere have caused the so-called 'adverse effects' of climate change, such as: rising sea levels, heat waves, loss of biodiversity, droughts and severe impacts on sensitive sectors such as agriculture, health, water security and, of course, people and ecosystems in general,” Martinó points out.
Fingerprint
Greenhouse gas emissions are not solely the responsibility of businesses; individuals also contribute through their daily activities. “The main difference lies in the approach, that is, its scope,” explains Martinó, clarifying that emissions from everyday activities can be calculated.
In the case of a corporate or business footprint, the impact is measured according to its direct business operations or activities (scope 1 emissions), energy consumption (scope 2), and its value chain (scope 3). It is also possible to calculate the impact of a product or service, “for example, the production of a good and its transport from the port of loading to the port of unloading, or the calculation of emissions from a particular bank's loan portfolio.”.
On the other hand, he explains, a national greenhouse gas inventory (INGEI) is maintained at the national level. According to data from the ranking of countries by CO2 emissions, prepared by Macro Expansion, in 2023, emissions in the Dominican Republic increased by 1,707 megatons, a 5.76% rise compared to 2022, placing the country in 111th position.
Emissions
Electricity consumption, energy inefficiency, and the use of outdated or fuel-guzzling vehicles are all silent generators of large volumes of gases.
According to Martinó, the acquisition of goods and services with high energy content, the non-use of secondary raw materials, the waste of organic waste, the use of air conditioning at excessively low temperatures, excessive online shopping, and the consumption of red meat are also underestimated sources of personal emissions.
To reduce the impact, she recommends making changes such as cycling or using public transport, consuming local and low-impact products, reducing plastic use, moderating meat consumption, and avoiding food waste. “The important thing is that every consumption decision has a footprint, and reducing it is part of our climate responsibility.”.
