Frequently asked questions
General
Hasn’t the climate always changed? Isn’t it just showing normal variation?
The climate has always changed. No, what’s happening now is not normal variation. Scientists learn about changes over hundreds of thousands of years by studying ice cores from Greenland and Antarctica. Most of those changes were caused by shifts in the sun’s activity. The changes of the last 200 years are different however. They are much more extreme. Scientist’s research leaves no doubt that they are caused by human activity and that they are dangerous.
Are the devastating hurricanes, typhoons, floods and droughts of recent years due to climate change?
These events are getting more frequent and more severe due to climate change. We’re going to see more extreme events over the next decades. The capacity of governments to respond is critical.
Why should we bother when the government is planning to build more airports and roads?
Government policy is worrying and the motivation of those in government needs to be looked at critically. You may want to take political as well as personal action. Add your voice to those who are objecting.
Why should I bother when my neighbour drives an SUV?
Because it’s the right thing to do, it will make you feel better and you will be setting a good example. Your neighbour may be putting a lot of energy into not thinking about the SUV’s impact!
Isn’t China now producing as much CO2 as the USA?
Yes it is. But per person their emissions are similar to the European average. A lot of China’s emissions arise from manufacturing goods for Western countries, so really belong to our footprints, not theirs
What about the USA?
The US government has been a problem, as have the influential oil companies, well funded climate change deniers and religious conservatives who have been very successful in influencing US opinion. But many Americans want to do something about climate change. Many US cities have signed up to the ‘Mayors’ Initiative’ which aims for significant local reductions.
What’s the difference between an ecological footprint and a carbon footprint?
An ecological footprint measures the amount of the earth’s resources your lifestyle consumes if everyone on earth lived like that. It typically measures this in “planet Earths”. UK lifestyles typically consume about three Earths. A carbon footprint measures only the amount of greenhouse gases you are responsible for. It is measured in tonnes of CO2 equivalents.
Isn’t ‘Peak Oil’ more important?
We are currently passing the peak of oil production, for sure. However the following decrease in production won’t happen quickly enough to solve the climate change problem. As production from the most accessible oil fields slows, production from more difficult sources becomes profitable. Many of these, like the Canadian tar sands and the Arctic oil fields, carry huge environmental risks. There are also other fossil fuels to worry about. There are huge reserves of coal left and reserves of gas that can be extracted by the damaging process of hydraulic fracturing. Solving the climate change problem will deal with the peak oil problem but we can’t expect peak oil to fix climate change. Fossil fuels need to be left in the ground. In order to prevent dangerous climate change 50 – 75% of the proven reserves need to be abandoned.
Could ‘fracking’ for natural gas in the UK help reduce our emissions and provide energy security?
Natural gas has lower carbon emissions than coal but it is still a fossil fuel. We need to move quickly to genuinely low-carbon sources of fuel. Fracking for gas will divert investment from the renewables that need to be developed. The fact that the gas is produced in the UK is unlikely to make it cheaper or provide security as it will be sold on the international market.
I was shocked to see how tiny the typical African/Asian/South American footprint is. Surely they need to be using more energy not less?
You are right. There are big questions of justice and equality to be considered. One reason wealth nations needs to reduce their footprint so much is to allow countries like Tanzania to create a decent standard of living for their people.
Will climate change bring more immigrants and refugees to the UK?
There are connections between climate change and the movement of people but also a lot of myths. Most people who are displaced due to climate change will move within their own countries. There are unlikely to be sudden mass exoduses and the UK is unlikely to be a major destination for people who do need to move.
Surely the big problem is population growth?
The relationship between population and climate change is complex. The key factor is not population itself but the resources that the population consumes. Countries with high population growth also tend to be poor. They contribute little to climate change because their resource use is low. Globally the rate of population growth has been falling for some time. Under current trends world population should stabilise at around 9-10 billion within the next hundred years. The critical factor will be achieving low-carbon lifestyles worldwide.
Surely the real problem is the grip of fossil fuel companies over the government?
