Windows of Opportunity

14th December 2023

Cut down on meat and dairy

“[T]he climate impact of plant-based foods is typically 10 to 50 times smaller than that of animal products, it follows that switching from a largely meat-based diet to a vegetarian or vegan diet could help to reduce emissions…According to the analysis, a switch to veganism could save almost 8bn tonnes of CO2e a year by 2050, when compared to a “business-as-usual” scenario. (By comparison, all food production currently causes around 13.7bn tonnes of CO2e a year.) The second highest emissions savings would be delivered by a global shift to vegetarianism which, in the analysis, still includes around one serving of meat or fish a month. An adoption of this diet could save 6bn tonnes of CO2e a year by 2050, according to the analysis”. (1)

And change is possible: “As attendees break for meals between meetings, negotiations, and panel discussions, they may notice one striking difference between COP28 and past UN climate conferences: There won’t be much meat on the menu. After a months-long effort by the youth-led Food@COP coalition, the United Arab Emirates environment minister, Mariam Almheiri, announced last month that two-thirds of the food served at the event will be plant-based.”(2)

Universities are also moving to 100% plant based foods for campus catering. So far this includes the Universities of Warwick, Stirling, Cambridge, Birmingham, Kent, London Metropolitan, Queen Mary University of London, and University College London. This has in part been a response to the Plant-Based Universities campaign – https://www.plantbaseduniversities.org/about-4

Local councils are also voting to adopt plant-based policies (eg to serve only plant-based food and drink at catered events and meetings – Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council, Cambridge City Council, and Exeter City Council. (3) There is, however, a fight-back against this by livestock farming groups.

(1) https://interactive.carbonbrief.org/what-is-the-climate-impact-of-eating-meat-and-dairy/

(2) https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2023/11/30/23981529/cop28-meat-livestock-dairy-farming-plant-based-united-nations-dubai-uae

(3) https://smartercommunities.media/uk-councils-and-universities-adopt-a-plant-based-future/ See also – https://www.vegansociety.com/sites/default/files/uploads/downloads/Catering_For_Everyone_Report_2023_TVS.pdf

Windows of Opportunity

13th December 2023

Cut food waste

I was once told never to waste so much as a grain of rice because somewhere a farmer had worked hard to produce it.

“More than 900 million tonnes of food is thrown away every year, according to the UN Environment Programme‘s Food Waste Index… 17% of the food available to consumers – in shops, households and restaurants – goes directly into the bin. Some 60% of that waste is in the home.”(1)

“About a third of all the world’s food goes to waste, and producing, transporting and letting that food rot releases 8-10% of global greenhouse gases. If food waste were a country, it would have the third-biggest carbon footprint after the US and China, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation.”(2)

“In February 2016, France adopted a pioneering law on fighting food waste that meant supermarkets were forbidden to destroy unsold food products and were compelled to donate it instead. This law constituted the starting point of the fight against food waste through banning its destruction and facilitating donation. Since the adoption, its scope has been extended further…”(3)

OddBox and similar fruit and vegetable box schemes, sell fruit and vegetables that would otherwise go to waste. The produce may come direct from the farm where there is a sudden glut or sudden drop in demand, or from wholesalers when the boxes re-home produce that is too small, too big, too wonky etc.

Other companies such as Olio and Too Good to Go, have schemes for re-homing various foods that would otherwise go to waste – such as breads and cakes unsold at the end of the day.

See for more details – https://www.oddbox.co.uk/blog/7-apps-that-are-helping-reduce-food-waste

And also – https://wrap.org.uk/taking-action/food-drink/actions/action-on-food-waste

Food waste is not just a western problem. It is also a problem in, for example, Africa. The World Economic Forum reports “Across Africa, an estimated 100 million people faced catastrophic levels of food insecurity in 2020; …. This is due to conflicts, successive crop failures (as a result of climate change and extreme weather events), pre-existing and COVID-19 related economic shocks, and soaring food prices. Yet, at the same time, significant volumes of food are lost after harvest in sub-Saharan Africa each year — estimated at $4 billion worth for grains alone. This exceeds the value of the total food aid received in sub-Saharan Africa over the past decade, and equates to the annual value of cereal imports. In a continent where so many people are starving, and many more, particularly children and women, are undernourished, it is unconscionable to lose and waste food at this scale. Reducing food loss and waste could be one of the leading strategies for Africa ….

