Bruce's Blog: So what can I do about climate change?

I am a foster carer and one of the 15-year-old girls in my care (we also care for her twin sister) is very keen on campaigning about climate change, having been on two recent climate school strikes. However, when I talk to her about what she could do personally, it's a struggle as she sees the problems as:

a) too big for an individual to make a difference;
b) the responsibility of the adults (who are to blame).

So this post is a kind of response to that, because I think everyone can make a difference - no matter how small. And a lot of small differences add up! Now there are lots of online resources that provide great advice about what you can do, and I have provided links to some of them below. I don't pretend to offer better or different options; this is simply my personal response to the issue. If it makes even one reader stop and think, and maybe take personal action as well, then I'll be well pleased!

1. Who's responsible?

First, let me deal with the issue that "adults are to blame" as per my 15-year-old's accusation. Well, yes in a way we are, but it's not just adults! I think we can break it down into three categories:
a) Government
b) Industry
c) People

Government

Government is responsible for the way the country is governed and managed, and for legislation (among other things). The former has a very large potential impact on climate change because it includes things like the balance of spending on road building versus public transport, the extent to which development is allowed to take-over countryside, and the footprint that the wheels of government have on the environment (both national and local). I would like to see our government taking much great responsibility and real action. For example by redressing the balance of spending so that much more is invested in public transport, and measures are put in place to dissuade people from driving (the latter can only be fair if the former takes place as well so that a real, feasible alternative is available). And for example by ensuring that its own footprint is reduced by looking for significant carbon- and plastic-reduction measures in all areas of government work. By the way, although the current intention to support electric vehicles seems laudable, it's only addressing one aspect of environmental damage (fossil fuels) - what about all the dame cause by the extraction and manufacture of all the materials used to make the cars, and the problems of dealing with cars that are no longer in service?

And then in terms of legislation, the government can have a huge impact because measures can be put in place that encourage environmentally friendly ways of working, and which discourage those that aren't. For example by refusing runway extensions at Heathrow and other airports; by providing business rate tax breaks for companies that take real environmental action; by penalising companies that continue to pollute.

We can have an influence on this by writing to our MPs and councillors. The more of us who do this, the more notice they are likely to take.

Industry

If government is a big cause of environmental damage, and also a potential force for change, then industry is too, and probably of far greater impact and importance. Industry is responsible both for the environmental footprint of its processes (be they manufacturing, service, or whatever), and for the impact and damage caused by the products they provide. At one end of the scale we see companies like Unilever, one of the world's biggest producers of single-use plastics, taking precious little real action to change its ways, or the likes of McDonalds (worldwide) which is responsible of forest clearance in order to grow beef (admittedly not so much in the UK), and at the other end of the scale are the many service companies that employ people who have to drive long distances every day (often one per vehicle), or use the cheapest forms of produce and labour no matter what that environmental impact. The list is endless!

As noted above, government can have an influence through legislation and regulation. We, too, can have an influence both by writing to these companies (and signing petitions) and through our personal buying choices.

2. So what can I do?

Personal

Which brings me to the personal level. Each of us is responsible for our own environmental footprint, and though each person's footprint may be small, they all add up. What choices do we make when we buy stuff? When we travel? When we use energy? And what, if anything, do we do to campaign for change? So here's some of the things you can do.

1. Contact your MP / Councillors
I have already noted above some of the things we can do in terms of campaigning. Don't underestimate the power of writing to MPs, councillors and companies. As I've already stated, the more people who do this, the more they will take note. If you don't know who your MP is, or who your local councillors are, check out the links at the end of this article.

2. Join a campaigning or petitions service
There are now several reputable services that actively campaign on environmental (and other) issues, and you can sign up to one or more of these to receive invitations to take part in particular campaigns, usually by signing an online petition. I have provided links to three of these in the links section below. One is the government petition website - here you can search for petitions to sign, or even start your own. Any that gain more than 10,000 signatures are guaranteed to be debated in parliament. The others are campaigning websites: Change is a worldwide petitions website where you can sign petitions and/or start your own. 38 Degrees is an online campaigning organisation for the UK. Many charities and NGOs frequently run their own campaigns, and ones that centre on the environment include Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and WorldWide Fund for Nature.

3. Change your buying habits
The biggest change you can make in your buying habits is not to buy! Obviously I don't include necessities here, so it's the things that we don't really need, especially the luxuries. Do you really need that latest technical gadget you saw advertised? (What would Alexa say!) The next time you want to upgrade your mobile phone, or laptop (or whatever) stop and think: do you actually need to? Does the one you have currently do what you need it to do? Now I'm not advocating you cut out all luxuries; just that you think more about each one before you buy, and maybe make some sacrifices.

The next thing to think about is where to buy from. Clothing, for example: maybe shop more from charity shops. Do you always look for the cheapest deal? Well maybe that is not the best thing for the environment! A cheap dress made in China or India has had to be transported here (and that's not even considering the issues about fair trade, i.e. are the workers paid a fair wage?) Or those apples imported from South Africa or New Zealand (versus ones produced closer to hand or ideally in the UK). Buy meat from a local butcher who sources their meat locally and ensures animals are raised in good conditions (though, ideally, buy less meat as meat production is big contributor to climate change). You may end up paying more, but remember that the search for the cheapest deal is the driver for exploitation.

Plastics! It's hard to avoid them. They are everywhere! It's impossible to cut them out entirely, but we can do our best by avoiding them if possible. Buy fruit and veg from a greengrocer where you can buy them loose and usually have them bagged in paper bags. Use a metal water bottle and refill it (don't buy endless plastic bottles of water or juice) - many public places are now providing water fountains to refill your bottle at. Look for things in glass bottles if possible - squash, cooking oil, etc. Use your local milk delivery instead of buying plastic bottled milk in supermarkets.

4. Conserve energy
In the home: switch off lights and electrical appliances when not in use. Try not to run water too much - if you shower or bathe every day, is that really necessary? Do you turn on then tap and leave it running whilst brushing your teeth? If your central heating is set to above 19 degrees Celsius consider turning it down and wearing more layers (be sensible - I'm not advocating people suffering in too cold conditions!). Don't leave windows open if the heating's on. Do you iron your clothes? Maybe consider ironing fewer items, or not at all?

Travelling: try not to use the car. If possible walk or cycle, or use public transport. If you do have to use the car can you car-share or plan things so that you take fewer journeys? If you have to have a car consider changing to hybrid or electric (but best not to have a car at all). Try not to fly at all - yes that holiday in Florida or Majorca might be wonderful, but you can have great holidays closer to home. If you must go overseas, can you take the train instead?

5. Contact the companies
Tell the people you purchase stuff from that you want them to change. Most companies provide a Freepost address you can use (or search for their online contact details). Write to them and say that you want them to be more environmentally responsible and ask them what they are doing about it. Challenge on specifics, for example what are their plans to cut down on plastics, non-sustainable palm oil? I've provided links to some of the bigger ones below.

3. Conclusion

I hope, if you've read this far, that you have got some ideas for practical changes you can make. Please consider doing something, even if it's only very small!