Author: Judith Russenberger

Environmentalist and theologian, with husband and three grown up children plus one cat, living in London SW14. I enjoy running and drinking coffee - ideally with a friend or a book.

Counting on … day 1.216

15th November 2023

At a time when there may be fewer jobs in UK-based mining and steel making, there are opportunities for more people to work in the forestry industry. 

At a recent Forestry Conference, Chris Williams the CEO of the Royal Forestry Society commented that a “Lack of woodland management is a major cause of biodiversity loss in the UK. We have a skills shortage. Between 2021 and 2025, 10 per cent of forestry workers will retire.” 

The Forestry Journal goes on to report on possible solutions that were discussed:- 

“What can we do?  Increase the number of forestry courses. Include forestry/agroforestry modules within land-management courses. Run courses where they are easier to reach (London/Birmingham). Offer a graduate conversion course, a PGCF (a postgraduate certificate in forestry?) and work with the EFRA committee and the agricultural sector. Adapt: create new pathways into the industry for the neurodiverse, care leavers and ex-military personnel: promote the positives: improve pay.”

“The RFS offers career roadshows, blogs celebrating women in forestry, careers advice. They develop pathways into industry with universities and participate in the Forestry Skills Forum. “The Green Tree badge initiative hopes to engage one million children (via school, Scouts, Guides, or family) in activities that raise awareness of forestry. If you don’t reach that eight-year-old, you won’t reach the 18 -year-old. Make it easier to find the sector and for people to get on board.” (1) 

  1. (https://www.forestryjournal.co.uk/features/forestry-journal-features/23914844.forestry-conference-2023-focuses-industry-skill-shortages/)

Green Tau: issue 83

Oil, profits and how to bring about change

14th November 2023

Following on from last week’s Green Tau, it seems that Shell – and other oil and gas companies – have no intention of cutting back on the amount of fossil fuels that they plan to extract and sell. If this becomes a reality, then the planet faces a grim future with rising temperatures and increasingly violent weather patterns that will make large parts of the earth uninhabitable. 

Is there anything that can be done to deflect and reverse this scenario? At present so many systems seem designed to perpetuate the profitability and financial attractiveness of fossil fuels. 

For example,  most buildings are heated via gas fired boilers, most vehicles are powered by petrol. Swopping to a different system of heating and powering vehicles is expensive, with the need for investment in new distribution networks, new manufacturing plants, newly trained staff both to make and maintain the new equipment – plus, of course, the need for customers to have sufficient resources to make the switch. 

Whilst at the same time, oil and gas companies are huge, having grown over many decades into international corporations, dominating our economies and therefore command great influence in the financial worlds – far more so than say a new, still small renewables company. 

There is also the inertia that comes from years practice. Customers, financiers, governments etc have been used to working with the oil and gas industry for so long, that change feels counter intuitive and difficult. The longer we have done something one way, the harder it is for us to imagine there being any other way.

Nevertheless there are ways of changing the system.

Government Action –

1. Remove government subsidies. Many governments, not just here in the UK, subsidise the fossil fuel industries, in part to keep their own economies competitive. But these subsidies are large and distort the market price of fossil energy. Recently 25,000 plus climate protestors in the Netherlands blockaded a motor way for ten days to persuade their government to review its continued payment of subsidies to the Dutch fossil fuel industry. (This is something we too should campaign for).

2. Increase subsidies to support renewable energy and so tip the markets away from fossil fuels. If governments can be persuaded to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies, it would be appropriate to equally ask that that money be diverted to both subsidise renewables, and to support those in our society who are suffering from fuel poverty.

3. Enforce stringent windfall taxes to recoup the money that the fossil fuel industry earns purely because of war and other global uncertainties. These events, because they lead to higher prices for oil and gas but have no effect on the cost of production, enable companies to receive increased profits at zero cost. Such windfall tax revenues should then be used to reimburse those vulnerable communities that have lost most because of the climate crisis.

