Will this energy hike be good for the environment?

[bjjgirl]

Just thinking about the current situation.

Wondering if the hike in the cost of living will have a positive effect on the environment.
Partly I'm thinking ppl will use less energy due to the cost and reduce travel due to fuel

However on the flip side they may go for cheaper companies for clothes etc which pollute more

For me I am using less energy to save and reducing my bills as much as possible which has meant I am eating far less meat and trying not to make unnecessary journeys. However, I am less likely to buy organic as it cost more etc

Yes probably. Although the cost of food probably means people will have to buy cheaper food, full of palm oil or transported across the world, rather then fresh local produce, so thats not great.

Yes and animal welfare may be sacrificed to save money ie free range eggs

I don't know what others will do but I will certainly buy more simple food, less meat, less processed so less packaging, with everything going up. Treats will be cut, more basic fruit and veggies, ingredients. I already cook things like chilli/bolognaise/curries/soup that can be bulked out with cheap veg, beans, lentils, so will keep doing that with few prepackaged treat items.

if it stops people showering twice a day, washing everything after one use & having the thermostat permanently on 24 degrees, then yes.

I don't think so. The people flying regularly or driving lots probably have the income to carry on. I've started walking more but traffic is still a nightmare where I live so can't see it making much difference.

It'll do very little imo , I think I heard we only contribute 1% of the worlds emissions and as is constantly said whilst China are responsible for about 33% and aren't on board together with India . On our own we can make little difference.

I also think this board gives little insight for the cost of living issues because it's heavily loaded by poor people taking about being skint whereas in reality a large silent number won't be effected but don't say because they'll be accusations of being tone deaf .

I personally cannot fathom how people get to the stage where they have just £2.13 to food shop . It's so far from reality to a lot of people .

I doubt it will have a meaningful impact in that way.
It will increase unemployment though. If we stop buying/using x, y and z, there will be issues further down the chain.

You need to look at the global consumption, manufacturing and transport worldwide.
Similar to household recycling - a bit pointless in the great scheme of things.

I don’t think it will have a big impact on the environment as it’s not the whole world in this situation.
And I agree that this will affect businesses and employment when people stop doing things like getting the bus, buying a coffee and a take away.

No, I don’t think it’ll make much difference, if any. We are not a major country for emissions, as PP have noted.
In some respects, it may have a worsening effect, as I know of 2 people in my circle who have bought wood burning stoves, and another who is going back to an open fire. By scavenging for wood, like we used to when we were young, and using the fire to heat the house, they may well be saving on fuel bills, but there’ll be some impact on emissions, especially if more people choose this way. Who can blame them?

The rise in the price of oil and gas is world wide, so in the short term there'll be more of an incentive for everyone to be careful with their energy use.

Whether it will translate into lower carbon emissions in the long term depends on how governments react to the hike in oil and gas prices. If they decide like certain Tory back benchers that what we need is to drop net zero and start fracking to increase our own fossil fuel production then we're all in big trouble. If they decide to rapidly expand renewables and (in the longer term) nuclear then we might be OK

Yes, useofweapons. Im using far less gas and electric, but im now using the log burner more.

Yes I think so.
I've cut right back on gas heating and invested in more loft insulation. I'm using my log burner more which some don't like but my closest neighbours are 30 yards away and they use one too. Better for the environment (not a fossil fuel) but not for people.
I'm turning things off at the wall, so using less electricity.
Clothes won't change for me but food will. More home grown (so fewer miles) and less beef, more chicken, pork and beans.

What percentage of homes have fireplaces or wood burners? We are just using less energy, less heating, hot water, fewer washing loads, only option for many I'd have thought?

On a global scale, if the oil price forces industry to move to renewables faster, that will have a much more significant impact.

Encouraging governments to invest to insulating houses would be significant too.

Not with the Tory party in power, they are already using it as a way of restarting fracking. See their net zero strutiny group.

For those who have incomes / assets related to fossil fuels, it will certainly make them a shit ton of money.

And no, people being cold and not affording healthy food in this country will have very little positive environmental impact.

Log burners affect those with chest complaints, so I hope too many people don’t go out and buy them.
I’ve seen a fire for sale that you pour a liquid into and burn. Looks like a log burner. I’m quite interested as it’s not gas/electric. Anyone have one. ?

I can't afford to refill the oil tank so I suppose there is that reduction in fossil fuel usage but I do have a wood stove and am now scavenging for wood/ pallets to burn chucking on cardboard thats in the house too. I don't think it's going to be any better environmentally than my nice efficient boiler tbh.

Yes countries like India and China have massive CO2 emissions, but a lot of that is because we are outsourcing manufacturing to there.

Western consumers and governments need to start looking at the environmental impact of products we buy from abroad and placing restrictions on imports of goods that create excessive emissions or pollution. But inevitably that would increase the costs of goods.

I do think the current costs will have a short term positive impact for the environment, but when the economy improves again people will just start spending and consuming at higher rates again.

We really should use this time to focus on reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. We need more renewable energy (so make it easier to build on shore wind farms, the cheapest form, and perhaps interest free loans for solar panels) plus more battery storage- if every house could have a smart battery storage system they could store energy from the grid when output is high and use it in the home at times of higher demand. That would massively reduce the need for top up power stations (usually gas) at peak times.

I don’t understand why those in power aren’t pushing for tide power. Other sources rely on the wind or the sun, the tide goes in and out twice a day, every day.

Surely less disposable income due to higher basic bills will have a knock on effect on even China and India’s manufacturing, even if only a small one?

I suppose it depends on how the dust settles but a lot of lower end middle incomes are feeling this. I’m thinking of the market that replaces things like electronics/cars that have nothing wrong with them for upgrades, fly to long haul destinations relatively regularly or short haul routinely etc.

It’ll be interesting to see if there is much of an impact.

No it won’t. The poorest will be hardest hit, they aren’t the ones flying around the world every week for work meetings or taking multiple holidays abroad. They are more likely to use public transport or walk. If we want to reduce carbon emissions this isn’t the way to do it, it certainly isn’t a fair way to do it.

No difference whatsoever. If we're talking about the UK,we produce so little of the global emissions that us cutting back a bit will make absolutely bugger all difference. Globally if people get so poor that they stop reproducing that would make a difference. Population reduction is the only thing that will make s difference. Everything else is just tinkering around the edges.

A small difference yes, and I do think a positive of all this is that people are more aware now of their energy consumption and hopefully it will make the government look at renewables instead of fossil fuels. However...the richest in society won't even notice the bil increases and will just carry on as normal heating their massive homes, jetting around the world and putting petrol in their 4x4s.
I've also thought twice recently about buying the eco version of household products which are usually more expensive. The eco products are the first things that people will cut back on.

We have always been careful with our usage, have a smart meter so can keep an eye on what we are using and the heating is only ever at 18 degrees when we are at home. Unfortunately the biggest thing I cannot cut back on is my petrol usage as I work in community nursing in a rural area and so rely on my car for work