Climate change

What climate change is: A change in global or regional climate patterns, in particular a change apparent from the mid to late 20th century onwards and attributed largely to the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels.

Why it is happening: We release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels for energy, farming, and destroying forests. These carbon emissions are causing the greenhouse effect trapping heat and making the Earth warmer to an extent that can’t be explained by natural factors alone.

Why it matters: The Earth’s global temperature is warming, meaning that weather patterns and ecosystems are changing more quickly than many people and species can adapt. Many of the world’s greatest challenges from poverty to displacement to wildlife extinction are intensified by climate change.

What can be done to change this, personally, locally, nationally and internationally: Minimising my own impact on the environment can lower my carbon footprint and hopefully make other people around me more aware of theirs as I talk about it. Every little helps.

Recycling schemes locally, good public transport links, efficient & eco-friendly housing, offices, businesses, schools. Eco-friendly street lighting, Fairtrade and local foods being used locally by schools etc. and encouragement from local councils to ease of access, ability for residents to recycle and awareness of sustainability and climate change issues and how they affect us.

Stop using fossil fuels and make a crossover to fully renewable energy. Commit to sustainable development through any means possible to help protect our planet and everything on it, put laws and targets in places for sustainable farming, building, schooling, transport etc. Tackle deforestation and drastically cut man-made carbon emissions.

In December 2015 190 countries signed a climate deal

Our own governments aims, targets and actions towards sustainability:

Part 1 of the Act, creates the statutory framework for greenhouse gas emissions reductions in Scotland by setting an interim 42 per cent reduction target for 2020, with the power for this to be varied based on expert advice, and an 80 per cent reduction target for 2050. To help ensure the delivery of these targets, this part of the Act also requires that the Scottish Ministers set annual targets, in secondary legislation, for Scottish emissions from 2010 to 2050.

The Scottish Ministers will take advice on the targets they set. In the first instance this advice will be provided by the UK Committee on Climate Change. However, Part 2 of the Act contains provisions which will allow the Scottish Ministers to establish a Scottish Committee on Climate Change or to designate an existing body to exercise advisory functions should it be decided that this is appropriate.

Part 3 places duties on the Scottish Ministers requiring that they report regularly to the Scottish Parliament on Scotland’s emissions and on the progress being made towards meeting the emissions reduction targets set in the Act.

Part 4 places climate change duties on Scottish public bodies. This Part also contains powers to enable the Scottish Ministers, by order, to impose further duties on public bodies in relation to climate change.

The Act includes other provisions on climate change in Part 5, including adaptation, forestry, energy efficiency and waste reduction. Public engagement is a significant feature of Part 6 of the Act, which also includes provision on carbon assessment.

*Energy performance of buildings

*Waste reduction and recycling through waste prevention and management plans: package reduction, charge for carrier bags, recyclable waste facilities

The public engagement strategy intends to encourage the public to become more aware of sustainability issues and what they need to do to help work towards a more sustainable Scotland.

I had no idea, that so many areas of my lifestyle and choices had an impact on climate change. I already am an avid recycler and that includes my compost heap and buying second hand furniture and occasionally clothing. I always give things to the charity shop that are decent as I would rather someone got use out of things than them go to landfill. I still, however, scored 100 on the WWF carbon footprint monitor I was really disappointed as I thought I would have scored relatively low. I was quite proud that I gave myself a label of being a bit of an eco-warrior. I do try to grow some of my own food although I really need to try harder and become more experienced in that area. Although, who would have thought that changing my diet could have an impact? I had no idea that eating meat every day could have an impact on the environment. I mean I guess when you think about it deeply enough it actually makes sense but to average Joe (including myself), I doubt it would ever even cross the mind. I do hate food wastage. It’s a bit of a pet peeve of mine. I use to (in my younger years) make a ridiculous amount of food when having company. I always use to think that too much was better than too little. I tend to realise now that we (people) have a tendency to eat far, far more than our bodies need and I believe now that in fact it is far better to put out what seems like too little on our ridiculously over-sized, obesity enabling, consumption encouraging plates! When buying vegetables, I do try and buy without packaging, I also try and buy most food items from this country.

Even things such as switching things off from the mains instead of standby really surprised me. I sort of just assumed that when things were on standby it was a sort of energy saving mode so maybe only a fraction of what is used when it is completely off.

I know that I need to walk more. This is an area where I have to hold my hands up and admit I fail miserably. If I am going to the local shop (which is literally a 5-minute walk away) I am guilty of jumping in the car for quickness. I hang my head in shame here as I know that I really need to not only change this area for the good of my health and the environment, but to set an example to my children.

I found it fascinating to learn about the Forest stewardship council. It never occurred to me that forests could be harvested sustainably. I think it is an excellent concept to think that we can even consider where the paper that we buy comes from and how it has been sourced.

Once I started reading about climate change I found it difficult to stop. The words “We’re the last generation with the power to fix this.” (WWF 2016) were so resounding to me. I mean really? The last one? So then, why is more not being done? Why are there not more laws in place for car engine sizes and aerosols and similar things? I mean surely it is important enough?

Why are countries looking for more and more fossil fuels when renewable energy doesn’t damage the environment when renewables are more cost effective? It doesn’t make any sense!

I intend to spend more time researching this subject as a matter of interest.

I am attaching a link to the infographic for sustainable seas: https://magic.piktochart.com/output/17593067-sustainable-seas-infograph