Sustainability Framework 2006

– What we can do, within the existing economic system

No-one made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do so little

Edmund Burke

The climate scientists agree that we have a short time to attempt to avert climate catastrophe – about five to 10 years to start to implement changes. The recommendation is that we need to cut CO 2 emissions by at least 80% before 2050: currently those emissions are still rising on 1990 levels.

The following is from Catherine Budgett-Meakin: Catherine@Budgett-Meakin.co.uk

Level One – Conservation and Reduction of Energy Consumption

We should Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle : a guiding principle in all our consumption behaviour

http://www.earthlysins.org/http://www.cat.org.uk/information/information.tmpl

Such as :

• Reduce electricity consumption – switch off: unnecessary lights, computer and TV etc stand-byes and chargers (at the wall socket). Replace bulbs with energy efficient ones; turn down the thermostat and use heaters if only needing to heat one room; put on more clothes rather than turning on/up heating. See www.saveyour20percent.co.uk; www.est.org.uk. Don’t have a patio heater!
• Only boil as much water as you need and, if you cook on gas, replace your electric kettle when necessary with one used on the hob (more efficient use of energy).
• Insulate your home as much as possible (have curtains and/or blinds): conservation of energy would make a significant contribution to reduction of CO2 emissions: http://www.est.org.uk/myhome/insulation/
• Install a ceiling airer rather than use a tumble dryer (and use a clothes line when possible).
• If you are in the ‘nappy generation’ explore using the new types of reusable rather than disposable: http://www.babycentre.co.uk/polls/555262.html
• Buy food as seasonal and as local as possible – aim to reduce ‘food miles’ (buy European wine rather than ‘new world’ wine); buy fair trade products whenever available; try not to cook or prepare more food than you can eat: don’t waste food. Make soups from left-overs. Avoid air-freighted fruit, vegetables or cut flowers, and bottled water.
• Grow your own vegetables if possible; reduce consumption of meat – requires huge resources to produce.
• Recycle: everything! – including print cartridges, mobile phones etc; have a compost heap; use virgin paper rarely; use recycled paper products as much as possible. Refuse plastic bags.
• Give away no-longer-needed belongings through http://www.freecycle.org/
• Try to reduce water use (showers rather than baths); turn off the tap when you are cleaning your teeth.
• Use public transport as much as possible. Car-share. Use the UK and European rail system. Buy a bicycle.
• When you replace domestic appliances, buy the most energy-efficient possible.
• Change your electricity supplier to one that promotes renewable energy eg: http://www.greenenergyuk.com/

Level Two – Lobbying, Getting Connected and Informed.

We should become advocates for sustainability : Poverty cannot be ‘made history’ until the threat of climate change is addressed: it will affect the poorest most and first. But all life generally is threatened by climate catastrophe.

Such as :

• Become better informed and prepared to lobby and influence others; buy Mayer Hillman’s book How We Can Save the Planet (Penguin) – see below. http://www.campaigncc.org/
• Write to your MP to exhort her/him to push for carbon rationing (See Hillman’s book): MPs have to take notice of their constituents, and a heavy postbag on one issue will really make a difference and will challenge their belief that ‘there are no votes in environmental issues’ – see http://www.locata.co.uk/commons/
• Lobby for a cross-party group with teeth on climate change, so that the issue becomes ‘above party politics’.
• Join an organisation such as Global Action Plan,: http://www.globalactionplan.org.uk/ , Friends of the Earth: http://www.foe.co.uk/ and/or BioRegional http://www.bioregional.com/ all of which will provide support and ideas. http://www.willyoujoinus.com/. Join CAT: http://www.cat.org.uk/membership/membership.tmpl
• Work to influence organisations with which you interact, including those that employ you.

Level Three – Changing Behaviour

We should think about future generations : if you have (or expect to have) children or grandchildren, what can we do to ensure that climate catastrophe is averted? The impact on the grandchildren of our generations, all over the world, is likely to be devastating, particularly on the poorest.