Research by the World Development Movement reveals a ‘revolving door’ between government, fossil fuel industries and big financial institutions. The lobbying power of the fossil fuel industry is enormous. So far, most fossil fuel companies have preferred to protect the status quo rather than face the need for radical change. There are also concerns about the way companies such as Exxon Mobil have funded climate change denying think-tanks like the US Heartland Institute. You are probably right to be concerned.
At home and at work
Which form of home heating creates least CO2?
Per kWh, going from best to worst: natural gas, heat pumps, liquid gas, oil, coal, electricity. Wood and other forms of biomass are often considered low-carbon because they absorb CO2 as they grow. However, as wood burns it emits a similar amount of CO2 to coal. Low-carbon heating methods, combined with super-efficient insulation is best. Heat pumps and electricity will become better solutions as the grid is decarbonised.
Aren’t wood and other forms of biomass a sustainable solution?
Even if you see them as low-carbon, wood and biomass can only solve a small percentage of our national energy needs due to the limited amount of land available for growing them. They may be acceptable as an interim measure, particularly if you have a good source of local timber or scrap wood for your stove.
Is a wood pellet boiler a good solution?
Wood pellet boilers are more efficient than wood-burning stoves and can be used for central heating if mains gas is not available. However, some wood pellets come from unsustainable sources, often from overseas. Make sure you know what you are buying.
I love an open fire – is it a good way to heat my home?
No. Open fires are one of the least efficient forms of heating. Warm air from the house is drawn up the chimney with the smoke. Turn off any other heating if you use your fire, so you are not sucking already heated air up the chimney. A flue plug will stop warm air rushing up the chimney when the fire is not lit. An old pillow will do. Coal is a very high carbon fuel and there are concerns about burning wood as we describe above.
What about nuclear power?
Nuclear power has some strong advocates, including in government. However it takes a long time to build new nuclear plants, it’s hard to deal with the waste and there are security risks. We think renewables provide a safer, quicker option, but as the climate crisis becomes more profound some hard choices are required and nuclear power is a lot less risky than runaway climate change.
I buy my electricity on a renewable tariff. Surely it doesn’t matter how much I use?
Renewable energy is a scarce resource and shouldn’t be wasted. Even the best green tariffs rarely provide all your electricity from renewable sources. However, signing up you help increase the market for renewables and provide investment.
Is it worth fitting a solar water heater?
Yes, consult with a local supplier.
Are photovoltaics (PV) panels a good place to start?
Yes, consult with a local supplier.
Which are the best energy-saving lightbulbs?
The most efficient are modern LEDs. No-one should still be using old-fashioned incandescent bulbs. If you have any left, replace them immediately as you will quickly recover the energy that went into their manufacture.
Doesn’t it use a lot of electricity turning lights off and on?
No. This is an urban myth.
I get headaches working under fluorescent lights. Do I have to have them at home as well?
Modern compact fluorescents won’t give you headaches. Update your strip lights.
Is it better to replace my old fridge with a more energy-efficient model now, or wait until it breaks down?
If your fridge is quite old (over 8 years) then probably, yes. Check the energy label rating as well. A new fridge could save 200kWh per year. This will rapidly make up for the energy used in manufacturing it.
My TV only uses 1 watt on standby. Surely it’s not really worth turning it off all the time?
On TV? No. But you probably have loads of stuff on standby that you don’t know about. Two TVs, a PC, Hi-Fi and three mobile phone chargers is 15 watts 24/7/365. This is 60kg of CO2 per year (equivalent to a 200 mile car journey). Sort out your plugs and leads so that it is easy to turn things off.
How should I dry the washing in winter?
Try to reduce the amount you do and dry it outside when you can. Most clothes really can be worn more than once, towels used a few times etc. Drying clothes indoors cools the house down and make the house damper. Try to dry clothes in an unheated ventilated space like a conservatory, sun-room or spare bedroom where you can open a window when needed without losing heat. In a modern house it may be better to use a modern tumble drier. Make sure you run it for the shortest time possible.
If I stop up all the draughts, won’t the house get awfully stuffy?
Be in control of your ventilation. You need a system where you can open trickle vents or windows when you want to, rather than relying on a general draughtiness to get fresh air.
Are there any dangers in stopping all draughts?
Don’t stop up the air bricks that feed fresh air under your floors and to your heating appliances. Apart from that, go for it.
