Counting On … – Page 5

Counting on … 185

12th November 2025

Cutting methane emissions is clearly a quick and important way of reducing the short term damaging effect of greenhouse gas emissions, but unless emissions from fossil fuels are also tackled, the climate crisis will only increase. National governments and fossil fuel companies need to legislate and implement (respectively) plans to end fossil fuel production. Yet unbelievably across the world countries are still planning to further expand fossil fuel production!

“The increases in fossil fuel production estimated under the government plans and projections pathways would lead to global production levels in 2030 that are 500%, 31%, and 92% higher for coal, oil, and gas, respectively, than the median 1.5ºC-consistent pathway.” (1)

The International Energy Agency itself reported in 2021 that there was no need for new developments: sufficient oil and gas production is already in place to meet global needs as the world transitions to renewable energy. (2)

Clearly this is an issue that needs to be addressed during COP30.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/sep/22/fossil-fuels-coal-gas-oil-extraction-climate-goals-beyond-reach?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Counting on … 184

11th November 2025

CO2 is the main GHG but methane is another, particularly potent, GHG. Methane doesn’t last as long in the atmosphere (ten to twelve years compared with hundreds or even thousands of years for carbon dioxide) but its warming effect is greater than that of carbon dioxide – as much as 80% more. (1)

40% of methane emissions are natural; 60% are manmade. Methane levels are now two-and-a-half times greater than pre-industrial levels.

Methane levels are still rising but clearly if emissions were curtailed it would help address the short term impact of climate change and rising temperatures. Frustratingly the IEA reports that “around 40% of today’s methane emissions from fossil fuels could be avoided at no net cost” (2) Methane emissions from fossil fuels can be reduced by reducing flaring and venting and by curtailing leaks! NB Natural gas is 80-95% methane.

To date methane emissions reduction has been via voluntary pledges, which are not tackling the problem. This is something that needs to be addressed during COP30. “ Durwood Zaelke, the president of the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development, said countries must sign a new global agreement on methane rather than sticking with the non-binding pledge. “With emissions still high, the voluntary pledge is clearly not enough to keep us from passing the fast-approaching tipping points,” he said. “We need a more muscular binding methane agreement.” (3)

https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/carbon-management-and-fossil-fuels/methane-emissions_en

(2) https://www.iea.org/reports/global-methane-tracker-2024/key-findings

(3) https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/nov/10/rich-countries-have-lost-enthusiasm-for-tackling-climate-crisis-says-cop30-chief?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Counting on … 183

10th November 2025

COP30 starts this week in Belém, Brazil. Global greenhouse gas emissions are continuing to rise as are global temperatures. The real hope is the all the parties will agree to transition rapidly away from fossil fuels – fossil fuels are the single biggest cause of greenhouse gas emissions. Unless they are eliminated, there is no way we can curb, let alone rein in, rising global temperatures and all that that will do to destroy the ecosystems in which we rely.

The main greenhouse gas, and one most easily measured, is carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere keeps in heat. Without some CO2 in the atmosphere our planet would be very cold.

CO2 levels in the atmosphere (measured in parts per million) have varied throughout geological time. This graph (1) shows atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere over the last 800,000 years (red line). CO2 levels were lower during the ice ages, and higher during the warmer interglacial periods. During this entire era, CI2 levels never exceeded 300 PPM until the modern era. The graphic also shows the differences global temperatures above and below the mean – the temperature anomaly.

There is a clear correlation between CO2 levels and temperature fluctuations. But more significantly the graph shows how rapidly both CO2 levels and temperatures are rising. It is a rate of change that is not due to natural deviations but to the impact of human activity.

(1) – https://theconversation.com/the-three-minute-story-of-800-000-years-of-climate-change-with-a-sting-in-the-tail-73368

Counting on … 182

7th November 2025

The Eat-Lancet Commission reports that report, currently the “wealthiest 30% of people drive more than 70% of food-related environmental impacts” (1) but this is not the only way that wealth and food produce inequalities. Lack of money means many people go hungry and many others cannot afford a healthy diet.

Here in the UK the Food Foundation’s research showed that 14% of households experienced food insecurity in June 2024 affecting approximately 7.2 million adults. 18% of households with children experienced food insecurity in the same period affecting an estimated 2.7 million children. Their report, The Broken Plate, also noted that “many people in the UK lack the financial means to access decent food and that much of the food readily available and marketed to us is damaging our health and the planet.” (2)

Further they also highlighted that such inequalities affect not only the individual’s wellbeing but also that of their communities. “Food is a huge part of all of our lives, nourishing and fuelling us. It impacts our health, happiness and overall prosperity. But the current food system is holding our nation back. Because it is so difficult to eat healthily, poor diet is now the biggest risk for preventable disease, placing massive strain on our NHS.” (3)

Food, including food production and access to food, is a climate issue, a health issue, an economic issue as well as a justice issue.

