Why we exist
Mlinda offers market-based solutions for investors and consumers to reduce these threats. Our models are self-sustaining, replicable and scalable.
Production
- Energy supply 70%
- Agriculture 10%
- Deforestation 10%
- Industry 7%
- Waste 3%
Consumption
- Food 27%
- Housing 26%
- Travel 20%
- Goods and services 20%
- Trade 7%
The production and consumption of energy and food represent a significant proportion of
global green-house gas emissions.
Produce well
Our work addresses the two main drivers of climate change and depletion of natural resources. The first is the vast combustion of fossil fuels for domestic and industrial energy supply. The second is the continuous deforestation of land use to meet ever increasing demands of industry and agriculture.
Energy
Energy production makes up 70% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Coal, gas and oil, used for transport, utilities and industry are the biggest contributors.
Agriculture
Take into account the management of agricultural land, from fertilisers to irrigation and tillage, livestock and manure, rice cultivation and other farming activities, and the agricultural sector is responsible for 10% of GHG emissions.
Deforestation
The causes of deforestation are complex, from the effects of small-scale farming in the early 20th century to the recent spread of industrial-scale cattle farming and agriculture such as palm oil and cereal crops. What is clear, are the results: up to 10% of GHG emissions, direct destruction of habitats and threats to endangered species.
Industry
Setting aside the energy needed to power them, industrial processes contribute close to 7% of global GHG emissions – primarily connected to processes involving cement, chemicals and aluminium.
Waste
For everything we produce, there is associated waste. Landfills, waste water and incineration, amongst others, contribute around 3% of global GHG emissions.
Source for all statistics above: World GHG Emissions Flow Chart 2010, ASN Bank ECOFYS 2010, analysis by Ecofys. An updated chart based on an earlier chart produced by the World Resources Institute. ‘World Resources Institute World Green House Gas emissions in 2005’. www.wri.org
Consume wisely
We highlight here the areas of individual consumption that have the greatest effect on greenhouse gas emissions. The effects vary by country, this data reflects the global pattern.
Food
Our eating habits have serious consequences, representing over 27% of GHG emissions. Meat, dairy and non-seasonal fruits are the main contributors, due to the transport, growing, and freezing facilities required.
Housing
26% of GHG emissions come from heating and powering our homes, cooking our food, and the indirect energy use involved in construction, maintenance and home furnishing.
Goods
The manufactured products that we buy – such as domestic appliances, mobile phones, clothes, and furniture – account for about 27% of GHG emissions.
Travel
Private cars and public transport contribute 20% of household GHG emissions – but this is higher in wealthier countries where air travel is common.
Source: UNEP (2010) Assessing the Environmental Impacts of Consumption and production: Priority Products and Materials. A report of the Working Group on the Environmental Impacts of products and Materials to the International Panel for Sustainable Resource Management. Hertwich, E., van de Voet, E., Suh, S., Tukker, A., Huijbregts M. Kazmierczk, P., Lenzen, M., McNeely, J., Moriguchi, Y. (page 50). www.unep.org
Why Greenhouse gas?
Our work is driven by a clear focus on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Although this measure does not reflect other pressures created by commercial and individual activity – such as water scarcity, toxic waste and overfishing – it is one of the main drivers of climate change and a practical comparator that can be applied across all areas of production and consumption.