Counting On … – Page 81

Counting on … day 1.022

22nd January 2023

Be a citizen scientist. The records made by citizen scientists help us to aim a better understanding of the environment, its biodiversity, its interconnected ecosystems and our place within it.

Next weekend is the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch. Take time out and spend an hour counting the birds in your garden or local park – https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/

Similar events happened throughout the year with projects inviting you to count wild flowers, butterflies, bees etc.

For more information try the following web sites –

https://www.nhm.ac.uk/take-part/citizen-science.html

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/citizen-science

Shop locally, support local businesses.

How can this help the environment? Shopping locally means we travel shorter distances that can be done on foot or cycle. Shopping locally and supporting local businesses means we are keeping our local community alive, providing jobs locally and ensuring that there is the good range of shops and businesses that we need if we are to avoid long shopping journeys. Walking to local shops encourages us to greet and talk with our neighbours – the people we pass in the street. It builds up relationships that are valuable when we have a problem – when I was isolating due to covid, local shops would deliver. Supporting locally businesses encourages them to support local initiatives from putting up posters in their windows to making donations.

Counting on …day 1:020

20th January 2023

Cut food waste! A third of all the world’s food goes to waste and adding up the waste of resources in producing and transporting food that ultimately goes to waste plus the carbon footprint the food that then goes onto rot, accounts for about 8% of global emissions.

Here in the UK households throw away 4.5 million tonnes of edible food every year.

For more information –

Eco Tips

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200224-how-cutting-your-food-waste-can-help-the-climate

Counting on…1:019

19th January 2023

Eating seasonally avoids the need to import blueberries from Peru, grapes from South Africa, green beans from Kenya, avocados from Mexico -and such items usually come by air. Eating seasonally allows us to support local growers of produce and to enjoy a greater variety of fruit and vegetables. Seasonal produce is often only available for a short time span which is why it may not be stocked by supermarkets who favour the simplicity of produce that is available all year round. Eating seasonally means we can look forward to certain delights – Seville oranges in January Jerusalem artichokes in late winter, forced rhubarb (also late winter), watercress in the spring, asparagus in June, discovery apples in July, cob nuts in the autumn and so on.
Eating seasonally helps improve biodiversity and encourages the growing of heritage crops.

Counting on…1:018

18th January 2023

In September Oxfam runs a Second Hand September campaign, but you don’t have to wait till then to check out your local charity shops. January is often when people are having a clear out or passing on unwanted gifts. You may find just the things you were looking for – it will stop something going to landfill, support and worthy cause, and give you lots of pleasure!

As a follow on you might like to sign Transform Trade’s (previously known as Traidcraft) calling for a fashion watchdog to ensure better accountability in the fashion trade.

https://action.transform-trade.org/fashion-watchdog-mp-pledge?utm_source=All+Constituents&utm_campaign=0172c49f32-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_01_13_11_14&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-0172c49f32-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D&mc_cid=0172c49f32&mc_eid=5108bfb68a

Counting on ….day 1:017

17th January 2023

Clothes and the fashion industry contributes about 10% of all global carbon emissions. These stem from the production of synthetic materials as well as the large footprint of growing cotton; shipping and manufacturing; and the trend towards fast fashion. People buy more clothes than ever but wear them less often. Barely worn clothes plus a large number of unworn clothes (those that have overnight become unfashionable) end up in landfill. With cheaply made clothes, replacement is cheaper than repair. As clothes are often made from a mixture of different material types, recycling is not straightforward and can be expensive.

But change can and is happening. Buying clothes that are made to last, maintaining and repairing clothes, rewearing or swopping clothes, buying from vintage and second hand sources, altering and adapting clothes to new circumstance, all helps to reduce the carbon – and environmental- footprint of what we wear.

I still wear a skirt that was my mother’s, a kilt which was second hand when I had it as a child, and my wedding dress (for dances not weddings!)

For more information –

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20211105-how-carbon-might-go-out-of-fashion https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/01/fashion-industry-carbon-unsustainable-environment-pollution/

Counting on …. day 1:016

16th January 2023

The things we use around our homes, particularly appliances and electrical equipment, all come with a carbon footprint both in their manufacture and in their use. When we buy new ones we can get information as to how energy efficient they are in use. We can information from the Ethical Consumer, Which guides etc as to how ethically they have been made ( for example the sourcing of raw materials, pay and working conditions of employees etc), and about the longevity and repairability of the item. The longer lived an item is the better use it makes of resources. When considering energy use of items, we may opt for a manual rather than an electric version – eg a hand worked coffee grinder, a hand whisk etc.

For further thoughts – https://greentau.org/2021/09/10/the-green-tau-issue-16/

Counting on…day 1:014

14th January 2023

How we get from A to B has a significant impact on our carbon footprint. This chart shows the relative carbon footprint of different modes of transport.

For further details see their full report – https://ourworldindata.org/travel-carbon-footprint

Additional thoughts – https://greentau.org/2021/08/21/green-tau-issue-13/

Counting on … day 1:013

13th January 2023

As we switch from being a fossil fuel society to renewable energy supplier, both we domestically and commercial energy suppliers will increasingly be producing and/ or using green electricity. You can already become part of this change – and thus be active in reducing your carbon footprint – by switching to a green energy supplier. Ethical Consumer recommends Ecotricity, Good Energy and Green Energy UK as the most sustainable green energy suppliers.

Counting on … day 1:012

12th January 2023

Over recent months many of us have seen the cost of heating our homes increase. Reducing the carbon footprint of heating our homes wins on two fronts – financial and climate.

Having installed solar panels, cavity wall and loft insulation, and double glazing, and by dint of wearing more layers and showering less, we are continuing to reduced our gas consumption and energy bills.

Whilst not everyone agrees with their tactics, most now see the wisdom of Insulate Britain’s call that the Government should ensure the proper insulation of the UK’s housing stock. This is also relevant during heat waves when better insulated buildings remain cooler longer.

Further information https://greentau.org/2021/09/03/green-tau-issue-15/

Category: Counting On …