4. Ban advertising for fossil fuels. Over recent years cigarette advertising has been banned to encourage consumers to make  more healthy choices and to reduce the cost to the NHS of the health issues caused by cigarette smoke. Fossil fuels cause even more damage to health and an even greater costs to society as jobs, homes, infrastructure, farming etc suffer from the adverse effects of the climate crisis.

5. By the same logic there should be a ban preventing fossil fuel companies from sponsoring sporting and cultural events. Such sponsorship has the additional concern that it portrays the sponsors as worthy upholders of what we value as a society – where as in fact their businesses are destroying what we hold dear.

6. Agree and impose a global tax on aviation fuel. At present aviation fuel – unlike petrol and diesel is not taxed. It would be too easy for airlines to avoid the tax if introduced state by state, by refuelling at airports where no tax was imposed.

7. Pro-active government advertising to encourage consumers to reduce consumption of fossil fuels.  Plus Government support to enable consumers to switch to green energy suppliers, to replace gas boilers with heat pumps, to replace car journeys with active travel (walking, cycling) or with public transport etc. 

8. Government legislation to ban internal flights where railways can provide the same connections. The EU is already gradually introducing legislation to achieve this in Europe.

9. Pro active  messaging from the government to show that they are committed to a speedy switch to renewable energy – certainty on the direction and speed of travel is important for the financial markets and those investing in green technologies. 

10. Legislation to require all businesses and organisations to have a net zero transition plan that encompasses scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. Government support, to enable small concerns to undertake this, would be necessary. 

Businesses and organisations 

1. Pro-actively engaging in drawing up and implementing net zero transition plans to reduce their consumption of fossil fuels and their green house gas emissions.

2. Refusing to promote or advertise fossil fuels companies and products. The Guardian newspaper for example does not carry adverts for airlines. 

3. Cutting ties with companies that support the fossil fuel industries, such as banks, and insurance companies.

4. Supporting, developing and/or investing in renewable energy and zero carbon products. Seeking out alternative materials that can substitute for fossil fuels.

5. Giving support to activist groups seeking to persuade more reluctant organisations to adopt climate friendly policies.

Consumers

1.Wherever we can (depending on our financial position) to opt not to buy fossil fuel products – eg by switching to green energy suppliers, reducing petrol consumption by, for example, walking or cycling, using public transport, car sharing, using an electric car, by not flying, by replacing boilers with heat pumps etc, and by cutting back or avoiding products made from oil – such as plastics but also vinyl products, polyester etc. (For a comprehensive and amazing list see https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2019/11/f68/Products%20Made%20From%20Oil%20and%20Natural%20Gas%20Infographic.pdf)

2. Use our voting power  to elect a government that is pro the wellbeing of the climate and environment and anti the damaging actions of the fossil fuel industry. This applies to local as well as national elections. In between elections, email your representatives if you feel they are not sufficiently supporting the well-being of the environment.

3. Target all companies with ties to the fossil fuel industry such  as banking and insurance, to urge them to cut their ties and support instead the renewable energy sector.

4. We can as individuals and as campaign groups be vocal in telling the truth about emissions from the fossil fuel industry and so counter their green washing.

5. Switch our bank, pensions, insurance etc to companies who are not supporting the fossil fuel industry.

Counting on … day 1.215

14th November 2023

To address both the climate and biodiversity crises, the government has a target, set in the Environment Act, for increasing tree increasing tree and woodland cover to 16.5% of total land area in England by 2050. (Sadly this is less than the 17.5% increase originally laid down in the 2021 legislation). 

However as the Woodlands Trust points out, there must be a focus on quality as well as quantity:- 

“ We need an ambitious target which ensures woods are:

  • best for wildlife: at least 300,000 ha of all new trees and woods must be native to provide havens for hundreds of woodland species by 2050
  • well connected: expanding our existing woodland patches will connect and increase habitat sizes and boost their benefits.” (1)

There is therefore an urgency to the need for quality tree planting and, as importantly, for maintenance. The Guardian highlighted a recent report from ‘Forestry: An International Journal of Forest Research’ which warned that “UK forests are heading for “catastrophic ecosystem collapse” within the next 50 years due to multiple threats including disease, extreme weather and wildfires … with trees dying on a large scale.” (2)