Such as :

• Reduce air travel radically, if not actually abandon it – for holidays, and work if possible: http://www.seat61.com/ . Make a personal commitment, to fly only once every 10 years if you really can’t cope without a far-off holiday; avoid short-haul/budget flights. Don’t fly within the UK.
• If you have a property abroad, is this really sustainable, particularly if it is necessary to fly to use it?
• Reduce car dependency; avoid having a more powerful car than you absolutely need; and no SUVs!
• Explore Car Clubs: http://www.carplus.org.uk/carclubs/what-are.htm
• Install a solar panel: http://www.solartwin.com/ and/or domestic wind turbine: http://www.clear-skies.org/http://www.greenphase.com/wind.html. Find out about heat-pumps: http://www.heatpumpnet.org.uk/
• Work out ways of reducing your own ‘ecological footprint’ drastically – http://www.footprintnetwork.org/ Explore the differences between ‘wants’ and ‘needs’

Extracts from Mayer Hillman’s book, How We Can Save the Planet (Penguin, 2004).

Climate change is the most important issue of our age…If we, collectively and individually, do not act resolutely on it and to the extent that is imperative, the prospects are grim. Higher temperatures are predicted worldwide, with the average 6 ° C above current levels by the end of the century. And higher still in some countries……This is not the view of alarmists but the considered opinion of international climate scientists….We are currently on the road to ecological Armageddon, with little apparent thought for the effects on ourselves, let alone on the populations succeeding us.

….

It does not have to be like this…..There is one simple fact underlying all of this: we now know that the planet has a finite capacity to absorb greenhouse gas emissions.

….

We hope you will be encouraged to join in promoting a radical reappraisal of personal and public decisions from a climate change perspective. Individuals need not only to adapt their lifestyles but, more importantly, to press for the political change that is the only way out of the impasse into which our head-burying instincts have led us. Widespread public support is vital now. Time is running out.

….

Our present and future decision about the use of fossil-fuels will have a major impact on the quality of life of people in the next few decades and the generations succeeding us. We have a moral responsibility to act with this inescapable truth in mind. Future generations will justifiably sit in judgement on what we chose to do in the early part of this century in full knowledge – as accessories before the fact – of the devastating consequences of continuing with our energy-profligate lifestyles.

The accumulation of evidence on climate change and its damaging impacts make progressively unacceptable that in the years ahead we attempt to plead ignorance with the excuse ‘we did not know’ – with all its haunting wartime images of the outcome of looking the other way.

Explanatory and complementary notes

It is very easy to feel powerless and to avert our thoughts and minds from these issues: this Framework is an attempt to counter that powerlessness.

The Framework (which, inevitably, is incomplete) is in levels so that its users can see a progression – but we should attempt to implement it with all deliberate speed. It is difficult to avoid sounding ‘preachy’ or ‘hair-shirty’, so all the suggestions above are just that – suggestions. No doubt you will have other ideas, and what you can do will differ from what others can do. For me, personally, giving up having a bath would be a real hardship, though I know I ‘should’! I also do like meat! But as for air-travel: we haven’t flown for a holiday since 1996, and we’ve had some great holidays.

One particular issue, when considering ‘sustainable consumption’, is establishing for yourself the difference between ‘wants’ and ‘needs’: it’s a good idea to get into the habit of asking oneself ‘do I need that new gizmo?’ or that new piece of equipment, clothing etc etc.

We are facing an extremely difficult and unpalatable situation: If climate catastrophe is to be averted, who needs to do what , by when, and what, being realistic, might motivate them?

At the moment, the UK per capita emission of CO 2 is 10 tons per annum: we have, urgently, to get down to one ton per person per year in order to avert climate catastrophe. Saying that the problem lies with the US, or China, or India is one way of denying that we should do anything at all. And saying we should leave it to the next generation – well, there just isn’t time for that sort of delay.

If you would like the transcript of a talk given by George Monbiot at the Environmental Law Foundation’s 2005 Annual Lecture, please let me know. He says we need to cut CO 2 emissions by 90% by 2030! http://www.monbiot.com/

One issue that needs consideration and attention is that of ‘too many climate changers’ in the world – see www.populationandsustainability.org

Please feel free to adapt the Framework and notes and send to your friends/contacts/ colleagues . If it is used in a public arena (eg a website) please credit me. Otherwise, no copyright on this! It would be good if a real sustainability dialogue could develop.

Catherine Budgett-Meakin: Catherine@Budgett-Meakin.co.uk, 25/05/2006