“[One] major challenge across Africa is a lack of effective transport and storage facilities due to poor access to energy to power cold storage, poor infrastructure such as roads and railway networks, access and affordability, among others. If these were improved, they could help prevent post-harvest losses.” (4)

(4) https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/01/food-loss-waste-africa-agriculture-farming/

Windows of Opportunity

12th December 2023

Speak up for Activists

Activists and rebels are key ingredients in bringing about change. They bring important issues to the attention of the public, the government, businesses and organisations. Their constant pushing back stops the issues being sidelined. Often they represent the feelings of a larger groundswell of people who do not feel so free to express their views. The actions of activists should open up the floor for debate, but where there are ingrained fears and invested interests, those with power may try and shut down their voices.

Here is a report on this topic from the Guardian. “ Emma Thompson, Stephen Fry and Ben Okri have joined the former archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and leading climate scientists to highlight what they describe as a “collective act of madness” that is driving “the destruction of life on Earth”.

“A letter signed by more than 100 actors, authors, scientists and academics says the UK government is ignoring the scientific reality of the climate and ecological crisis, pushing ahead with new fossil fuel developments and criminalising peaceful protesters who raise the alarm.

““Rather than listening to reason or scientific fact, the UK government continues to hand out contracts for oil exploration in the name of false ‘energy security’ while steering the UK towards authoritarianism,” the letter states. “In Britain today, it is verging on illegal to urgently and effectively protest for the right of life to survive.”

“Michel Forst, the UN rapporteur on environmental defenders, last month described the situation in the UK as “terrifying”, with protesters having to navigate a draconian new legal environment that includes significant limits on the right to protest.” (1)

(1) https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/nov/24/actors-and-academics-criticise-uk-over-climate-madness-and-limits-on-protest?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Windows of Opportunity

11th December 2023

Increasing cycling

“Before carbon-intensive travel became widespread, cycling epitomised highly efficient transport, and it still does. But now it’s also part of the solution for a low-carbon future. Cycling is one of the simplest lifestyle choices that most individuals can make to reduce their carbon footprint, and it offers huge benefits for health, the economy, air quality and neighbourhoods too.” (1)

The World Health Organisation is a keen to proponent of: “Walking and cycling are simple, cost-effective ways of being active. Walking is an essential part of all journeys. It is accessible and affordable, and socially equitable. Cycling is among the most efficient and sustainable means of transportation. Together, walking and cycling have economic, social, environmental and health benefits.

WHO is working to help countries retain, promote and enable everyone to walk and cycle for recreation and transport. This will not only deliver significant health benefits but also contribute to developing sustainable mobility systems, creating liveable cities and communities, and cleaner air all of which contribute, directly and indirectly, to multiple Sustainable Development Goals.” (2)

(1) https://www.cyclinguk.org/briefing/case-cycling-tackling-climate-change

(2) https://www.who.int/activities/promoting-walking-and-cycling

And for further interest – https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/nov/27/why-i-quit-complaining-about-cyclists-men-in-lycra?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Windows of Opportunity

10th December 2023

Universal free transport

“A new statutory obligation to provide universal, equal, and affordable access to public transport should underpin any national transport strategy. Two of the UK government’s most important strategic objectives are addressing regional inequalities (‘levelling up’) and net zero.

“Achieving net zero requires phasing out fossil fuels – and replacing 30 million fossil fuel-powered cars and vans.

“But many parts of the UK depend on private car use. Without prior access to affordable and sustainable public transport, a rapid push to decarbonisation risks harming lives and livelihoods.

“People rely on transport to access shops, entertainment, and jobs.

