The common sense solutions to our climate and nature crises
Geographer and energy specialist Neil Kitching has published Carbon Choices on the common-sense solutions to our climate and nature crises. Here Neil outlines five common-sense principles to tackle climate change and considers the community and social implications of the changes that are required.
In my book, I identify five common sense principles to tackle climate change:
1. Be fair across current and future generations
2. Price carbon pollution
3. Consume carefully, travel wisely
4. Embrace efficiency, avoid waste
5. Nurture nature
Community is a theme that runs across these. Climate change can be tackled by governments, business or individuals; but communities can aggregate individual action to place pressure on, or support, action by government and business.
For example, when the rush to erect wind farms was at its peak, Local Energy Scotland helped the village of Fintry to negotiate with the multi-national developer. The community now owns one of the 15 turbines erected. This far sighted decision brings a steady flow of income into the village – to refurbish community owned buildings, give energy advice to householders and to install home insulation. The wind farm developer benefitted from engaging with a supportive community. But community energy requires time, money, effort and patience, and is not always successful. Its growth has been hampered by constant changes in the available subsidies.
Not everyone has the time, skills or inclination to develop community energy. But most schemes also need financial support and one way of raising this is through crowdfunding campaigns. These can be promoted to provide people with a vested interest in local developments. The best schemes also return some of the ‘profits’ to local communities.
In my local town of Dunblane, a social enterprise has set up Weigh Ahead. Its aim is to eliminate the need for packaging, particularly single-use plastics. The shop weighs the customer’s own containers, fills them with goods such as rice or pasta, and then re-weighs them to calculate the amount due. A charity runs the shop and local people contributed to its start-up costs through a crowd funding campaign. Again, the aim is to provide a socially beneficial service.
Amidst all the bad news, these community initiatives demonstrate that there are grounds for hope – this popular science book concludes with a green action plan for government, business and individuals to make better Carbon Choices.
Carbon Choices can be bought on Amazon or direct from the author – further information can be found at www.carbonchoices.uk
