Food: dairy

The dairy industry is a big contributor to the world’s carbon emissions, with dairy products being widely available and included in diets all over the world. In this video we look at some ways in which farmers are working to reduce the emissons of their herds and suggest some choices for those who do not wish to exclude these products from their diets completely.

Planting trees?

In this Suggestion Box Karen looks at the option of offsetting carbon emissions. She mentions the various projects available. One of these is the popular option of tree-planting schemes. However this should be a last resort, after steps have been taken to reduce carbon emissions as much as possible. Viewers are encouraged to look at other videos in the Suggestion Box series for ideas on how to achieve lower emissions.

Net zero walking?

I was lucky to be invited to spend a day walking in the Lake District recently. This was a day in the Langdales with a scramble up Wetherlam from Fell Foot and Greenburn and then a more leisurely walk and another scramble to the top of Swirl How. From Swirl How, we walked along West Side Edge before dropping down again to Greenburn Beck to complete the circular walk. We were a party of four. The weather was fine but with a bit of low cloud and occasional sunny spells. There had been some rain in the week leading up to the walk.

Why am I giving this background information?

At Foggy Outline we are currently working hard on developing some learning around the topic of net zero. How can we, as a small business, move towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions and what are the impacts of each of the activities we undertake as a business? And, using this information about our own transformation, how can we help others to work towards their own net zero goals? It was from this perspective that I found myself spending some of the day thinking about the environmental impact of hill walking as an activity.

The first issue was the impact of even a small number of walkers on the landscape. As there had been some rain in days before our walk, the soil was damp. Because we began climbing quite steeply, many of our steps dragged at the grass cover and sometimes created divots. Some of the stones we stepped on, we inadvertently dislodged, again revealing bare soil beneath. Soil, without the stabilising effect of grass or the protective cover of stones and scree is potentially prone to erosion.

When you take a broader overview of this type of damage and look at some of the well-used paths in the hills, you realise the impact of multiple walkers. Even in a small group, we each took a slightly different route, despite following the broad direction of the path. When you look back at the paths down some of the slopes, they can be several metres wide and with erosion gullies caused by heavy rainfall.

I realise this is a significant issue for our National Parks and other protected landscapes. The authorities in the Lake District, and closer to home in the Yorkshire Dales, are working hard to balance the need for access with the damage caused by this access.

Repair work

We came across an example of this where about half a dozen people were working on repairing a piece of badly eroded path at Swirl Hawse, between Wetherlam and Swirl How. They were excavating by hand and placing stones to stabilise the path. The stones were being carried up the slope from a large pile that had been deposited for the purpose. This all raises several questions:

• How was this stockpile of stone carried to the location?  Helicopter?

• How did all the personnel travel to the site?  Hopefully they shared their road transport and walked from their parking space but they will have used fossil fuels in travelling from their base to the construction site

• They were using plastic trugs to carry the material around the site

• I am guessing they will have been provided with clothing and equipment by the National Park, all of which has an impact

This relatively simple activity of repairing an eroded path contributes to climate breakdown.

Clothing and equipment

Beyond the impact on the landscape, we were all well equipped for a day in the high hills with base layer, fleece or similar, a weatherproof outer layer, walking shorts or trousers, backpacks, walking socks and boots. Most of my equipment is several years old but most of it is made from “technical fabrics”. That is, they are manufactured fabrics made, for the most part, from fossil-fuel derivatives. My base layer is polyester and was manufactured in Cambodia and my wind stopper jacket was made in China. My boots have leather uppers but synthetic soles, also made from fossil-fuel derivatives.

Similar comments can be made about the other items of clothing, my backpack and water bottle.

Travel

I do not live in the Lake District and had to drive to our meeting point. My journey was the shortest of the four walkers but even I had a 100 mile round trip. My fellow walkers were having a longer stay in the area but their four day break accumulated something in excess of 1,200 miles (2 cars, each with a 600 mile round trip).

Walking in the countryside is an important activity and we should all do more of it and encourage others to do it too! But even this beneficial activity has significant environmental impacts and can lead to significant emissions of greenhouse gases.

What, then, could we do to reduce or, more importantly, eliminate these emissions?

Probably the best thing we could have done was to stay at home and walk from our respective front doors. But had we done that, the Lake District would have foregone the tourist income derived from our visit. My companions spent money at the local pub and in shops and cafes during their longer stay. The Lake District and other destinations rely heavily on tourism to sustain the local economy and without it, we could argue that there would be even less employment and opportunity in these areas. But that’s a discussion for another time.

Had we all stayed at home, we would also have missed out on the benefits of getting together and enjoying the experience collectively. Another significant change we could have made to reduce the impact of our visit to the Lake District would have been to find alternative modes of transport with lower impacts.

But, as anyone who has tried to reach a remote destination using public transport will know, this is not easy. Friends from London who stayed in Grasmere recently did manage to travel by train from Euston to Windermere via Oxenholme and then by bus from Windermere to Grasmere. While the main line is electrified, the branches are not. From last year, the train operator has been trialling hybrid trains with back-up batteries. The buses still run on diesel. So even the most committed users of public transport will still emit greenhouse gases in reaching their destination.

