Dear Friends,
A 2-year-old child from Tamil Nadu, India, named Adhavi, has set a remarkable example in environmental conservation. Her parents, Dinesh SP and Janga Nandhini, have planted 6,000 fruit-bearing trees to completely offset her lifetime carbon emissions. This incredible initiative has earned Adhavi the title of the “World’s First Carbon-Neutral Child,” recognized by the Asia Book of Records.
On average, an Indian generates around 2 tons of carbon emissions annually (on the other hand, a typical US citizen generates 15 Tons per year and world average is around 4.7 tons per year). Adhavi’s parents began their journey before her birth to combat this. They collaborated with farmers in Tamil Nadu to plant these trees, which will grow alongside Adhavi, absorbing her carbon footprint over time.
What if this becomes a policy?
What if such efforts are rewarded with special reservations in premium institutions?
What if it provides priority in railway tickets or discounts on purchases?
The day is not far! Many companies need to buy carbon credits to offset their energy demands. Perhaps, one day, Adhavi could transfer some of her credits to help these companies meet their sustainability goals.
If so, how many credits should Jadav "Molai" Payeng gain? Known as the "Forest Man of India," Jadav Payeng single-handedly transformed a barren sandbar in the Brahmaputra River into a lush forest spanning 1,360 acres over four decades.
Let’s also remember other pioneers of environmental conservation:
• Felix Finkbeiner: Founded the "Plant-for-the-Planet" initiative at age 9, aiming to plant 1 trillion trees globally. By 2021, over 15 billion trees had been planted through this initiative.
• Sundarlal Bahuguna: A pioneer of the Chipko Movement, he championed tree conservation and sustainable living in the Himalayan region.
• Mathur Gopalakrishnan: Planted over 30,000 saplings across Kerala to create mini forests on barren lands.
• Shubhendu Sharma: Founder of Afforestt, which helps individuals and organizations plant dense, native forests even on small plots of land.
India’s carbon market is picking up again! In 2023, India launched its Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM), a significant initiative for individuals, industries, and private entities looking to participate in carbon offset programs while contributing to sustainable development goals. With blockchain integration, the VCM ensures transparency and eliminates double-counting of credits. It is also compliant with international standards like the Gold Standard for credit quality assurance.
In my view, Dinesh SP and Janga Nandhini are true visionaries. If I am not mistaken, two years ago, there was an article about them—a Tamil Nadu couple who hosted the country’s first wedding in the metaverse, blending tradition and technology to adapt to Covid-19 restrictions.
These parents are truly ahead of their time, saving not only money for their child’s future but also creating carbon credits for a sustainable tomorrow.
Best wishes to these Carbon Credit Parents!
Ravi Saripalle
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