My house doesn’t feel draughty. Do I really need draught-stripping round the windows?
Try it. You’d be surprised.
My hot-water tank is well-lagged. Isn’t it better to leave the hot water on all the time, rather than letting it cool down and heat up again?
No. Urban myth.
Is it really worth doing all those fiddly things like lagging hot-water pipes, putting foil behind the radiators and putting up radiator shelves?
Yes.
Can I put temporary double glazing on any window?
Pretty much. Don’t block escape windows or vents for fires etc.
If I fill my cavity wall with insulation, won’t it let in the damp?
No.
I’m worried that dry-lining the walls could make the brickwork damp.
In some older buildings, mostly those with without cavity walls, yes it can. Get the advice of a reputable installer.
I’m worried that dry-lining my walls will make the room much smaller. Is it OK to use less insulation?
You’ll get used to it very quickly and the increased usability of the room will make up for it. Do not be fooled by companies selling unlikely products like insulating paint and insulating wallpaper or making claims of extremely high performances for thin products.
The new building regulations are so much better than the old ones, my builder says it’s not worth doing more than the regulations demand. Is he right?
No. Our regulations are pretty slack compared to other countries. Try to build for the future. Try to make sure that your house will achieve an ‘A’ rating on the EPC standards.
My friends say one thing, my builder says another, my plumber has a third opinion and the internet offers a dozen more. How do I decide what to do?
Compared with the rest of Northern Europe, the British construction industry has a poor record in training, in education and in following best practice for energy efficiency. This results in conflicting and poor advice being given by people with insufficient knowledge. Look for people with real experience of low-energy building. This might be a builder or an architect or others who have had low-energy renovations done. Best-practice guides are published by the Energy Saving Trust and the National Refurbishment Centre and your builder or architect should be referring to them – see our Docs & Links page for details.
Travel
Can’t I offset my air travel?
There’s no evidence that offsetting schemes compensate in any meaningful way for your emissions. Sorry. Carbon-offsetting schemes are also ethically questionable: they shift the burden of reducing CO2 emissions to other people, other places or other times. If you fly to New York today, your trail of gas starts warming the planet immediately. A tree planted today will take 50–100 years to absorb enough CO2 to offset the fuel your flight burned.
Isn’t the growth in air-travel all to do with business travellers?
No. The biggest increase in air travel is in leisure journeys.
Won’t reducing air travel damage the economy?
No. Tourism causes a net loss to the UK economy, taking more trips and money away than it brings in.24 Air travel is heavily subsidised in the form of untaxed fuel, by the provision of infrastructure (motorways to airports), and by everyone having to pay the costs of the pollution it causes.
Surely my holidays abroad support poorer countries?
Tourism brings very limited benefits. Most of your money goes to the airline and travel company, very little helps the local population at your destination. Tourism frequently brings environmental degradation in its wake, stressing water systems and natural habitats.
Won’t putting up the cost of air travel discriminate against poorer people?
Poorer people – those in social classes D and E – hardly fly at all. The recent expansion in flying has occurred because better-off people are flying more. 75% of budget flights are taken by people in social classes A, B and C.
Is it true that driving more slowly creates less CO2?
Yes. Slowing from 80 mph to 70 mph might save 15%.
Is it true that driving more slowly leads to less congestion?
Yes. On a busy motorway the best speed can be as low as 40 mph.
What’s a good efficiency for a car?
The figures for car efficiency are usually published in grams of CO2 per kilometre. If you are buying a new car, look for 100 g/km or less.
Should I scrap my old car for a new efficient model now?
The embodied CO2 in a new, small car is about 6 tonnes, so the answer depends on your mileage. If you old car produces 300g/km of carbon and the new one is 200g/km then you are saving 100g/km. 6 tonnes = 6,000kg = 6,000,000g. 6,000,000g / 100g/km = 60,000km. So it would take 60,000km of driving for the new car to start start polluting less than if you were to just truck on in your old car. Obviously unless you scrap your old car, it’s still out there belching away, so that complicates the maths somewhat. If your old car is relatively low-emissions, you could give it to someone with a very inefficient car, and there would be a net benefit there.
How much of the problem is caused by road freight?
