How would – how will – we cope with an emergency?
The increasing scale of the climate and biodiversity – and the crisis in social injustice – means we may well be faced with any number of different and probably overlapping emergencies.
This series will help explore how we as individuals and as communities can cope with emergency situations – ie how we can become more resilient.
7th September
A different aspect of resilience is maintaining good mental health.
I know I can get over stressed by worrying about the various existential crises that we face – climate change, biodiversity loss, poverty, injustice etc – and I can get into a frame of mind that says that anything I do will not be enough, that anything I do will not make a difference, and I can’t work out what to do. It becomes overwhelming and I can’t escape.
But what do I know is that there are some things that I can do that will unwind the anxiety. One is exercise and I do this regularly with a set pattern such that on Tuesdays for example, I will book a swim for 7.30am, then use the gym and then have breakfast in the cafe. The other is to simply go out and pay attention to the natural world – often this is sitting by the Thames, watching the river, the wildlife, the changing tides and seasons, and even just watching the people who are also enjoying the river.
You could say that I count on nature to keep me sane!
4th September 2026
Resilience* – readiness to cope with small emergencies – might also include a small collection of tool kit such as and screw drivers and hammers, a craft knife, screws and nails, string, gaffer tape and glue. Equally useful would be a sewing kit, and in both instances some knowledge about to use either kit.
This would allow you to carry out small repairs in a temporary basis.
How do and how should humans be key parts of the natural environment?
5th August 2026
Humans are part of the Earth’s ecosystems. Ecosystems are environments where participants give and receive such that, when in balance, everyone thrives.
Humans are not passive participants. We can and should be active participants for the common good of ourselves as a species and for the other species with which we are cohabitants.
When as early settlers we cleared land of trees and scrub, and planted hedgerows, we created spaces not just for grow food but spaces where other species could find their niche and thrive. Wheat fields for example can provide niche spaces for birds such as the yellow hammer, corn bunting and the tree sparrow, animals such harvesting mice, voles and hares, and wild plants such as poppies, corncockles and cornflowers. Using the land in this way, humans gained food and straw (for thatching, making hats, bedding for animals etc) and gave back a habitats for a rich diversity of wildlife.
When as pastoralists we grazed sheep and cattle, our livestock cleared scrub and tough weeds creating niche habitats for other species particularly flowering plants, the insect life that these support and then the bird life that they support, whilst the dung supports other forms of life above and within the soil. Different animals graze in different ways supporting different ecosystems. Humans gained food, wool and leather, and means of transport and pulling power, and gave back habitats for a rich diversity of wildlife.
To collect water for livestock, we humans created ponds, and to drain roads and fields we created ditches. Each of these features created more and different habitats for a wide diversity of wildlife.
Humans cultivated woodland coppicing hazel, willow and chestnut trees to provide wood for different uses – hurdles, fencing and gates, tools and poles etc. Humans planted orchards for fruit and at the same time provided habitats for another wide variety of wildlife.
All these are examples of ways in which humans have interacted with other species within the various ecosystems. As well as the obvious benefits to humans – food to eat, materials with which to build homes, make clothes etc – there are less obvious but equally important benefits that we gain from the ecosystems within which we live: eg air that is clean because plants have absorbed impurities, water that is clean to drink because rock strata, reed beds etc have filtered out impurities, rainfall because plants (especially trees) have recycled water back into the atmosphere, flood resilience because trees and plants, soils rich in organic matter and windy rivers have absorbed and slowed the flow of water, and a comfortable climate because the air, oceans, trees and bogs have absorbed carbon dioxide.
And then there are yet other benefits – the mental and physical wellbeing that being in a green or blue environment gives us, the inspiration for worship, spaces to meet and spaces to build homes and communities.
These benefits accrued to us because our interactions with the numerous ecosystems was sustainable. Our interactions with these ecosystems were mutually beneficial. However we are increasingly witnessing what happens when humans destabilise and degrade ecosystems, when humans take too much and give back too little. We have crossed seven of the nine planetary boundaries; Earth Overshoot day this year was 30th July.
An obvious example is the climate. By pushing more and more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, whilst at the same time reducing the capacity of the Earth to absorb carbon dioxide through deforestation, through draining and drying out bogs and wetlands, through compacting soils and reducing the levels of organic material, we have destabilised ecosystem that regulates climate. . Increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere have insulted the Earth, increasing temperatures and increasing the energy within weather systems making them more extreme.
