Climate Change stuff

[lnr]

I've been challenged to do more about climate change, so I've had a bit of a look into what I *can* do personally. I've looked the following lists:

• https://davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/top-10-ways-can-stop-climate-change/
• https://www.nrdc.org/stories/how-you-can-stop-global-warming
• https://www.ucsusa.org/global-warming/what-you-can-do/ten-personal-solutions-to.html
• https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-reduce-global-warming-1203897
• https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/stopglobalwarming.php
• https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/climate-change-global-warming-chad-frischmann-project-drawdown-carbon-dioxide-a8574461.html
• http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20181102-what-can-i-do-about-climate-change

Can I distill this into a short list of things I already do, things I can improve on, and things I'm resistant to?

Already doing:

• We cycle, and don't own a car
• We only fly once every few years
• Light bulbs are LEDs
• Insulation in loft, walls
• Combi boiler (so no hot tank to insulate)
• Programmable thermostat, no air con, turning heating right down when away
• Recycling - everything we can locally
• Green Electricity and Green Gas from Ecotricity: who invest back into more renewables
• Keep appliances as long as possible
• Don't shower excessively
• Use a water meter
• Turn many things off at the wall when not in use
• Plant a tree: I have lots of baby ones, but not sure what to do when they get too big for my garden
• Re-use towels several times before washing

Things we could do:

• Replace our fridge with a more energy efficient one which doesn't use HFCs
• Put the TV/DVD/Switch etc on a timer - they're hard to turn off at the wall as hard to reach
• Speak up to friends and family - I guess I am here!
• Reduce washing temp from 40 to 30, and use the dryer less
• Take lunch to work: reducing packaging waste from bought sandwiches
• Avoid overpackaging more generally
• Buy less stuff in general
• Food: eat less meat, buy more local food, but only in season (eg no intensive greenhouse strawberries in winter)
• No more kids
• Get a smart meter when Ecotricity finally roll them out!
• Write to government, employers etc, - I'm already involved in trying to get my workplace to divest, but I'm not sure writing to government is much help right now

Things we might do if money was no object:

• Solar panels
• Replace existing double-glazing with even better
• Carbon offset if we do feel we have to fly somewhere, or for long distance train journeys too
• Change pension arrangements to divest from fossil fuels (difficult, but I can try)

Things I'm not convinced by:

• Replace paper towels with a kitchen cloth:
  we currently use both, and I'm not convinced washing the kitchen cloth repeated to rid it of germs is better than using paper towels
• I'm also never sure if paper towels or towel towels or air dryers are better for drying hands in public?
  There's always the back of your jeans ;)
• Vote:
  I can't make climate change my only issue for local and government elections I'm afraid, because there are other factors that are important to me too. Should I feel bad about that?

Overall the message seems to be that the biggest changes you can make are to ditch the car, eat less meat and have fewer kids! Reducing meat consumption it is then!

Comments

[rmc28]

I actually think above any individual action has to be campaigning to change attitudes and laws - action is needed on a government and giant-business level, far more than individuals.

So I'd say:

1. Find one or more campaigning organisations and support them to change laws and lobby companies and change our infrastructure.

2. Use your influence within existing membership organisations to make climate change a priority for that organisation e.g. union, political party, WI, etc

3. Include climate change in the set of issues you raise with candidates & elected representatives, and probably tailor it to the post. E.g. worth raising carbon taxes with an elected or aspiring MP, worth mentioning cycle infrastructure and food waste to an elected or aspiring councillor

4. Change your life as much as you reasonably can without grinding yourself down so far you have no energy for 1-3

[lnr]

Like I say right now most of my own lobbying is on Brexit, but I do know my union take it reasonably seriously already at least, and I've signed up to lobby the university to divest. The energy for 1-3 is a lot harder for me than the fact I already cycle everywhere!