115
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
Rukhsana et al. (eds.), Habitat, Ecology and Ekistics, Advances in Asian
Human-Environmental Research, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-49115-4_6
Chapter 6
Assessment of the Carbon Footprint Across
Urban Households in Kolkata
Rukhsana and Md Firojuddin Molla
6.1 Introduction
Cites are central to climate change mitigation. They account for 76% of CO 2 emissions in terms of total global final energy utilization and 43% of CO 2 emissions in
terms of global primary energy consumption (Ahmad et al. 2015). According to the
International Energy Agency (IEA), energy consumption in Asia is expected to
increase by 1.7% annually from 2015 to 2040 (IEA 2017). In the recent era, it has
been observed that CO 2 emissions are controlled by various determinants and that
CO 2 emissions by households are positively related to energy consumption (Akpan
and Akpan 2012; Meanbua et al. 2019; DEDE 1995, 2000). Because of rapid
increases in CO 2 emissions, global warming and climate change have become global
environmental threats, attracting the attention of scientists and researchers (Saboori
and Sulaiman 2013). According to an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC) report, the average global temperature could increase by between 1.1 and
6.4 °C, and the sea level could rise by between 16.5 and 53.8 cm by 2100 (IPCC
2007). In its Fourth Assessment Report, the IPCC strongly recommended limiting
the average global temperature increase to below 2 °C, relative to the average temperature in the preindustrial era. It has been reported that the temperature has already
risen by 0.74 °C; thus, climate scientists are focusing their attention on urgent action
to control global warming (IPCC 2007; Kerr 2007). The increase in global temperature is causing mountain snow and ice to melt, leading to a sea level rise of 3 mm
per year (Kerr 2006; Rignot and Kanagaratnam 2006; IPCC 2007). It has been projected that almost 1–2 billon people will be under water stress, the productivity of
crops will suffer, and wildlife and biodiversity will be threatened by environmental
change (Kerr 2007). As noted by Stern and Jacobs (2006), the world is running short
of time and options, from a socioeconomic perspective, and there is a high risk of
Rukhsana (*) · Md. F. Molla
Department of Geography, Aliah University, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
Rukhsana et al. (eds.), Habitat, Ecology and Ekistics, Advances in Asian
Human-Environmental Research, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-49115-4_6
Chapter 6
Assessment of the Carbon Footprint Across
Urban Households in Kolkata
Rukhsana and Md Firojuddin Molla
6.1 Introduction
Cites are central to climate change mitigation. They account for 76% of CO 2 emissions in terms of total global final energy utilization and 43% of CO 2 emissions in
terms of global primary energy consumption (Ahmad et al. 2015). According to the
International Energy Agency (IEA), energy consumption in Asia is expected to
increase by 1.7% annually from 2015 to 2040 (IEA 2017). In the recent era, it has
been observed that CO 2 emissions are controlled by various determinants and that
CO 2 emissions by households are positively related to energy consumption (Akpan
and Akpan 2012; Meanbua et al. 2019; DEDE 1995, 2000). Because of rapid
increases in CO 2 emissions, global warming and climate change have become global
environmental threats, attracting the attention of scientists and researchers (Saboori
and Sulaiman 2013). According to an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC) report, the average global temperature could increase by between 1.1 and
6.4 °C, and the sea level could rise by between 16.5 and 53.8 cm by 2100 (IPCC
2007). In its Fourth Assessment Report, the IPCC strongly recommended limiting
the average global temperature increase to below 2 °C, relative to the average temperature in the preindustrial era. It has been reported that the temperature has already
risen by 0.74 °C; thus, climate scientists are focusing their attention on urgent action
to control global warming (IPCC 2007; Kerr 2007). The increase in global temperature is causing mountain snow and ice to melt, leading to a sea level rise of 3 mm
per year (Kerr 2006; Rignot and Kanagaratnam 2006; IPCC 2007). It has been projected that almost 1–2 billon people will be under water stress, the productivity of
crops will suffer, and wildlife and biodiversity will be threatened by environmental
change (Kerr 2007). As noted by Stern and Jacobs (2006), the world is running short
of time and options, from a socioeconomic perspective, and there is a high risk of
Rukhsana (*) · Md. F. Molla
Department of Geography, Aliah University, Kolkata, West Bengal, India