There is no doubt now that climate change is happening, and it is happening at a rate that even the most optimistic scientist would shudder at. We no longer need to wait for the research papers to come in from the polar regions to confirm it, as countries across the globe struggle to adjust to the effects of higher temperatures, more extreme weather, and rising sea temperatures.??
Evidence from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) states that the world is already 1.2°C warmer than pre-industrial times and whilst we may not register fractions of a degree in our homes and offices, in terms of climate change, every 0.1°C counts. If we reach a milestone of plus 2°C from pre-industrial levels, research suggests that we can expect more intense droughts, wildfires, storms, and floods across the globe. And some landmass areas will disappear completely. ?
What causes climate change??
The Earth is approximately 4.5 billion years old, and in its time, it has seen a number of warmer and cooler periods than we are experiencing now. The Earth has had glacial periods (ice ages) lasting millions of years, and periods which have been much hotter, and these changes have all affected the ability of life on Earth to survive. Homo sapiens (humans) first appeared on Earth approximately 800,000 years ago and it is only really in the last 10,000 years that we have formed human civilisations and settlements as we would recognise today. If we are not careful, we may be one of the shortest-lived species our planet has ever seen as it is we humans who are now having the biggest environmental and climate effect on the planet. Since the industrial revolution of the 1800s, global temperatures have risen at a much higher rate than before, and temperatures are still increasing. This is due to us burning fossil fuels and releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which acts as a greenhouse gas, trapping warmth and effectively wrapping the world in a ‘gas blanket’, causing even greater temperature rises.
What can we do??
As Niklaus Hagelberg, UNEP’s Climate Change Coordinator, said: “The climate emergency demands action from all of us. We need to get to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and everyone has a role to play.” Whether it’s giving up eating as much meat, switching to low-carbon fuel systems, or reviewing our holiday destinations, we can all do something. Read on to find out some simple things we can all do to reduce our carbon footprint. Remember too that these ideas can be done as individuals and as a nursery setting.??
- Switch to green energyMany of us are still using fossil fuels such as gas and coal to heat our homes but we are being encouraged to switch to energy providers who use greener technologies as they emerge. Renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and wave power are increasing, so make sure you check with your energy supplier or switch to greener sources. The Government are offering grants to help individuals and businesses switch to heat pumps as they do not use fossil fuels and are more efficient than traditional methods.
- Review transport use Petrol and diesel cars are major sources of greenhouse gases, so switching to electrical vehicles will help. Think about cycling or walking for short journeys or using public transport. Car sharing and minimising air travel are other ways to reduce fuel consumption and emissions and help clean up the environment and air quality too.?
- Review what you eatThe food we eat (and waste) is also contributing to climate change. Eating less red meat (beef and lamb) means that we could reduce the number of cattle/sheep producing methane, a greenhouse gas. Eating more seasonal foods and food sourced locally will also cut down on transport emissions. Remember to only buy what you need – the UK wastes over 9 million tonnes of food each year which creates more than 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK (the same as 3.5 million cars).
- Review consumption - the 6 Rs One way to effect change is to think about your consumption and use the 6 Rs: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle, and Rot. Think carefully about what you buy, how you use it and how you dispose of it once you have finished with it.
- Calculate/reduce/offset your carbon footprintThe goal of many of these actions is to reduce your carbon footprint. There are companies and websites that can calculate an average carbon footprint for you or your business through a simple questionnaire. If you can’t reduce your carbon footprint, then you can aim to become carbon neutral (zero overall carbon emissions) by offsetting your carbon footprint by supporting schemes that take CO2 out of the atmosphere. These are schemes like tree planting initiatives or investing in green projects.
- Tell other people/campaignOne important way to help the planet is to talk about climate change and tell others what you are doing and encourage them to do the same. You can use your nursery setting as a platform to inform your staff, children, and their families of things they can do to help. You can also join in more actively by campaigning with a charity such as Greenpeace or Friends of the Earth or writing to your local MP or council to demand change.
Specific things that nursery settings can do?
In a nursery setting, you can look at all the above actions and see how you can address them, but also think about:?
- Reducing plastic waste – ban things like plastic straws, plates, cups, and clingfilm as there are more sustainable and recyclable alternatives available such as beeswax wrappers and paper alternatives. Encourage your parents to send in packed lunches which adhere to principles that reduce climate change too?
- Find alternatives to glitter which have less of an impact on the planet – this is not strictly to do with climate change, but it is definitely an environmental issue?
- Think about your food deliveries and see if there are refillable options, for example, milk – can you use returnable glass bottles instead of plastic??
- Many tea bags use plastic so look for eco-friendly alternatives?
- Educate your children about climate change – see here for some fun, child-friendly ideas
The climate change clock is ticking, and it’s up to all of us to sit up and take action before it’s too late.?
References and more information?
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