Counting On … – Page 52

Counting on … day 1.198

20th October 2023

Repeating a previous blog – ‘Cars might seem essential for picking up shopping, delivering goods, or transporting children, but in reality there are many alternatives. Cargo bikes can just as easily fit the bill. Our local authority of Richmond upon Thames, has a hire scheme so residents can make use of cargo bikes for a minimal outlay’ – and the first 60 minutes are free – https://www.richmond.gov.uk/services/roads_and_transport/vehicles/active_travel/cargo_bikes

And from another entry -‘Cycle courier services have been around for many years now as bikes are often far quicker than any other vehicle for short urban journeys – and of course have been used by Royal Mail for centuries. Likewise Co-op’s use of bikes for grocery deliveries is not new. Freddie’s Flowers – a weekly flower delivery service is also fulfilled by bike. Cycle delivery services such as Peddle Me, carryout same day deliveries for a variety of clients including coffee roasters, breweries, flower suppliers, film companies, local authorities, community kitchens, charities, restaurant chains and numerous food suppliers – “You name it, we deliver it”! They also offer a taxi service for people too! ’ – https://pedalme.co.uk/about

Bikes are the future!

Counting on …. Day 1.197

19th October 2023

Cycling, walking, taking the train or the bus, all reduce our dependency on cars, and reduces carbon emissions. The more people use these car-alternatives the more likely the provisions of good infrastructure will increase. Equally the more people use car alternatives, the more that others will feel encouraged to do likewise.

Active travel is healthier, more sociable and creates pleasanter environment for everyone. And something we don’t always think about, active travel is good for local businesses. The following is a reasonably unbiased assessment – https://www.talk-business.co.uk/2019/12/02/are-car-free-streets-good-or-bad-for-business/

And this report highlights the value of cycling as industry with green growth potential – https://www.smarttransport.org.uk/insight-and-policy/active-travel/the-cycle-industry-a-green-growth-sector-that-can-help-deliver-net-zero

Counting on …. Day 1.196

18th October 2023

Earlier this autumn the Guardian reported in an article about new electric cars ‘But even a low-carbon-emitting car remains a low-capacity mode of transportation. Doubling down on its near-monopoly over the surface transportation system would lead to a future of ever-worsening congestion and road accidents, which currently cost 30 lives in the UK every week.’

In other words greater use of public transport, cycling and walking would ease congestion on our roads. It has been well observed that building more roads increases traffic rather than reducing congestion. Money spent on road building would be better spent on public transport and cycling infrastructure, reducing congestion and more than likely, increasing journey times.

Counting on … day 1.195

17th October 2023

Cycling as the days draw in and the weather gets colder, needs a little more planning. Have you got cycle-lights and are the batteries fully charged? Have you got outer-layers that are waterproof, warm and high-viz? Have you got a brim on your cycle helmet or do you have a cycling cap to wear underneath, that will provide shade from the low but bright winter sun? Shining straight into your eyes, the sun can dazzle and limited visibility.

For further tips see –

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/seasonal-advice/travel/cycling-in-winter

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/commuting/article/Daily-Commuting-Tips

Counting on … day 1.194

16th October 2023

A recent newsletter from Sustrans told of Albert, Rosemary and 1 year old Teifi who, even though they live in rural Wales, do not have a car and instead use cycling as their mode of transport. Albert provided the following tips for others inspired to ditch their car.

“Try doing one trip a week on bike instead of in a car, that could maybe be a trip to the shops to get a smaller amount of things in or taking the kids to the park.

“I’d recommend starting off small and slowly reducing the number of trips you take in the car.

“Obviously it does depend on where you are, but you can certainly give it a go.

“I guess it’s important not to see it as this massive challenge and more just making small tweaks.

“It does involve changing habits and making adaptations, but it is doable.”

https://www.sustrans.org.uk/our-blog/personal-stories/2023/all/living-car-free-with-a-young-child/?utm_campaign=205436_October Enews&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Sustrans&dm_i=7CK6,4EIK,CNH9L,HM8K,1

Counting on …. Day 1.193

13th October 2023

“Money makes the world go round” goes the saying. But where does that money come from? National and international banks, the World Bank, the investment arms of pension and insurance companies – all looking for a healthy financial return. Choosing where to invest, gives these organisations a highly influential role in shaping the world. If they invest in airlines, then airplanes are built. If they invest in oil, then oil wells are dug. If they invest in wheat and palm oil, then wheat and oil palms are grown – clearing away rainforest if that is in the way.

But surely they could alternatively invest in wind turbines? Or solar panels? Or railways? Or indigenous crops? Or public health schemes? Or education systems?

Who decides? Could it be us?

Currently there are various campaigns encouraging us as individuals to choose banks/ pension funds/ insurance policies that work in favour of, rather than against, the environment.

It could also be us if we choose to press the bigger players – big banks, the insurance companies, national charities, churches and dioceses – to similarly opt for financial arrangements that benefit the environment and transition away from fossil fuels. Christian Aid earlier this year announced its decision to drop Barclays as its bank, whilst many National Trust members still object to the Trust’s continued use of Barclays.

