Would anyone be interested in trying to do one small thing each week to tackle climate change?

[riotlady]

I’ve seen a few threads on aibu recently with people panicking about climate change and I often find myself worrying about it too, especially in light of the report published today. Studies show that one of the best ways to combat anxiety is to feel like you’re doing something about the problem, so I’ve decided to challenge myself to do one small thing to reduce my impact on the planet each week. I’m wondering if anyone would like to join me? I’m thinking small actions like walking or cycling a journey when you would normally take the car, swapping shower gel for bar soap, switching to a greener energy supplier, etc. No judgement about what is and isn’t feasible for people- for example I have ME and am very fatigued, so often use my tumble drier instead of hanging things out as I just don’t have the energy. There’s no point guilting myself over that, so I might as well focus on the things that I CAN change.

I’ve just sent an email to my MP so that’s my start to this week :)

I'll sneak in an extra veggie meal per week for my family (big meat eaters unfortunately)

Going vegan is a bit pointless if all you are doing is replacing meat by energy intensive ultra processed “alternatives”

I’m going for the consume less slant (already lifelong vegetarian). I don’t need a coffee if I’ve been out of the house for more than 90 mins, we can enjoy simple foods, not fancy schmancy meals every night, I don’t need to wash my hair every day and I can generally be more considered about what I buy & need.

But then, I’m fortunate that I’ve been able to amass good quality basics that don’t need replacing, which means I’ve got plenty of nice stuff to scratch the “having nice things” itch.

Nobody will admit it but people who have posted ideas on this thread will have foreign holidays booked for next year and they will be going by air.

Government need to mandate changes so that individuals or business that make changes don't lose out

Like if a builder installs ground source heat pump today their house will be more expensive than the builder installing gas... which would put them at a disadvantage for doing the right thing

They need to continue the push to green electrification ... that's going well

But the migration to electric vehicles needs national infrastructure and it needs to be cheaper to buy a new electric than a second hand fossil car

They need to be investing in fertiliser research

Many other things

Nobody will admit it but people who have posted ideas on this thread will have foreign holidays booked for next year and they will be going by air.

I think it’s become less of a given. We’re certainly not (although we have in the past)

@DolphinFC

Nobody will admit it but people who have posted ideas on this thread will have foreign holidays booked for next year and they will be going by air.

Nope I don't have a foreign holiday booked snd I think I last flew in 2015 , for work

The last holidays abroad have been ferry drive or train

But that aside , it should be possible to get to a good state without banning all flights

It's about a persons whole impact and that doesn't have to be zero today

@DolphinFC

Nobody will admit it but people who have posted ideas on this thread will have foreign holidays booked for next year and they will be going by air.

Yep. And I suspect they all have multiple children too.

Using shampoo bars and buying beeswax wraps isn't going to make any difference when you have kids and travel abroad.

We've recently started using beeswax wrappers and also paper bags for sandwiches so has reduced our clingfilm and foil usage.

I have a diesel car which i will need to replace soon and won't get diesel again. I don't do many miles generally but electric isn't really an option due to terrace housing unfortunately

@enoughforme

Honestly guys I hate to sound negative but these small changes are like pissing in the wind.

It's going to take major government changes to fix this situation. Until then may aswell carry on as you are it really isn't going to make a difference

Yeah this.

Consumer changes are all but useless.

I walk to school, recycle, eat meat less and so on, but I'm under no illusion that it makes anjot of difference.

Total footprint at start 2000
Total footprint after making easy changes 1500
Saving 500

That's 500 better than the person who sits there making no changes at all

And not everyone flies ... find sone different friends

And I suspect they all have multiple children too.

Well I’m not quite sure what you want people to do. You can’t give them back.

Does having children bar from making any sustainability related change in your life? That would be both odd and counterproductive.

I don't have foreign holidays booked for next year, don't fly, don't own a car and don't eat meat, if that makes it okay for me to talk about beeswax wraps?

Honestly, if your only ideas here are to sigh and snipe, perhaps go and do something else with your evening?

@HasaDigaEebowai

Nobody will admit it but people who have posted ideas on this thread will have foreign holidays booked for next year and they will be going by air.

I think it’s become less of a given. We’re certainly not (although we have in the past)

Fair point.

But given the views about holidays abroad in the covid era I think we can safely say that a very large number of people view flying off to the sun as a human right.

All the Mumsnetters in the world using wearing all recycled clothes they can find won't dent the carbon footprint of the holiday industry in the slightlest

Consume less. Of everything.
Stop throwing out perfectly edible food because it’s a minute past the use by date.

The leading climate change experts are recommending we all aim for a 5 tonne carbon footprint. The uk average is 12.7 tonnes. In the US its almost 17 tonnes.

Great thread OP I am in.
I already
Plant a tree a day via Treeapp
Don’t fly
Have 100% renewable home energy
Use soap bars
Don’t eat red meat
Switched to glass milk bottles
Offset my carbon footprint via the app Klima (for less than what I would have spent on wine in a week pre Covid)
I have decided to get our fruit and veg only from our local greengrocers in paper bags and not from the coop next door which is overly packaged.
The co-op has just started doing a plastic bag and film recycling which we need to make use of.
I’ve also emailed my MP to try and speak to him prior the climate meeting. I really dislike the guy too.

Typically half the uk population don't fly in any year

But 1% take 20% of flights

Stop throwing out perfectly edible food because it’s a minute past the use by date

Unless it’s a gooseberry and cinnamon yoghurt..

Use the Ecosia search engine. They plant trees when you search.

Consumer changes are not useless
They do matter and I think we can see in data that they are having effect

For example Less red meat is being eaten and whilst you might only changers meat feee 1day a week, so many other people are doing the same , so it's noticeable at a national level

This is a brilliant thread!
I am already mostly meat-free...not entirely but don't often buy it or eat it these days.
Low plastic use, could be better.
One of my long-term aims is to not have the car. I did it for three years but currently living out in the sticks and can't get to work without a car; however, I have changed jobs to one that is only a 10 minute drive away. No local transport sadly but once I retire the car is going....

I recently bought beeswax wraps to use in place of cling film. Work well with cheese (we eat loads).
I wanted to do this but they are soooo expensive!

You can make your own. Or just use a Tupperware.

I’ve just switched to paper-wrapped loo roll.. my next step is cutting our meat consumption, using the dryer and stopping leaving things on standby

Look up your local terracycle location. They recycle everything from contact lenses packs to tablet blister packs to crisp packets.

I don't have a car or a tumble dryer. You're welcome to give up more than one a week if you like.