GREEN CHEMISTRY FOR A GREENER PLANET: COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH INNOVATION

Green chemistry or sustainable chemistry has emerged as important scientific practice for combating climate change. It focuses on chemical processes and products that pose minimal environmental impact by reducing hazardous wastes, greenhouse gas emission, and pollutants. This article highlights the essence of green chemistry and its role in addressing climate change through cleaner production technologies, renewable energy alternatives, advanced carbon capture methods, and biodegradable materials. The application of green chemistry in developing CO₂ absorbing solvents and eco-friendly polymers while increasing catalyst efficiency epitomizes its potential to help reduce greenhouse gases emissions from the chemical industry. The application of the twelve principles of green chemistry, which motivates new process design incorporating atom economy alongside full resource utilization while minimizing carbon footprints, enriches this innovation stream further. A collective effort towards a more sustainable future can be achieved through the collaboration of scientists and environmentalists by incorporating green chemistry into policies, education systems, and industrial practices. In this article, I revisit the most recent case studies and advancements along with their challenges in adopting green chemistry while reiterating its potential to transform our world’s crises, such as climate change.