We're Better Together

Photo credits Hurca!

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead (cultural anthroplogist, 1901 -1978)

When we're on a long journey it can be helpful to have companions to encourage us on the way.

A group can sometimes achieve more than an individual acting on their own, too. Together we can share knowledge and resources. 

A group of local residents concerned about the climate and related issues will be in a stronger position to discuss ways to reduce GHG emissions locally, restore nature and to build local resilience with local councillors than individuals acting on their own. Sometimes councillors listen. Sometimes being more sustainable and environmentally friendly saves money, for instance installing solar panels of council buildings. Sometimes councillors understand the urgency of cutting greenhouse gases and the dangers of global warming increasing.

The Climate Majority Project UK

A group of well known people have recently started the Climate Majority Project UK. Among them are Prof. Kevin Anderson, Mike Berners-Lee, Lord Deben, Prof. Mark Maslin, Chris Packham, Jonathan Porritt, Kate Raworth, Rupert Read, Michael Rosen, Swampy and Dale Vince.

On their website is a list of "Climate Hubs", which are "essential gathering spaces where people can come together, build relationships and collaborate on local climate action initiatives. They’re a meeting place for existing climate networks and new initiatives to learn from each other and co-ordinate their efforts. They’re also much needed places of mutual support in the face of the climate emergency."

I'm pleased to see groups in Godalming and Guildford, where I used to live, on the list, but I'd love to see groups in Hampshire, and particularly in the Hamble Valley where I live now, join the list. 

Check this list to see if there's a hub near you.

If you are part of any kind of Climate Hub do you have any tips for getting one started?

Transition Towns

You might have heard of Transition Towns. Southampton has a Transition Town group. The idea started in Totnes and was co-founded by Rob Hopkins in 2005. I heard him speak around that time and I found his ideas inspiring. Back then he was encouraging communities to build a resilience for a time when there was a scarcity of fossil fuels. Now we know that's unlikely to happen before fossil fuels make our planet too hot for us to live on, if we carry on as we are. Many of the ideas are still relevant, although for different reasons. Growing as much food as possible locally will reduce food miles and the associated GHG emissions, for instance. Amongst other ideas, Rob Hopkins suggested growing fruit and nut trees on public land.

Today there is a whole Transition Town Network spanning the globe. It calls itself "A movement of communities coming together to reimagine and rebuild our world".

Independent Climate and Sustainablilty Groups

If you ask your local councillors or search on social media you might find that there are independent groups of local residents working on these issues already.

Steps Towards Sustainable Living Part 2

Humpback Whales
(Photo credits Christopher Michel)

 

Time to Reflect

Over the last few days I've looked at several ways in which we can reduce our personal greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and live more sustainably. 

The IPPC recommends that every country halves its greenhouse gas emissions by the end of this decade if we are to stop global warming getting out of control. It's true that our government needs to do much more, much more quickly to make this possible. We have to hope that by voting wisely and letting the government know how important we think this is the next government we have in the UK will make reducing greenhouse gases and making the infrastructure of British society more sustainable their top priority. 

Time to Consider

As responsible citizens we can all play our part and it's vital that we try to halve our own emissions over the next 6 years. This is why I'm using this blog to suggest as many ways as possible for us to reduce our own emissions.

Over the last few days I've looked at 

• Walking more and driving less for short journeys

• Buying less stuff we don't really need

• Using less unnecessary disposable plastic

• Wasting less food and keeping it out of landfill

• Helping pollinators and other insects

• Transitioning to a more sustainable diet

If you're doing all or any of these things already, that's really great. Keep up the good work and don't be shy about talking about why you do these things and how you benefit.

If all this is new to you don't feel overwhelmed. Take your time and choose ideas which fit your lifestyle, your personality and your budget. Take it one step at a time and don't think it has to be all or nothing. Every little helps, as they say. 

They also say we have to Act Now! Today is the best time to start out on our journey to reducing our carbon footprint (the amount of greenhouse gases our choices help to produce) and increasing our carbon handprint.

Carbon Handprint is an idea to help people realise that no contribution is too small. Anybody can make a difference to the environment, and the world will be a better place if we all try to do our bit.

Time to Act

If you can start to change one area of your life every month that would be ideal. However, I know that sometimes we need to take things more slowly, so go at a pace that suits you. If you feel like making one change a month that's great, especially when they're small changes. Making too many bigger changes at once could lead to burnout or feeling overwhelmed so don't overdo things. Six years isn't long, but one change every month in that time will be 72 changes by the end of the decade. Pace yourself to win the race.

Time for Government to Act

In some ways six years isn't very long to turn things round, though. Governments have known the transition to renewable energy was necessary for a good 30 years. It's now extremely urgent that we get to 50% renewable energy for everything in the next 6 years. To achieve a 50% reduction in GHG emissions no-one can open any new sources of fossil fuels, whether coal, oil or gas. The failure to do so will put an increasing number of human and non human lives at risk with each passing decade and is highly likely to end human civilisation, perhaps by the end of this century.

Time to Protect Nature

Protecting nature is an important part of fighting global warming. Halving our GHG emissions by 2030 also means a 50% reduction in everything that results in less CO2 being absorbed from the atmosphere. So we can't keep destroying forests and cutting down mature trees, killing any more peat bogs, destroying healthy grassland or wetland, damaging the delicate ecosystems on the ocean floor or endangering the balance of life in our oceans.  If we keep doing these things more CO2 will end up in the atmosphere and global warming will get worse.

Did you know that whales store a lot of carbon in their large bodies? They also have a large influence on the ecosystems around them. As a result they play an important part in determining the temperature of the planet. We need more whales, so it's important that they should be protected everywhere.

Time to Find Allies

So we have to choose who we vote for very carefully, whether for local government councillors or for our Members of Parliament. Sometimes it's hard to know which politicians will help our country achieve the goal of reducing GHG emissions by 50% in the next six years.

If we also find ways to influence all these people when they make decisions that will shape our future that would help a lot too. We could attend council meetings to find out what's being discussed and to ask pertinent questions if we are given the opportunity. We could try to begin a correspondence with local councillors or our MP. Signing petitions can influence government decisions sometimes. Some people join peaceful protests. These can also influence decisions sometimes, but we've seen in recent years that politicians don't always listen to protests. The risk of being imprisoned for protesting peacefully has also become greater in the UK recently.