Bamboo Production and Value Chain for Quality Life in the Era of Climate Change: A Circular Way for Social Impact

Introduction And Background

Global warming is increasing at such a rate, that in the next 20-25 years, the Earth and the atmosphere will suffer to an extent where recovery would be difficult. Carbon Dioxide is one of the major factors that contribute to climate change and global warming (Salzer et al., 2016). There is a dire need to look into this matter and come up with solutions that effectively work without causing any other harm to the environment. Here’s where bamboo production comes into the picture. Bamboo production allows carbon sequestration (Zhou et la., 2019). This means that it stores atmospheric carbon dioxide and helps reduce climate change (Lobovikov et al., 2012). This process happens naturally as well as by using technology. Apart from that its cultivation can be an optimal response to the current devastation of tropical forests (Molari & Garcia, 2021). Bamboo production can also help in carbon trading which will not only help in earning revenues for the carbon credit seller but also promote sustainable living practices. Carbon Trading (trading of emissions of six major greenhouse gases primarily CO2) is a market-based practice aimed at mitigating climate change (Perdan & Azapagic, 2011). India is the second-largest producer of bamboo after China. It covers nearly 13% of India’s total forest area. Around 5 million tons of bamboo is produced in India per annum. According to a recent development, India is going to have its first bamboo-based bio-refinery which will start its operations in March 2024. It is going to incorporate bamboo as feedstock and is expected to produce 16,000 tons of ethanol, 16,000 tons of furfural, and 11,000 tons of acetic acid annually (Verma, 2023). India has introduced the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme to motivate industrial entities to bring about reductions in their carbon emissions. It is an effective carbon sink. About 17 tons of carbon can be absorbed per annum by one hectare of bamboo. A ton of carbon dioxide is equal to a single carbon credit and the value of a credit in the international market is about 22 Euros. An acre of bamboo can produce approximately 80 carbon credits which can have a value of up to Rs. 60,000. India can thus exploit the opportunity of selling carbon credits to industries and nations and can generate significant revenues. The amalgamation of all the aforementioned factors led to the selection of this specific topic.