Faith for the Climate has been pressing Lloyds of London to end their insurance of fossil fuel projects. XR and CCA continue to campaign against Barclays – Europe’s largest fossil fuel investing bank.

There are also campaigns to persuade sporting and art event organise against accepting sponsorship from environmentally unfriendly investors – eg opposing Barclays’ sponsorship of Wimbledon.

Counting on …. Day 1.192

12th October 2023

“Global south countries are currently spending five times more on repaying debt than they are on addressing the impacts of the climate crisis.”(1)

Poor to start with, these countries have to borrow to fund basics such as road building, education, housing and healthcare – imagine how a country could pay for these from taxation when only, say, 5% of the population earns enough to pay tax. Add to that the increasing cost of the climate crisis – the cost of flood destroyed agriculture, infrastructure and homes; the cost of rising sea levels destroying costal areas and undermining agricultural fertility with saline water; the cost of droughts and wildfires destroying crops, infrastructure and homes. See how more debts escalate! And how can these countries find still more money to protect infrastructure and livelihoods against further climate change?

That is why “Cancel the Debt” is campaigning for the rich countries of the north that have made their fortunes through fossil fuels, to cancel these debts.

Like a bizarre plot twist, many of the indebted countries of the global south have been encouraged to develop fossil fuels as a way of boosting their GDP! But what was billed as means to a buoyant future has become a millstone round their necks. The evidence is that they become mired in a “debt-fossil-fuel production trap whereby countries rely on fossil fuel revenues to repay debt, and anticipated revenues from fossil fuels are often over inflated and require huge investments to reach expected returns, leading to further debt, eroding long-term development prospects, and causing devastating environmental and human harms.” (1)

Today various groups including Debt Justice, War on Want, the London Mining Network, and Christian Climate Action, are holding a demonstration outside the Bank of England, calling for the cancellation of the debts of the Global South.

(1) https://debtjustice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Debt-fossil-fuel-trap-report-2023.pdf

Counting on …. Day 1.191

11th October 2023

Climate change and biodiversity loss do not occur without imposing a financial cost on the world. Based on figures from the last twenty years the cost is currently in the region of £13 million per day (1). This calculation doesn’t fully include losses arising from poor or marginalised communities because the such data is not well or fully recorded. Nor does the data reflect the cost of reduced harvests – crops, livestock, fish – as again such data is not always available. What these costs do reflect is the financial loss of buildings, land and people’s lives through storms, floods, heatwaves and droughts.

The LSE reported last year that for the UK that “Under current policies, the total cost of climate change damages to the UK are projected to increase from 1.1% of GDP at present to 3.3% by 2050”. (2)

In the light of these sums, the argument that green investment, to reduce or to adapt to the climate crisis, is too expensive is nonsensical.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/oct/09/climate-crisis-cost-extreme-weather-damage-study?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

(2) https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/publication/what-will-climate-change-cost-the-uk/

Counting on …. Day 1.190

10th October 2023

Back in 2021 the UN environment programme reported that not enough money was being put into the Global Biodiversity Framework fund – there was an annual funding gap of $6 – 8 billion. Given that to achieve the objective of protecting and enhancing biodiversity, investment would need to triple by 2030 and quadruple by 2050, they concluded that public sources of finances would be insufficient.(1) Private finance would need to carry more of the responsibility. Indeed business has a vested interest in doing so, for biodiversity risk = business risk. At the same time, working with and for nature offers opportunities for jobs and business returns.

A new GBFF was launched at the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity COP15 held in December 2022. To engage business finance in this fund, ‘investors are calling on governments to adopt measures within the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework which would set a clear mandate for the alignment of financial flows with the preservation of global biodiversity, like Article 2.1(C) did within the Paris Agreement (a legally binding international treaty on climate change)’. (2)

Business investors need governments to provide reliable, effective and enforceable green policies.

https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/speech/time-unlock-financing-biodiversity-protection-now

(2) https://www.unepfi.org/themes/ecosystems/cop15statement/

Counting on …. day 1.189

9th October 2023

Vegan Plum Tart

Make shortcrust pastry with 125g flour and 60g vegan butter and use to a flan or tart dish.

Half and stone enough plums to cover the base of the tart. Or use apricots dried or fresh, or figs or sliced pears.

Soak 1 tablespoon of chia seeds in hot water

Melt 100g vegan butter.

Add in 4 tablespoons sugar, 75g ground nuts (eg almond, Brazil, walnut), 1 or 2 tablespoons flour with raising agent, 1 tablespoon custard powder, and the chia seeds.

Mix well, adding 1 tablespoon brandy/ whiskey (optional) and a little water to loosen if the mixture is stiff.

Spread this mixture over the plums and fill the tart.

Bake 180C for about 30 minutes until lightly browned and firm to touch. Allow to cool a little before serving.