Quite a lot. Road freight increased hugely, particularly during the 1980s. It is now responsible for about 35% of the fuel used in all road transport.
Should I buy an electric car?
If you’re existing car needs replacing, try doing the maths outlined above for a new car based on 50g/km instead of 200g/km. It works out at 24,000km. The same comment regarding the old car also applies here. At present electric cars are expensive and the network of charging points or battery-swap points is limited, requiring planning for long journeys away from home. The price will fall as more are produced. If a way of swapping batteries in much the same way as we fill up with petrol can be introduced, they could make a real contribution. To be really effective, they need to be powered by electricity produced from renewable sources. There isn’t enough capacity for that at present.
Do home deliveries save CO2?
Yes.
Why are passenger ships such a problem?
Big object, long distance, few passengers for weight of vehicle. Freight ships dawdle along while carrying huge amounts of cargo so are a good option for transporting goods though.
I’d like to cycle but is it really safe?
It’s is no more dangerous than walking. You can do a lot to increase the safety of your journeys by picking quiet routes, avoiding busy junctions and roads used by HGVs, and making sure you are properly equipped with lights, reflective gear and a helmet.
Food
If I was going to do just one thing to reduce my food footprint, what should it be?
Reduce the amount of meat and dairy produce in your diet.
Shouldn’t I support 3rd World countries by buying their fruit and vegetables?
Third World economies do better when they export higher-value goods. For example, it is 20 times better to buy South African wine than South African grapes. Very little of the price of fruit and vegetables grown in Third World countries reaches the people who work on the farms, unless they are part of a Fairtrade scheme.
Is it always better to buy food produced closer to home?
Almost always. The exceptions come with some out-of-season foods. During winter, the emissions from tomatoes grown outdoors in Spain and trucked to the UK will be lower than the emissions from tomatoes grown in Holland in heated greenhouses and trucked here. Similarly, if you want to eat out-of-season apples in July, the new crop imported from New Zealand by sea will have a slightly smaller footprint than British apples that have been kept in cold storage for 9 months.
What if I have to drive to get to my local producers?
That kind of kills it. Car trips round the countryside in search of locally produced food are not a good idea. Per kilogram of food moved, the family car is the least efficient means of transport. Look for local produce that is delivered (like a vegetable box) or sold in places you can reach by walking or cycling.
How can you tell where something has come from?
Individual items like fruit and vegetables should be labelled with the country of origin. Meat labelling is confusing as some meats can be sold as British (or Scottish or Welsh) if the ‘last substantial change’ (such as curing pork into bacon) took place in that country. Items with multiple ingredients are even more confusing, but are likely to be made from ingredients sourced from around the world. It’s difficult. Sometimes the best you can do is identify things you know you can buy from local producers, and do that, and avoid things that obviously have done some miles. It is always worth asking local shopkeepers where something actually comes from.
Does organic food have a lower footprint?
Some research suggests that it does, mainly because it uses less nitrogen fertiliser. Other research suggests that it doesn’t, mainly because it is less productive per hectare. Research (and debate!) on this issue continues.48 If you are taking wider health, environmental and biodiversity issues into account organic small-scale production has advantages.
Do the vegetables I grow myself have a lower footprint than the ones in the shops?
Not necessarily. You can clock up a surprising footprint driving to an allotment or having manure delivered. Lack of experience can also mean crop failures that wouldn’t happen to an experienced farmer. Despite this, growing your own vegetables is a wonderful experience that brings you closer to nature and makes you appreciate where your food really comes from. Do it if you enjoy it. Otherwise you can have the best of both worlds by signing up to a local, vegetable-box scheme or Community Supported Agriculture scheme which supports local growers.
Think about it when you buy it
All the above is very well but if, for example, in the name of hygiene, your local shopkeeper uses two plastic bags and a paper wrapper for each item, then puts all your purchases in another plastic bag, and you drive to the shop and back, your effort to buy locally sourced organic produce is not going to be an environmental success. Try explaining your concerns to the shopkeeper. They may have never even thought about it.
Why is so much organic food imported?