When thinking about replacing our clothing and other equipment, we need to consider its impact and to select items that are manufactured sustainably. Perhaps we should choose manufacturers who will take back our used clothing and equipment for dismantling and remanufacture?

Challenges of achieving net zero

But even when we have done all these things, there will still be emissions of greenhouse gases associated with this simple act of walking in the hills. When this experience is translated to the more complex activities that arise from running a business, you begin to realise how difficult it is going to be to reach zero emissions.

If you are interested in the concept of net zero and the challenges of achieving it as an individual or business, we have just launched a series of short videos on YouTube which will follow the path our micro-business takes as we work towards becoming net zero.

You may also have picked up that we are also working to develop and deliver a net zero course for decision-makers in small businesses. The aim of the course is to provide background on reducing our emissions of greenhouse gases but to go beyond this to provide practical support as more of us make a commitment to net zero. We will provide updates on this here as our ideas develop.

You can also be reassured that, despite this train of thought developing as I walked, we did have a good day! And its clear from the way these ideas developed that, as David Hieatt keeps reminding us, taking time away from the screen and being involved in the natural world is really beneficial. 

Other days out are planned!

Toiletries

In this video Karen acknowledges that the use of toiletries can have a positive effect on our well-being. They help us to smell and feel nice. However this comes at a cost to the environment. Karen suggests some ways to reduce this while still being able to feel the benefits of such products as shower gel, shampoo, aftershave and deodorants.

Water use, part 3

In parts 1 and 2 of our water use series, we discussed the ways in which we can save water during our early morning routines. We used the example of Angie, a single Mum with two school aged children. Angie works part time and in this Suggestion Box we look at steps she takes to reduce water use while at work.

Food: fruit and vegetables

In general, vegetables have a lower impact on the environment than meat and there is a wide range of readily available vegetables for us to choose from. Here we look at ways in which the environmental impact of our diets can be lowered even further. Examples are taking care to choose vegetables that are in season and preferably produced locally. 

Electronic waste

In this video we look at ways to reduce electronic waste. If computer and other electronic waste is not disposed of properly, it adds to landfill. In breaking down, it releases toxic substances into soil and water. In this video we look at some options for extending the life of appliances to avoid sending them to landfill, reducing the environmental impact of this type of waste. 

Recycling is an option but this should be a last resort.

Cleaning chemicals

It is important to keep our homes and workplaces clean and tidy. However, many common cleaning chemicals contain chemicals that do harm to the environment. Some are also packaged in materials that cannot be recycled. We explain the effects in this short video and make some suggestions for changes we can make to reduce the environmental impact of keeping clean.

Upcycling

This video looks at upcycling as part of our series of hints and tips. Here we offer some suggestions for reducing your environmental impact by turning items which are broken or no longer wanted into something else. This can be a fun way of prolonging the life of the materials. It also helps to reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill.

Food: beef and chicken

Food production results in high emissions of greenhouse gases. Beef and chicken make a significant contribution to the total. This video suggests some changes we can make to our diets to reduce these emissions. We don’t have to remove meat from our diets completely, although that is a choice we can make.

Data in this video is sourced from Our World in Data

Water use, part 2

In this video we return to Angie to see how she can save water during her breakfast routine, including washing up and preparing packed lunches for herself and her children. By being aware of her requirements through the day and planning ahead, Angie is able to make use of water that would otherwise go down the drain.

Clothing disposal

This time we look at clothing disposal. Options available to extend the useful life of items and avoid sending them to landfill are suggested.

See also

Trees Not Tees

Re Run Clothing

Packaging

Packaging is used to protect the items that we buy online and send to family and friends. But we need to be careful about the amount that we use and how we dispose of it. The type of packaging material used is important as it influences whether it can be re-used, re-cycled or needs to go to landfill.

Water use, part 1

For those of us lucky enough to have access to a ready supply of fresh, drinkable water at the turn of a tap it is easy to take this for granted. In this Suggestion Box video we meet Angie. She has decided to take action to reduce her use of water in order to protect this vital resource. This time we look at her early morning routine. Other parts of her day will be explored in later videos.

Recycling

A simple pre-packed lunch bought from a supermarket can produce a significant amount of waste. Recycling can deal with some of this, but it also adds to rubbish that has to be sent to landfill. In this Suggestion Box video we identify some of the confusion that surrounds what can and can’t be recycled before exploring ways to reduce this waste. We also look at options for re-using or eliminating waste.

Clothing

We are constantly being told that to feel our best or to make the right impression with our friends, work colleagues and family, we need to buy new clothes. Many of us now have wardrobes that are full, with items of clothing that we have worn only a few times (if at all). The next video in our suggestion box series looks at how we can reduce the environmental impact of buying clothes. The fashion industry contributes significantly to the world’s carbon dioxide emissions and is one of the worlds biggest consumers of water and this needs to be reduced.