We as individuals can help in a couple of small ways –

  1. By using the online Tree Alert tool to report possible tree pests and diseases. 
  2. By ensuring our boots are clean before walking in a new woodland to avoid spreading disease.
  3. By sponsoring trees through groups such as The Woodlands Trust, the Wildlife Trust, Trees for Life, the NHS Forest, or the National Forest (planting trees in the former industrial areas of the Midlands)

https://treesforlife.org.uk/support/plant-a-tree/

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/support-us/give/dedications/

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/adopt-species/adopt-tree-or-habitat

Sponsor a tree for the NHS Forest

https://www.nationalforest.org/

(1) (https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/protecting-trees-and-woods/campaign-with-us/tree-target/)

(2) https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/nov/08/uk-forests-face-catastrophic-ecosystem-collapse-within-50-years-study-says-aoe?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Counting on … day 1.214

13th November 2023

Earlier this month I wrote about plans for switching from coal fired to electric fired furnaces for producing steel. It is an essential move in terms of reducing green house gas emissions, but it comes with complications – the electric furnaces need a smaller workforce so new jobs needed in other parts of the economy; the electric furnaces use recycled metal rather than raw ore which is a good thing in terms of reducing unsustainable consumption of raw materials but does need us now to have better systems for collecting and recycling unwanted metal; and a reduction in demand for coal:

“Electric arc furnaces require only 9kg of coking coal a tonne of steel against 780kg for a tonne of blast furnace steel, according to the lobby group UK Steel. British blast furnaces produced 4.8m tonnes of steel in 2022, suggesting they may have used 3.7m tonnes of coking coal. Based on UK Steel’s figures, producing the same amount of steel in electric arc furnaces would require only 43,000 tonnes of coal, or about 1.7% of the Cumbrian mine’s output.” (1)

This must call into question whether there is any sense of continuing with the creation of the West Cumbrian coal mine. But equally it points to the need to develop other parts of our economy to create employment and to use the skills that people have.

 (1) https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/nov/07/fresh-calls-to-scrap-cumbrian-coalmine-amid-steel-industrys-green-push

Proper 27, 3rd Sunday before Advent

12th November 2023

Reflection (readings are below)

Amos is asking his audience if they are sure that want the Day of the Lord to come soon? Do they really want to be exposed to  God’s judgement? For that surely is part and parcel of the Day of the Lord? If it is a day of honest judgement, might it be more than we bargain for? Might it be like meeting a bear when you have just escaped from a lion? Or like reaching the safety of your home, only to put your hand on a scorpion? 

Earlier this week I was at conference considering how faith groups go about investing their financial resources. Would their choices of investment reflect well on the groups? How, for example, would they feel if they had to reveal to their congregations or supporters, where – in what companies and industries – they had invested their money? Would their investments reflect their commitment to God’s way, to the coming of the kingdom of God, or would they reflect the mercenary views of the ‘world’?

It seemed a good question to ask of ourselves. How would we feel explaining which bank we used, which pension provider, or which companies we invested with? How would we feel if we had to explain how we spent our money each week? 

So yesterday I was Christian Climate Action outside the Steam Museum in Swindon where the National Trust was holding its AGM. We and all the NT supporters recognise the good that they do to protect and enhance the natural environment, and to make it accessible to more and more people. A few years ago they divested from fossil fuels. Why then, we asked, are you banking with Barclays one of the worst in terms of their financing of fossil fuel projects? Is this in keeping with your values?

Amos then goes on to ask his audience if they are sure they know what God wants from them. Are they sure that what God wants are offerings of burnt incense or some songs of praise? Rather, says Amos, what God wants are deeds of justice and righteousness, deeds that will be ongoing – rolling – like a never ending stream. That will be the basis on which God will judge us.

If we look at the state of the world – the ongoing fighting in Ukraine, in North Sudan, in Yemen, in Gaza – do we feel ready to be judged? 

If we consider that in 2022 3.8 million people in the UK – including 1 million children – experienced destitution (struggling to afford to meet their most basic physical needs to stay warm, dry, clean and fed) – do we feel ready to be judged? 