“If the government is to meet its objectives, universal, UK-wide public transport access is essential.

“What is a universal public transport obligation?

“A universal public transport obligation would make it a statutory requirement for local government and transport authorities to make sustainable forms of public transport available and accessible to everyone everywhere in the UK. It would also set low costs for all users, extending fare caps already in effect in the Transport for London zone to the whole country.” (1)

(1) https://www.ice.org.uk/news-insight/news-and-blogs/ice-blogs/the-infrastructure-blog/public-transport-for-all-net-zero-levelling-up-uk

Windows of Opportunity

9th December 2023

Increasing public transport

“Bus services have been cut by more than 80% in the past 15 years in some parts of England and Wales in a “silent war” on users, research has found. Outside London, bus services plummeted by more than 60% in 80 local authority areas, the study added. The University of Leeds, in conjunction with the charity Friends of the Earth, examined timetables across England and Wales since 2008. It found urban and rural services had decreased by 48% and 52% respectively – with some localities faring worse than others.” (1) (1) https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/nov/28/bus-services-cut-by-more-than-80-perent-in-parts-of-england-and-wales-since-2008-finds-study?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

This year the TUC produced a report entitled ‘Public transport fit for the climate emergency’ which “sets out a plan for the investment in public transport throughout England and Wales that has long been needed. From town and cities, to villages and rural communities, this plan would mean more services, new routes, cheaper fares and modern fleets of low emission vehicles. This radical transformation must be funded by central government and delivered by local and regional transport authorities. And we should all get a say on the transport needs where we live and how this investment is allocated. Passengers, local communities, and transport workers should all be consulted on public transport improvement plans where they live and work.

“The investment proposed by this report would achieve the transition to low-carbon transport needed to honour our climate action agreements with the rest of the world. It would generate green and sustainable economic growth in regions across England and Wales. And it would directly create hundreds of thousands of jobs in the transport sector, plus many more in construction and manufacturing supply chains.

“As well as cheaper, more extensive and reliable buses, trams and trains, we would have cleaner air to breath. And the roads would be less congested for all road users.” (2) https://www.tuc.org.uk/research-analysis/reports/public-transport-fit-climate-emergency

Windows of Opportunity

8th December 2023

Planting what grows best

Trees, peat bogs, and seaweed forests all absorb and store carbon. Trees provide shade from the sun and protection from the wind and heavy rain. Trees and peat bogs slow the flow of water and prevent flooding. Seaweed forests and mangroves protect the sea bed and vulnerable shore lines. Cutting down trees and clearing forests, and draining bogs and wetlands released carbon and exposes the land to degradation.

“The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) …advice on the sixth bin budget , covering 2033-2037, estimates that woodland cover in the UK would increase to 17% by 2050 if the Government meets its target of planting 30,000 hectares of trees annually from 2025. The Committee suggest it would be feasible to increase planting to 30,000 – 70,000 hectares of trees from 2035, leading to an increased woodland cover of up to 20%” (1) Woodland cover is currently around 13%.

The Wetlands and Wildlife Trust aims “to bring back some of these vital habitats, calling for the creation and restoration of 100,000 hectares of healthy, well-managed wetlands across the nation.” (2)

“A study earlier this year [2021] concluded that 92% of the UK’s seagrass has been lost in the past two centuries, with 39% disappearing just since the 1980s, thanks to pollution from industry, mining and farming, along with dredging, bottom trawling and coastal development…. A consortium, including Project Seagrass, WWF and Swansea University, has planting more than 750,000 seagrass seeds in Dale Bay in Pembrokeshire, with the aim of eventually restoring 3,000 hectares (12 sq miles) of meadows in the UK by 2030. That area of seagrass could suck up the emissions of 3,000 small cars, create a habitat for billions of small animals, support 4,700 more fish than bare sediment, and increase sediment strength tenfold to prevent erosion.” (3)

(1) https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-9084/CBP-9084.pdf

(2) ) https://www.wwt.org.uk/news-and-stories/news/the-state-of-global-wetlands-in-2021-new-report