Another example is biodiversity. By increasing usage of fertilisers, by increasing the use of pesticides and herbicides, by clearing forests and replacing them with single crop plantations, by increasing the numbers and the concentration of farm livestock, by destroying local habitat, by draining lakes and rivers, etc etc, we have seen a steep and rapid decline in biodiversity. To take just one example until 50 years ago any summer time car-trip necessitated regular cleaning of the windscreen to remove dead insects. Now with the increased use of pesticides (and herbicides removing the plants that fed and sheltered many insects) insect populations have dwindled. Indeed the decline is such that there is risk that if this decline continues, it will materially affect the pollination of crops.
The Earth’s ecosystems cannot sustain our current lifestyles. We need to reform and reshape our lifestyles so that they are sustainable, so that they give as well as take from the ecosystems of which we are a part.
Restoring biodiversity – and ensuring our existence on Earth is sustainable – is about looking at how we use the land (and seas). It is not necessarily about removing our presence from ecosystems but ensuring that our presence is beneficial. Industrialised agriculture is not beneficial for ecosystems – even if it produces extra food for humans and/or livestock. Less intensive agriculture that works in harmony with ecosystems is beneficial – and will produce food for the long term. However opting for the latter rather than the former does require us to review and change our diets to ones that are compatible with sustainability.
Restoring biodiversity is also about recognising and valuing the life support systems that its sustains – a comfortable climate, clean air and water, water management etc. Our economic system does not have a ready way of doing this: legislation is likely a more effective route.
Restoring biodiversity should also involve us in reviewing how we use the land and in particular how it supports our physical and mental wellbeing, and how it can support good community life. Do we ensure fair access for everyone? Do we ensure our rural and urban communities are structured so that they provide meaningful employment, comfortable housing, pleasant spaces for relaxation and community building for everyone?
4th August 2026
Resilience is about being able to cope with emergencies. Having a first kit is part of that. Ditto knowing how to administer first aid. The British Red Cross and St John’s Ambulance both run first aid training courses. They also have a downloadable handbook. Not included in a first aid kit, but nevertheless useful are essentials such as paracetamol and other such standard medications depending on what you would normally use.
As well as a first aid kit, it is sensible to have in hand spare medication if you have to take some regularly.
The British Red Cross has a useful emergency first aid app – https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-help/prepare-for-emergencies/free-emergency-apps
3rd August 2026
As well as knowing where the stopcock is, a bucket could be another useful asset in the case of emergencies.
Another handy item would be at least one torch and some spare batteries – or a rechargeable torch that you do keep fully charged. In the past we would have said have some candles but from a safety point of view a camping style lantern that runs on a battery would be better.
Equally useful in a different way would be a head torch – handy for washing up or cooking in the dark.
31st July 2026
Knowing where the stop cock for your water supply and the off switch for your electricity and gas supplies is sensible. In the event of a flood all three should be switched off.
The other sensible thing is to make sure they are working. We recently had a dripping tap. When we tried to turn off the water, we discovered the stopcock was not working. When we tried to turn off the water in the street we found that that too was not working! So first we had to get Thames Water to fix the stopcock in the street, and then a plumber to fit a new stopcock inside before we could tackle the tap!!!
30th July 2026
As well as keeping a supply of water to hand, we also keep a supply of food – against a situation where we can’t get to the shops for 3-7 days (which could have been the situation during COVID, but could cover a situation where say power cuts/ internet outages/ floods might disrupt food supplies).
These supplies include dry goods like beans, flour, cereals; tinned foods; preserves such as bottled fruit, jam, chutneys; non perishables such as sugar etc. Having established enough for 3-5 days minimum, now when we use anything, we replace it so maintaining the supplies.
We also keep a 7 day supply of cat food which Hilda (our cat) says is absolutely essential!
29th July 2026
Saving or conserving water is good at any time – emergency or not.
Some eco houses have proper grey water systems that collect waste water. We have a basin in each wash basin, and a jug on the floor. Water from hand washing is collected and is used to flush the toilet of poured in the jug for later toilet flushing. The toilet flush is used when a good flush is needed.
28th July 2026
With a few to having a degree of resilience should a crisis cut off our supply of water, we keep stored about 12 -14 litres of water (for a household of three). Rather than opting for a stock of plastic bottled water, we use a mixture of glass bottles and Demi johns, refilling each as we empty them, and rotating them so that they don’t have water more than about a day old.
We use the water for drinking, cooking and washing up. If the water supply was cut, we would use this bottled water purely for drinking and rely on the water in the header tank in the roof space for washing up etc.
The Green Tau 