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Cycling to kindergarten; the Danes start pedaling when they are young. |
In a perfect world, people would
cycle to their destination not because it cut down on emissions but because it
was the faster and more efficient way to go from one point to another. In a
perfect world, it becomes like driving a car – you may not be like to drive but
you have to. In a perfect world, cycles will replace cars.
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Cargo bikes are very common means to transport goods or babies! |
By that definition, Denmark is
near-perfect. In the past two years, the rate of people cycling to work or
school in Copenhagen has increased from 36 per cent to 41 per cent. So momentous
has the growth been that since the beginning of the year, the city’s
authorities are considering widening the bike lanes – from the present
three-bike lane to four bikes.
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Young and old alike love their bicycles. |
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Cycle hire stands in New Delhi |
And these measures are in addition to
the city’s cycling infrastructure that is already in place – 360 km of wide
bicycle tracks, raised tracks between bike lanes and pedestrian pavements and
car lanes. Several city centres are now out of bounds for vehicles, which
includes the area outside the Parliament. During winters when the city
experiences heavy snowfall, the cycle tracks and lanes are cleaned before car
lanes. Next on the card is a scheme to connect Copenhagen to its suburbs through
cycling lanes.
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A group of riders enjoying the outdoor in Gurgaon,India. There are no organized cycling lanes in Indian cities. |
Cycle hire stands in New Delhi |
What other ways can I help keep the air clean?
Should I plant a tree? How will my planting trees help?
The
simplest way to combat climate change is to plant trees: Trees breathe in
Carbon Di Oxide and through the process of photo-synthesis create food for
themselves and breathe out Oxygen. Carbon Di Oxide is one of the
main causes of global warming. CO2 and other Green House Gases blanket the earth's
atmosphere and trap heat. This leads to
warming of the earth's atmosphere as the trapped heat is prevented from
escaping.
Planting
and nurturing a tree helps reduce global warming as trees absorb CO2 and
release oxygen. A mature tree sequesters up to a ton of Carbon in its life
time. It also gives out enough oxygen required by two human beings.
Planting
a tree can be one of the most satisfying activities of our lives. Nurturing a
tree we have planted and watching it grow and bear fruit is an extremely
rewarding experience. Apart from this, here are a few more reasons to help you
start planting:
- As a gift: Gifting a tree to a friend, a colleague, a dear one can be a very unique experience.
- In memory of a loved one..
- To mitigate our individual carbon footprint.
- As part of our corporate social responsibility.
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Cycle hire stands in New Delhi |
Sustainable
Green Initiative plants fruit trees on fallow/ community lands and on lands
owned by marginal and Bpl farmers. We work with self help groups and NGOs
who help us identify right beneficiaries who can continue the process of
planting and nurturing trees. (See our methodology).
At
Sustainable Green Initiative, we plant trees to help the fight against climate
change and also hunger, poverty and rural migration. By planting a tree
through us, you help in doing your bit to mitigate your carbon footprint and
carry on the fight against hunger, poverty and climate change.
Did you know a tree sequesters about 1 ton of carbon and processes enough
oxygen for two peoples requirements in its life-time?
So what are you waiting for? Plant a tree today.
So what are you waiting for? Plant a tree today.