(3) https://www.swansea.ac.uk/press-office/news-events/news/2020/03/750000-seeds-planted-in-wales-inuks-biggest-seagrassrestoration-scheme-.php

Windows of Opportunity

7th December 2023

30:30 Biodiversity target

“Biodiversity is essential for the processes that support all life on Earth, including humans. Without a wide range of animals, plants and microorganisms, we cannot have the healthy ecosystems that we rely on to provide us with the air we breathe and the food we eat.” (1)

Just as importantly biodiverse rich habitats are more resilient in the face of extreme weather events than less biodiverse habitats, and often incorporate their own protective mechanisms. In other words, biodiverse rich habitats provide us with the safest place to be.

The Convention of Biological Diversity at COP15 agreed that globally we should aim to protect at least 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030. The UK is one of more than 100 nations who signed up to this target.

So far there is considerable scope for improvement. The British Ecological Society’s report, 2020, warned that the UK was on track to miss a pledge to protect 30% of its land and sea by 2030, with some analyses warning just 5% of the nation’s land is effectively protected. The report recommended that protected habitats under the 30×30 pledge need to put biodiversity first and foremost…To achieve this, a wide range of different habitat types need to be protected, with many existing areas requiring stronger protections than they currently have. National parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty could be included in this, if they are reformed to prioritise biodiversity…Connections between sites which allow wildlife to move are important to link up the relatively disparate network of protected areas in the UK. This could consist of physical corridors, stepping stones between them, or by improvements to non-protected land. (2)

(1) https://royalsociety.org/topics-policy/projects/biodiversity/why-is-biodiversity-important/

(2). https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2022/april/uk-set-miss-pledge-protect-30-of-territory-2030.html

Windows of Opportunity

6th December 2023

Install more heat pumps

“In most of Europe, fitting a heat pump is one of the most powerful actions a person can take to reduce their carbon footprint” reported the Guardian (1)

“To give an example: two-thirds of Norwegian households have heat pumps due to taxes on carbon heating and their government’s decision to train a workforce to install them. Norway, of course, is a small and wealthy country. But if we are serious about ending our reliance on fossil fuels, then more carbon taxes and emissions-limiting regulations are necessary – even if free-market ideologues deny this and ignore the role of subsidies and investment decisions in upholding the status quo.” (2)

Currently the UK government is providing a £7500 grant towards the installation of a heat pump although the property must be adequately insulated. The property must have an eligible Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) issued in the last 10 years, with no outstanding recommendations to install loft or cavity wall insulation – again an area where the government should be taking an active lead.

(2) https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/nov/24/the-guardian-view-on-the-carbon-divide-climate-policies-must-target-the-private-jet-set?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

(1) https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/nov/23/norway-heat-pumps-cold-heating?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Windows of Opportunity

5th December 2023

Universal Energy Allowance

“Energy For All will give every household the essential energy they need to stay safe and well, for free. Higher amounts will be given to those in greater need due to age, health, disability, children or leaky housing. No unfair standing charges or prepayments. Not cut off when money is tight. And leaky homes upgraded.

The UK is a wealthy nation, but millions are suffering from fuel starvation and forced to live in cold damp homes. Existing support is clearly inadequate and being further reduced. We need a real safety net that people don’t fall through. And pricing that is not upside-down, with poorer people forced to pay more per unit than the wealthy.

The money needed to give us all energy security can come from the grotesque profits being made by fossil fuel companies enjoying artificially inflated prices. And from higher tariffs for extravagant, wasteful use of energy. Our government is subsidising fossil fuels with millions of pounds every day. Fuel Poverty Action started the Energy For All campaign to end these injustices for good.”

https://energyforall.org.uk/

In October a 650,000 strong petition was delivered by Energy For All to the Prime Minister.
If this is, as I believe, a beneficial system for a healthy society, should it not also be suggested (with financial support if necessary) to nations transitioning to net zero?