Agriculturists can also play their role in combating pollution

ISLAMABAD: Apart from governments and industrialists, the planters as well as agriculturists across the globe can also play their role in combating pollution ensuring clean environment for the generations to come, said a lead carbon trader.
Awareness for a better environment is increasing in Pakistan and a number of industrial giants have shown their interest in playing their role for a greener Pakistan, said Toby A. Tikinsky, Country Representative, EcoSecurities, here Sunday.
"A big fertilizer company and a NGO have already entered in business deals with us and a lot of others have been expressing interest," said Tikinsky.
Officials in a number of thermal power plants, coal-fired stations, industrial units, oil and gas companies, cement factories and other industrial giants are apprising themselves of the carbon credit and some may tie up with EcoSecurities soon.
"Companies that view environmental compliance as an additional expense would soon know that this has become profitable for them," said Tikinsky.
Agricultural producers and landowners can earn income by storing carbon in their soil through different methods. (Like no-till crop production and long-term grass seeding practices).
Through photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air, release oxygen back to the atmosphere, and store carbon in their roots and other residues. Eliminating tillage lessens the amount of carbon released back into the atmosphere.
Also, lead agriculturists can come forward and start Carbon Credit Programs in their respective areas which would also improve the financial status of farmers, he said.
The idea of buying and selling carbon credits (CC) is new in Pakistan therefore it will take its due time before it becomes a commonly understandable phenomena, he told reporters during a recent signing ceremony.
Pollution is being increased so is the need for combating it. In 2003, 78 million tonnes of carbon credits were traded while in 2004, transaction in carbon credit rose 38% to 107 million tones and the number is increasing which shows acceptance of the CC in developing markets, UK based EcoSecurities said recently.
In 2004, 40 developed countries emitted 17.8 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent (CO2e), the highest since "the early nineties". While emissions in 2004 were 4.6 per cent below 1990 levels, the UNFCCC has said 2003 emissions were 5.9 per cent below 1990 levels. Greenhouse gas emissions dropped after 1990 due to the collapse of central and easern European economies.
The Korean government has recently decided to offer cash incentives to manufacturers who voluntarily reduce their greenhouse gas emissions while Japan’s Ministry of Environment has requested a budget of 7.3 billion yen to purchase Kyoto credits in the fiscal year 2007.
Its high time that Pakistan’s private sector and agricultural community join hands for a cleaner and low-carbon economy.