This green lass is a carbon footprint tracker

Her conscience acquired a touch of green just two months ago. “My interest was sparked by a newspaper story on carbon trading,” said Ambica Ghuge (20), a student of Miranda House. Her green conscience has only grown stronger since then.

Her conscience acquired a touch of green just two months ago.

HT Image

“My interest was sparked by a newspaper story on carbon trading,” said Ambica Ghuge (20), a student of Miranda House. Her green conscience has only grown stronger since then.

Under its influence, Ghuge has now undertaken the ambitious task of mapping the carbon footprint of her college. Her initiative is among the 52 entries shortlisted for the Hindustan Times–Brightest Young Climate Leaders.

A carbon footprint is the total green house gas emission caused by an organisation, event or product. It is usually expressed in terms of amount of carbon dioxide and or greenhouse gas.

Mapping Miranda House’s footprint is Ghuge’s first green initiative and it could prove quite tedious.

“This is not as easy as, say, calculating the carbon footprint of your house, where you only need basic information such as electricity and fuel consumption,” said the Economics (Honours) student. She also heads the college entreprenuership cell.

“Here, carbon emission from indirect sources such as that caused by transportation used by the hostelers too has to be calculated,” she added.

So apart from calculating the emission caused by the paper-recycling plant and vermi-composting in college and the administrative building and hostel, Ghuge would be busy interrogating 200 hostelers about their trips back home and activities over the weekend.

Her job doesn’t end with this. After the mapping, she plans propose ways to reduce carbon footprint. To help her, Ghuge has roped in 15 other students. “The response to the notice I had put up in college was overwhelming. I did not want to disappoint anyone. In fact, I think I am overstaffed,” she said.