(1) https://eatforum.org/update/eat-lancet-commission-warns-food-systems-breach-planetary-limits/

(2) https://foodfoundation.org.uk/publication/broken-plate-2025

(3) https://foodfoundation.org.uk/initiatives/nourishing-nation

Counting on … 181

6th November 2025

Bang on cue! Yesterday saw the launch of a new campaign – Bang on Some Beans – to encourage us to eat more beans and pulses in the best interests of our own health and for the health of the planet.

https://foodfoundation.org.uk/initiatives/bang-some-beans

The Guardian offers a selection of appetising recipes (although the quantities look as if they would feed many more than the recipes suggests).

https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/nov/05/magic-beans-the-protein-rich-superfood-in-a-potful-of-top-chefs-recipes?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Another go to site for recipes is Hodmedod’s who are a British grown beans, pulses, grains etc. Their recipes include ones using bean flour – dried beans milled into flour are a great way to increase protein and fibre and reduce carbon hydrates and can be used in making cakes, biscuits, bread, pasta etc.

https://hodmedods.co.uk/blogs/recipes

Counting on … 180

5th November 2025

The Planetary Health Diet surely offers win win win solutions, tackling both the issues of climate change, of poor health, of social justice, and of the need for sustainable landuse.

Climate change – reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 17% (1)

Health – lowering risks of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, obesity and various cancers, saving around 15,000,000 premature deaths a year (2)

Land use – by reducing the demand for meat and dairy, more land would be released for both horticulture (fruit and vegetables) and for wildlife restoration. “Widespread adoption of the diet would require a two-thirds increase in fruit, vegetable and nut production and allow for a one-third reduction in livestock meat production, compared to 2020 levels” (3)

Social justice – switching more resources from producing meat and dairy to the production of fruit, vegetables and pulses etc, would produce enough food to feed the world’s projected population of 10 billion. Although at the same time, questions of distribution (can the food be accessed?), poverty (can people afford the food?) and food waste would also need to be addressed. (4)

Why then is this diet only followed by 1% of people?

Can we as individuals help by adopting the diet ourselves, by talking about it with friends and colleagues, promoting awareness through churches, health clubs etc, by writing to local councillors and MPS?

Useful links to share re diet and planetary health

https://youtu.be/iWHAE-mw7ao?si=XEJF0-0ciMlv10QW – This consumer-friendly video explores all the nuances of a healthy climate friendly diet and gives a clear summary

https://eatforum.org/campaign/our-cultures-our-meals-cooking-for-planetary-health/ – this web page had beautiful images of meals that match the PHD – most appetising – plus recipes here: https://eatforum.org/eat-lancet/recipes/

https://phys.org/news/2024-08-planetary-health-diet-emissions-environmental.pdf

(2) https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2025/10/06/eat-lancet-20-whats-changed/

(3) https://www.carbonbrief.org/eat-lancet-report-three-key-takeaways-on-climate-and-diet-change/

(4) https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/how-feed-10-billion-people

Counting on … 179

4th November 2025

Planetary Health Diet

The EAT-LancetCommission is a global, interdisciplinary group of world-leading researchers with expertise in nutrition, health, agriculture, sustainability, social justice, and policy – working together towards a healthy, sustainable, and just food system. (1) In 2019 this group’s research developed the Planetary Health Diet being a diet that is both healthier for us and for the planet. It is a dietary outline that can be adapted to suit different cultural traditions and different social contexts – in other words it is a diet that everyone could follow with out difficulty.

“The PHD is rich in plants: whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes comprise a large proportion of foods consumed, with only moderate or small amounts of fish, dairy, and meat recommended.” (2)

This year their research was updated producing the 2025 EAT-Lancet Commission Report. This report demonstrates that the PHD could both bring the human behaviour back within safe planetary boundaries as well as cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

This 2025 report outlines eight areas where transformation can lead to positive outcomes. Protect and promote traditional healthy diets –

Create accessible and affordable food environments that increase demand for healthy diets
Implement sustainable production practices that store carbon, create habitat, and improve water quality and availability
Halt agricultural conversion of intact ecosystems
Reduce food loss and waste
Secure decent working conditions across the food system
Ensure meaningful voice and representation for food systems workers
Recognise and protect marginalised groups (3)

https://eatforum.org/eat-lancet

(2) https://eatforum.org/eat-lancet/the-planetary-health-diet/

(3) https://eatforum.org/update/eat-lancet-commission-warns-food-systems-breach-planetary-limits/

Counting on … 178

3rd November 2025

With COP30 a week away, what are the system changes we need to protect the Earth’s planetary boundaries?