While there has been a huge increase in demand for organic foods, the UK organic food industry is both small and small-scale. Supermarkets prefer to deal with large producers and the overseas ones tend to be cheaper. About 80% of organic food sold in the UK has been imported.
Local? Seasonal? Organic? Fairtrade? Which is the best?
Local is best in terms of the CO2 produced in transportation. Seasonal is best in terms of the CO2 in storage. Organic may better in terms of the CO2 in production. Knowing which is best for a particular product is difficult, so aim for food that is local, seasonal and if you wish – organic. For items that can’t be grown in the UK, you can support Third World producers by choosing Fairtrade products where they are available.
Is it OK to drink bottled water?
No. The stuff that comes out of your taps is perfectly wholesome and, if you don’t like the taste, you can filter it quite easily. Packaging and transporting water in bottles from one end of the country to another and across continents creates CO2 for no real purpose. Bottled water in the UK mostly comes from Wales, France, Derbyshire and Scotland – though some comes from as far as Fiji! Insanity. Then there’s the bottle.
Is it better to wash up by hand or with a dishwasher?
Don’t wash up under a running tap – use a bowl. Whether a dishwasher or washing-up by hand uses less water depends on your washing-up style. Hand-washers use 10–50 litres depending on how they go about it. Dishwashers use 15–30 litres, depending on the model.
If climate change brings food shortages, will GM crops help solve the problem?
Probably not. A 2008 UN report by the IASSTD (International Assessment of Knowledge, Science and Technology) representing the views of 400 scientists found little place for GM crops in solving world food problems.
What about eating out?
Fast food restaurants are part of a highly mechanised industry and usually sell a lot of meat. The food is intensively grown, highly processed and has probably clocked up a lot of food miles. That’s before you examine what is in it and who was exploited to bring it to you. Local, independent restaurants that are part of the local economy, offering a low-carbon menu and trying to source ingredients locally are something else entirely. Enjoy celebrating there!
Will reducing food waste help reduce our carbon emissions?
Globally, between 30 and 50% of all food produced never reaches a human stomach. In 2012, 7 million tonnes of food was wasted in the UK. 4.2 million tonnes of this came from households, the rest from retailers, food manufactures, restaurants, commercial organisations, agriculture and horticulture. The average household throws out about 3 kg of useable food each week (160kg a year). It happens because people buy too much, fail to plan meals, don’t store food properly and lack confidence in using up leftovers. On average each UK household could save 640 kg of CO2e a year by avoiding unnecessary food waste.
You say ships are a good method of transport for bringing us food but aren’t they responsible for other pollution?
Yes. Some of the dirtiest oil is burnt by the shipping industry producing sulphur emissions which cause acid rain and upset the balance of many ecosystems.
Consumption and waste
My mortgage eats all my money – is that carbon free?
Your mortgage payment covers both the price of the house and the bank’s costs and profit. That profit may get spent funding coal mines or oil drilling so it is worth banking with a bank that at least has an ethical policy. The price of a house is made up of its construction costs and the profit made by previous owners. The construction industry is one of the highest carbon producing industries so a new house or a house that has had a lot of renovation work is responsible for a lot of CO2. Still, you have to live somewhere.
If building work involves that much CO2 doesn’t that make eco-renovation a bad idea? Shouldn’t I spend my money in a lower-emitting sector of the economy?
Like any building work, eco-renovation is responsible for emitting a lot of CO2, but with eco-renovation carbon will be saved in the long-term as the building’s energy demand is reduced. Doing this work sooner rather than later is important as it speeds up the date at which carbon begins to be saved. Some building methods and materials have less embodied carbon than others. Timber-framed houses, lime mortar and organic insulating materials are all winners.
My aromatherapist holidays in Thailand. Does that make it a high carbon industry?
The aromatherapy is still low-carbon! What people do with the money they earn counts as their carbon footprint, not yours.
My savings are in ethical investments so that’s OK isn’t it?
It’s worth thinking about where your money is invested and supporting low-carbon options if you can. Ethical investment funds are concerned with a range of issues, so you need to check which ones your fund emphasises. The Dutch bank Triodos does not invest in oil/energy exploration or extraction. The Ecology Building Society only puts its money into low-carbon developments. Look out for Community Renewable projects (usually wind farms) that you can invest in.
