Welcome to issue 4 of MyFootsteps - a project designed to help people measure and manage their carbon Footsteps and consequently help fight the climate emergency, by reducing their impact on the world.
My footsteps for last week - a bit distorted by being on holiday :)
Eating ✅✅❌✅✅❌❌
Travel ✅❌✅✅✅✅❌
Heating ✅✅✅✅✅✅✅
Consumption ✅❌✅❌❌ ❌❌
Have you shared yours yet? Cut and paste this into your socials and tailor to tell your Footsteps. And include this link so your friends and see what its all about.
https://myfootsteps.substack.com/p/introducing-my-footsteps
With winter coming we’ve changed our Heating dashboard.In the summer months, we simply asked you to let us know if you had heating off, by denoting a ❌ is no and a ✅if yes.
We realise that’s a bit harsh in winter – we all have our heating on when it gets cold – so we’ve changed the denotation. If you have your heating on for less than 8 hours, that’s a ✅, and if you turn your heating down 3 oC, that’s also a ✅. We hope that makes us feel better (it’s not supposed to be a hairshirt) whilst still doing our bit for the planet
The general advice is to set your control at 18 Degrees - and maybe a little warmer for the elderly and inactive. Try wearing a jumper and maybe you can get away with 15 some days? We have written a short document on tips to save money on your heating
The main tips are these - with more details on each if you click here
1. Adjust the Thermostat
2. Improve Insulation
3. Use Space Heaters Wisely
4. Maintain Your Heating System
5. Upgrade Windows
6. Lower Water Heater Temperature
7. Use Rugs on Hardwood or Tiled Floors
8. Let in Sunlight During the Day
One heating topic that is very relevant - wood fires. They have become popular over recent years - especially wood burning stoves. But when wood is burned, the carbon dioxide that was absorbed by the tree while it was alive is released into the atmosphere. For the same amount of energy, wood burning emits more CO2 than coal or oil.
And they are a major contributor to air pollution - with doctors calling for. The phasing out of urban wood burners in UK to protect children’s health
Leaving aside the ethical questions of eating meat and the impact on health, much of the problem with meat eating is the supply chain - deforestation of the Amazon and use of local farmland for grazing is really bad in terms of emissions .
We liked this piece; The Guardian view on meat: we need to eat less of it.
But supply chain issues affect everything we eat. Organic food promises to minimise the problems with fertilisers and pesticides but is still more expensive and hence quite niche - and better regulation made many feel the food they bought was safe. But it seems the last government tore up much of the ‘red tape’ that prevented over use of chemicals
And Ultra Processed Food worries people too Time for a noodle tax? Doctor who sounded alarm on ultra-processed food urges tougher action
Some good news - The Guardian tell us Wind and solar farms power Great Britain’s grid to greenest ever summer and the reliance on fossil fuels fell in August to less than one-fifth of all electricity generated across country.
But Global heating ‘doubled’ chance of extreme rain in Europe in September
Is the rapid adoption of AI technology going to undo all the hard work? The impact of AI on the climate emergency is going to be a huge issue for the industry and society. The FT cover this with Energy demands of AI place strain on power supplies and Amazon has gone nuclear - buying a Nuclear powered data centre
Tech may be part of the problems but it is going to be hugely important in solving these problems. More and more Venture Capital money is going into climate tech and some of the smartest people are looking for ways to abate the climate crisis.
The Economist look at Startups are finding novel ways to recycle carbon - including one backed by Bill Gates. CNN report Spent coffee grounds could make concrete stronger And Nature groups are callingl for more protection of the UK’s seas as key carbon stores.
Carbon Credits are a vital part of the response to the climate emergency - but can be very complicated. We have an explainer here and the FT note that Amazon and Bezos fund’s influence over carbon credit market raises alarm -
Interesting
A book recommendation - How Bad Are Bananas?: The carbon footprint of everything
We’re ready to explode in scale’: Adam Chapman, the Heat Geek founder set on getting Britain decarbonised and warm
Germans Combat Climate Change From Their Balconies - Plug-and-play solar panels are popping up in yards and on balcony railings across Germany, driven by bargain prices and looser regulations. - NYTimes
The relentless rise of second-hand - The FT cover the trend for pre owned - very positive for reducing consumption if it can be sustained .
If you want to learn more about the Climate Emergency and what people are doing explore the Charities Taking a Leading Role in The Fight Against Climate Change - our latest MyFootsteps explainer