Climate report - what can the little man do?

[SGChome20]

After reading in the news about the climate report and that we are running head on into disaster it’s got me thinking. I strongly believe the big businesses need to step up and do more but I can’t practically affect that change. Yes I can sign petitions etc etc but it’s not making the changes.

I wondered what I/we as a small family can do? I mean I do the standard recycling, try to reduce single use plastics where possible. I’ve pretty much stopped buying new clothes unless they really need something and wear things till they are done. What do you do that you think is helping the environment? Bonus points if it actually also makes life easier/more enjoyable.

I try to do the school run by bike, and when driving it I try to combine it with other journeys (so school then straight onto the supermarket, or wherever). I’m trying to reduce food waste as much as I can and I’m also trying to cook vegetarian or vegan dishes a couple of times a week. And we grow our own veg, although not enough to avoid buying some as well. And we use a green energy supplier for our electricity.

I don’t know if any of that helps, but it’s what we can do.

@Spudlet a green energy supplier isn’t something I’d actually thought of. I do try to have meat free days as well, not ready (doubt I ever will be) to go veggie/vegan.

Reduce use of fossil fuels eg driving cars, flying, single use plastics. Reduce meat consumption particularly beef. Raise your concerns with your local MP. Check if your pension is invested in oil and gas companies (many are) and ask for it to be moved to an ethical fund. The last one is probably the most effective, though obviously only works if you have a pension!

Oh yes and buy your electricity from a renewable energy supplier - really easy to switch.

Use public transport or walk/ bike when you can. Don’t fly.

Same as spudlet, only now have solar panels and underfloor insulation. Our energy bills are around £75 per mth and we get around £700 back in FITS.

But that relies on having the capital for the outlay and assumes the property is suitable.

Go veggie (if you can), eat locally produced food where possible. Support small local businesses, become part of the local economy, press your council for low traffic zones. Can schools and businesses do more?

Move your money out of the banks that invest in fossil fuels.

Oh and I know it’s only a tiny thing, but emails have a carbon footprint so unsubscribe from marketing ones if you can.

@Sewaccidentprone I’ve thought about solar panels in the past actually. I’m now hopefully in my forever home and would be happy to invest that money so I think I’ll look into that.

Good tips about pensions and banks as well.

Mooncup/reusable sanitary towels/ period pants. J cloths and cleaning spray instead of disposable wipes.

1. Energy - switch to a green supplier, make sure your house is insulated, don't leave stuff on, wash in cold temperatures, don't have a tumble drier, always choose the most energy efficient appliances.

1. Transport - fly less, drive less, walk and cycle more, use public transport, switch to an EV if and when it is practical to do so.

1. Food - eat much less meat and dairy. Buy local and seasonal. Never buy food that has been air-freighted.

1. Money - every £ you spend has a climate impact. Switch to an ethical bank, divest your pension, ask questions.

1. Get politically active - join an eco group, write to your MP, sign petitions, above all vote for the climate.

(I think there is a category I'm missing ...)

Don’t buy anything with palm oil (or if you must choose sustainable palm oil).

If you can, choose olive oil and avoid ultra processed foods.

Not all vegan products are environmentally friendly. Almond milk causes greater impact than cows milk.

Just remembered:

1. Plant trees

The 3 biggest "personal" impacts are from food, heating and travel. So concentrate on those categories?

I think rapeseed oil is better than olive oil because it's produced in the UK.

Almond milk has a lower carbon footprint than cow's milk, even although it requires a lot of water to grow the almonds.

@Lapsidasicle

Don’t buy anything with palm oil (or if you must choose sustainable palm oil).

If you can, choose olive oil and avoid ultra processed foods.

Not all vegan products are environmentally friendly. Almond milk causes greater impact than cows milk.

Do you have a source for that last sentence? AFAIK Almond milk uses a lot of water, more so than most other plant based milk, but still less than dairy, alongside lower CO2 emission than dairy. See graph half way down following article:

www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46654042.amp

www.sciencefocus.com/science/which-vegan-milk-is-best-for-the-environment/

@Tulipomania

1. Energy - switch to a green supplier, make sure your house is insulated, don't leave stuff on, wash in cold temperatures, don't have a tumble drier, always choose the most energy efficient appliances.

1. Transport - fly less, drive less, walk and cycle more, use public transport, switch to an EV if and when it is practical to do so.

1. Food - eat much less meat and dairy. Buy local and seasonal. Never buy food that has been air-freighted.

1. Money - every £ you spend has a climate impact. Switch to an ethical bank, divest your pension, ask questions.

1. Get politically active - join an eco group, write to your MP, sign petitions, above all vote for the climate.

(I think there is a category I'm missing ...)

Also excellent list. Especially the money but, very easy to forget. All I’d add is clothing: buy less, buy second hand, buy sustainable. The clothing industry is a huge polluter both in terms of CO2 in production and shipping, and bulk waste that sadly often goes into landfill.

Use the internet less. We forget that it is driven by massive - and I mean humongous - computers in Nevada or somewhere, all powered constantly and all using a shit ton of energy just so half the planet can watch porn and the other half buy shit.

Also stop buying new xmas decs each year. Don't light up your house with Xmas lights.

Use your vote wisely

I truly believe it is the huge corporations at fault and ultimately they need to change to save the planet. I’ve starting buying UV protective clothing and just preparing for hellish hot summers and increased rain fall, even bought my house with future flooding risk in mind! I’m truly scared for the younger generation

Can you explain how emails have a carbon footprint? I feel like I’m learning so much more about environmental impact recently. There has been some fantastic threads here.

I'm also scared. It's daunting. We are the last generation who can fix this. We owe it to our children's generation to really try.

@3luckystars my understanding is that each email is stored on a server, and the volume of emails means the servers use energy, heat up and have to be cooled. If the servers are cooled using renewable energy it's much less of a problem. I think data streaming (eg videos) uses a lot more energy than emails.
But please someone correct me if I'm wrong - definitely not my area of expertise!

Put your money where your mouth is... Swap to a building society or a bank that doesn't invest in fossil fuels. Nationwide or monzo, I expect there are others.

Have no more than 2 children. Any more and you are contributing to overpopulation which is actually at the root of all this