Biodiversity integrity – life forms in all their variety are key to our wellbeing and survival. We re reliant on functioning ecosystems for clean air and water, for food and medicines, for clothing and shelter. And functioning ecosystems depend on there being both a diversity of and a sufficient number of, plants, animals, insects, bacteria etc. For example, without fungi and earth worms, plant roots, decaying leaves etc the fertility of the soil will be depleted and food supplies diminished.

We humans, through both excessive use of some resources and through a failure to conserve others, have so diminished the integrity of the Earth’s biodiversity framework, that it is now in the danger zone: that planetary boundary has been exceeded. It is something that has been apparent for years, and in 2022 the nations of the world drew up the Kunming-Montreal biodiversity framework outlining how the Earth’s biodiversity could be restored. From this agreement came the undertaking that nations would by 2030 restore and protect the biodiversity of 30% of the land and of the seas in their control.(1) This is an ambitious target given how reluctant people and organisations are to change the way they live and do business. It is an issue that needs to be kept at the top of the agenda for all international and national decision makers. In a recent blog, it was noted that the “the impact of biodiversity risks to the UK economy and financial institutions are equal or greater than climate risks.” (2)

https://www.unep.org/resources/kunming-montreal-global-biodiversity-framework

(2) https://blog.actuaries.org.uk/2025/9/nature-at-risk-models-at-fault-why-biodiversity-cant-wait/

Further info on the importance of biodiversity – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-60823267

Counting on … 177

31st October 2025

When I googled (using Ecosia) “How much single use plastic is bought for Halloween” the first response was from Amazon: “Buy Halloween Plastic: Shop Halloween Plastic Now”!!!

I’m sure it doesn’t occur to people as they decorate their homes with hazard tape, fake gossamer cobweb material, plastic bones and the like, that much (if not all) of this plastic is going to end up polluting the environment.

Even as it hangs there, fluttering in the wind, it will be shedding micro-particles (especially the cobweb material that will likely snag on twigs), and gathered up and binned next week it will invariably end up in landfill where micro- and nano-plastic particles will leak into the air and the water system. En route bits of plastic will be blown away to ‘decorate’ tree and fences, or be ‘eaten’ by animals, or will wrap themselves in a stranglehold around other creatures.

Nor do I think it occurs to them how this sale and purchase of single use plastic feeds the profits of oil industries seeking to find ongoing markets for their lethal product. Nor do I think it occurs to them that many of these items will have been made in sweat shops in far distant parts of the world.

Why Halloween Waste is the Scariest Monster of Them All in 2025

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-have-plastic-free-halloween

https://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/resources/conjuring-crafty-halloween

Counting on … 176

30th October 2025

Private jets – 3

For climate activists there is also the issue of justice. The increasing use and ownership of private jets represents the growing gap between the wealthiest and the poorest. This gap is socially unjust but doubly so, because the richer you are the bigger your carbon footprint. And the bigger your carbon footprint the more the damage you cause to the environment, the greater the impacts of adverse weather events, pollution, food and water shortages on the poorest.

“If everyone used private jets and superyachts like 50 of the world’s richest billionaires, the remaining carbon budget to stay within 1.5C would be burned up in just two days” quotes Oxfam’s report, From Poverty to Power (2024). The report looked at data on the luxury transport consumption of 50 of the world’s richest people and found that their consumption emissions totalled more that the poorest 2% of the world’s population (155 million people).

Amongst its recommendations, Oxfam’s report included –

Taxing the super-rich to curb their excessive consumption and investment emissions, and their role in propping up polluting industries.
Banning or punitively taxing carbon-intensive luxury consumptions, starting with private jets, superyachts, sports utility vehicles (SUVs), and frequent air travel.
Regulating corporations and investors to radically and fairly reduce their carbon emissions. (1)

There is also an issue for economists trying to address net zero. In a series produced by The Guardian, entitled The Great Carbon Divide, the economist Thomas Piketty says “Questions of social and economic class must be at the centre of our response to the climate crisis, to address the huge inequalities between the carbon footprints of the rich and poor and prevent a backlash against climate policies. Regulations will be needed to outlaw goods and services that have unnecessarily high greenhouse gas emissions, such as private jets, outsized vehicles, and flights over short distances.” (2)

(1) https://frompoverty.oxfam.org.uk/billionaire-pollutocrats-what-we-can-do/

(2) https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/nov/22/ban-private-jets-to-address-climate-crisis-says-thomas-piketty?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other