Commuting

Following the disruption of lockdowns resulting from the rapid spread of Coronavirus, more people are returning to the office at least one or two days a week. In this latest Environmental Suggestion Box, we consider decisions you can make about how to travel. We explore the time, physical effort, cost and carbon emissions of various methods of commuting. We also have some suggestions for alternatives or combining different modes of travel to reduce the overall environmental impact.

Energy usage

Energy prices have risen dramatically in the last few months. This upward pressure on prices is likely to continue. In this second of our series of hints and tips, we’ll have a look at how we can reduce the impact on the environment of our energy usage – particularly electricity. This has the added benefit of lowering bills. Some of the common ways of reducing the energy we use are acknowledged. Other, less obvious ways are also included.

Photo storage

This first in our series of hints and tips to help manage and reduce our environmental impact covers the issue of photo storage.

Photos and videos are easy to take on our mobile devices and some of us have hundreds on our phones and tablets. But storage of these contributes significantly to carbon dioxide emissions. Here, we explore ways to keep the amount of storage under control.

COP26: Aftermath

Aftermath: “the period that follows an unpleasant event …, and the effects that it causes.”

It is now just over two weeks since COP26 ended. Most reports agree that it was a failure, but with a few minor positive outcomes. Not a complete failure, but not too far off. Nothing that was agreed will help us to avoid a temperature increase of more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels – we are not yet in a position to “keep 1.5 alive”.

Six long years ago, the Paris Agreement committed world leaders to limiting global heating to 2 degrees with the aim or desire to keep it below 1.5. Yet still emissions of carbon dioxide continue to rise. We are already in the position where global average temperatures have risen by around 1.1 degrees above pre-industrial levels. Nationally Determined Contributions were a mechanism devised in Paris to recognise the common but differentiated responsibilities of all countries across the world, allowing each government to commit to the level of emission reductions they were able to achieve. But the pledges made in the approach to COP26 and during the conference are insufficient to prevent significant additional global heating and if this is the best that can be attained, we are locked in to exceeding 2 degrees.

What was and was not agreed?

Highlights of COP26 were:

• 137 world leaders committed to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030, covering 91% of the world’s forests

• More than 100 countries signed up to the Global Methane Pledge to reduce global methane emissions by 30% by 2030. This includes six of the world’s top 10 methane emitters and equates to a potential of 46% of global methane emissions

But:

• There was no agreement to phase out fossil fuel use or even to end the production and use of coal

• The finance to help developing nations mitigate the effects of climate breakdown was not forthcoming

• There was no agreement on loss or damage although more pledges were made

• The Chinese government did not come up with any new pledges and although the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, did commit to net zero emissions, it will not be before 2070!

Despite hosting the summit, the UK government did not agree to block the development of a new coal mine in Cumbria or to rescind the agreement to fund the Cambo oil field and the US President, within days of the end of the summit, granted new concessions for oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.

Empty promises

I have avoided writing anything about the outcome of COP26 until now because the feelings of loss, disappointment, betrayal, anger and frustration were too raw at the end of the conference. If you have read any of the previous posts in this short series, you will be aware that many expectations of the COP were low, but that did not prevent me from experiencing all those feelings in the aftermath of the conference. We experienced 14 days of rousing and heartfelt speeches and positive words but ultimately we came away with empty pledges and promises.

What now?

So what happens next?  With the benefit of hindsight, it was clear there was not going to be any “road to Damascus” moments with so many parties involved. The reality is that, for you and me, for the scientists, NGOs, activists and teachers the work goes on.

At Foggy Outline, we are going to continue with our mission to encourage environmental literacy by getting as many people as possible learning about climate breakdown and all the other associated environmental crises we face. Our next course is nearly ready to go live and others are in the pipeline. We have begun the initial planning for a more ambitious blended learning programme for small businesses in the early summer of 2022.  This will focus on the concept of net zero. We will help small business owners to understand:

• what net zero means

• the implications for their business

• what small businesses have to do to achieve this (or some other, potentially more realistic and meaningful) goal

Courses

We will tell you more about the new courses as soon as we can but in the meantime, if you are uncertain what you should be doing in the aftermath of COP26, you could have a look at our existing courses on Udemy.

If you are reading this post, you probably understand the concept of climate breakdown and our first course, “What do we mean by climate breakdown?” may be a bit basic but the next in the series, “What can we do about Climate Breakdown?” sets out some actions for all of us as individuals. It also begins to look at the broader picture, recognising the contribution of business and government to the increasingly difficult position we find ourselves in. “Climate Breakdown – What do we want governments to do?” and “Climate Breakdown – What do we want from business and organisations?” develop this theme further and provide you with some tools to encourage and persuade government and business to take appropriate action.

If, like me, you are having to deal with the feelings of loss, disappointment, betrayal, anger and frustration in the aftermath of COP26, please do not give in to despair but take positive action. We hope our courses may guide you in the right direction.