Global warning: This conversation might make you plan your life towards benefiting the planet.

Quick Background

This is an end-of-year transport update but if you are running to a sub-2 target for the half marathon at the Mumbai Marathon this month, then sign up via this earlier page to be on my 2-hour party bus.

I started maintaining a log of my modes of transport on 1-Jan-2017 as part of my aim of being greener. I first spoke to you about it when I had completed 100 days of logging and then when I had completed 1001 journeys. And now I am writing having completed a year of logging my modes of transport. Scroll down for the summary chart.

[To equip yourself with more background, do read the initial article.]

Trying to have as little negative impact on the planet’s health must be achieved in a multipronged fashion – what you eat, drink, wear, smear, smell, drive and generally use. However, at the very least you too can think and act a little bit more concertedly when it comes to your modes of transport.

Old Habits Die Hard: When I met ‘my Greek family’ at Mumbai airport last week, my friend asked “Did you cycle to meet us?” and she genuinely expected a “yes”. When I met her as a student in Cambridge, the bicycle was the only mode of quick personal transport permitted to undergraduates. Even though I bought my first BMW in the month of graduation from Cambridge 25 years ago, my love for the bicycle seems never ending! In a city like Mumbai, where I spend most of my year, it is invariably the fastest mode of transport for short, medium, and often, longer journeys.

Inescapable Aircraft: Through 2017 I have had to get to cities to which non-aircraft transport was not a practical option. Based on the kilometer carbon footprint, that would definitely put me in the red. However, those journeys aside, I have continued to try my best to remain as green as possible, otherwise. I used 1924 different journey segments in 2017 to make the world a better place between the 1st of January and the 31st December.

My first weekend of 2018 is likely to involve 4 bicycle rides and 2 ferry trips to race a half-marathon on a beach. I hope the rest of 2018 too will allow me to be as green in my movements as possible.

How Green are my Numbers?

Let green be your colour of focus in movement.

Dr Purnendu Nath spends his waking hours focusing on helping individuals and organizations reach their goals, to make the world a better place. He speaks, writes and advises on topics such as finance, investment management, discipline, education, self-improvement, exercise, nutrition, health and fitness, leadership and parenting.