If we look at global greenhouse gas emissions which are still rising, reaching a record high of  36.8 giga tonnes in 2022, whilst continuing to expand fossil fuel production- do we feel ready to be judged?

Jesus tells his audience a parable about judgement. Ten bridesmaids are tasked with doing what is expected of bridesmaids – that they be ready to light the way for the bridegroom when ever he arrives. Five take the task seriously, whilst five choose hope their work to date has been sufficient. 

Keeping lamps alight is like maintaining justice and wellbeing. It requires constant attention and resourcing. And that is our calling – our vocation – as Christians. To work constantly to maintain justice, to care for creation, to love our neighbours as ourselves – this is how we serve the kingdom of God. This is how we love God. 

Amos 5:18-24

Thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the Lord:

Alas for you who desire the day of the Lord!
Why do you want the day of the Lord?

It is darkness, not light;
as if someone fled from a lion,
and was met by a bear;

or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall,
and was bitten by a snake.

Is not the day of the Lord darkness, not light,
and gloom with no brightness in it?

I hate, I despise your festivals,
and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.

Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them;

and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals
I will not look upon.

Take away from me the noise of your songs;
I will not listen to the melody of your harps.

But let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an everflowing stream.

Psalm 70

1 Be pleased, O God, to deliver me; *
O Lord, make haste to help me.

2 Let those who seek my life be ashamed
and altogether dismayed; *
let those who take pleasure in my misfortune
draw back and be disgraced.

3 Let those who say to me “Aha!” and gloat over me turn back, *
because they are ashamed.

4 Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; *
let those who love your salvation say for ever,
“Great is the Lord!”

5 But as for me, I am poor and needy; *
come to me speedily, O God.

6 You are my helper and my deliverer; *
O Lord, do not tarry.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Matthew 25:1-13

Jesus said, “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

Counting on …day 1.213

10th November 2023

A Rocha reminds us: ‘Prepare now and give a bird a home in 2024. It might seem to be a strange time to be thinking about bird boxes, but this is the season in which many of our resident birds slowly begin the process of looking for nest sites for next year. Therefore, it is a really good idea to get as many new boxes up as you can, before the end of the autumn season, as it will make it more likely for boxes to be used next spring. See here for more nest box tips.’ 

Give a bird a home in 2024

Also if you have any bug or bee hotels, move them into a sheltered spot lest exposure to particularly cold temperatures kills the inhabitants.

Counting on … day 1.211

8th November 2023

Repairability and maintainability of things we buy and own is an important part of sustainability. I have previously commented on repairing and mending things around the home – https://greentau.org/tag/repairs/ – and on regular bike maintenance – https://greentau.org/2022/09/03/counting-on-day-298/ Maintenance also includes regularly cleaning shoes, re waterproofing coats, emptying and cleaning vacuum cleaners, servicing boilers etc.

Maintenance may also include reviewing our lives, our daily habits, to check that they still align with our faith values.

Counting on … day 1.210

7th November 2023

Green Christian coined the nemonic LOAF ( locally , organise, animal friendly, fairly traded)  to help us make better choices when buying food. I was wondering if we need a similar nemonic for other purchasing choices.
For example SURE – 

Sustainably produced; 

 Useful (ie something we need rather than a gimmick);

the Rs – can it be  repaired, reused, and can it (finally) be recycled;  and 

Ethically produced by people earning the real living wage, where taxes are paid and exploitative advertising avoided. 

Make SURE before you buy!

For further thoughts – https://greentau.org/2022/07/12/eco-tips-stuff/

Counting on … day 1.209

6th November 2023

Christmas is now lurking round the corner. The Shops have finished with Halloween and whilst there is still Black Friday to go, that too can be tied into buying for Christmas. But how about ‘not buying’ for Christmas?

The autumnal leaves are turning into a wide range of colours from lime yellow to brassy red. I have been collecting some of them – ones that have a particularly attractive shape or colour – and  am flattening them between the pages of a heavy book. Next month, when it’s actually Christmas I will thread them together with thread to make garlands. 

For more ideas see https://greentau.org/2022/11/24/eco-tips-christmas/