Should we be worried about the impact of IT?
The infrastructure supporting the internet and telecommunications accounts for less than 1% of global emissions and some companies are taking steps to move data centres to cooler locations (where they require less cooling) and to move towards using renewable electricity.32 These infrastructure emissions make up a small part of the average UK citizen’s consumption footprint. Nonetheless, try to keep a check on your use.
Doesn’t our recycling just end up in landfill in China?
No. Most of our paper, cardboard, steel and glass are recycled in the UK. Cartons (the kind that hold juice) go to Sweden. A lot of plastic recycling is shipped to China because China is a major manufacturer of plastic items. It goes as a backload on the boats that bring the goods we import. Stories of plastics going into landfill in China are urban myths, but of course, not all plastics that gets shipped there are in fact recyclable. It’s your job to get that right on a Monday night!
What happens to electronic waste?
European regulations mean that old electrical goods must be collected and disposed of safely but we repeatedly hear that e-waste is being exported (often illegally) to countries with lax regulation. It is important to recycle electronic waste. The materials used in it are valuable and can be reused, but many of them are toxic. They should not be left to leach into the environment and the waste needs to be handled in safe conditions in order to protect workers’ health.
Doesn’t it cost more to recycle things than to make new ones?
No. Recycling saves energy and water, reduces pollution and saves on raw materials.
I earn loads. What should I do with it?
A generous amount of high-quality, local, energy-efficient goods and services are yours for the asking! Think about creating an energy-efficient home, buying wonderful art and employing people on fair terms to help you with jobs you don’t want to do yourself. Next, invest in ethical, low-carbon funds and pensions. If you run your own business, make sure it is a leader in low carbon activity. Finally, give generously to environmental and development charities that help countries suffering from the effects of climate change.
I earn a pittance. I can’t afford high-quality green services and products. What should I do?
People earning under £15,000 usually have low carbon footprints so you shouldn’t worry. Concentrate on reusing and repairing, sharing with others and buying good quality goods when you can. You can also campaign, lobby industry groups and write to your MP, demanding more sustainable products at fair prices.
If everyone stops buying stuff won’t the economy go into recession?
The economy as a whole needs to change direction and provide the goods and services that a low-carbon society needs. Our actions are a small part of showing what we want and living according to our principles.
Isn’t the real problem population growth?
No. Globally, the rate of population growth is slowing as better education and a raised standard of living lead to people having fewer children. World population is predicted to stabilise at around 9 billion. The problem is the resources used by each person. If that can be reduced, population itself is not the issue.
Are there any examples of sustainable development we can look at now?
Some people argue that isolated rural areas like Ladakh in India, which have changed little in centuries and have a careful and respectful relationship to the local ecology, provide a model. Others point to cities that are moving in the right direction, arguing that purely rural solutions will not solve the problems of huge urban areas. For urban solutions check out Malmö and Hammarbysjöstad in Sweden. For rural solutions explore the Ecovillage Movement.
Talking with people
Other people aren’t empathic towards me, why should I empathise with them?
It’s tough if others are difficult, defensive or critical of you. They may be protecting themselves from feeling exposed. They may be scapegoating you. Recognise the resistance and back off for a time. Remember that you don’t have to like everyone and that not everyone will deserve your best empathic response!
When I try to understand other people’s points of view, they assume I’m agreeing with them. Surely we need to argue our case?
There’s a difference between being a doormat, having a pointless, angry argument and enjoying an assertive exchange of views. Sometimes when people are struggling to avoid an unpleasant row they back down and end up feeling like the doormat. There will be times when you want to make it clear that although you’ve been interested to hear what someone else thinks, you wish to disagree. Before reaching that point it can be helpful to explore with the other person why they think what they do, what has influenced them and how they have arrived at their point of view.
Surely people need to know that we’re facing catastrophe?
It’s true that there are many worrying and depressing aspects of the future we face. However a morbid fascination with disaster doesn’t help if you are trying to persuade others. Sometimes people are attracted to ideas of catastrophe because they are frightened themselves: passing that fear onto others is a way of trying to deal with the fear. Sometimes people are so angry at what is happening to the world that catastrophe feels like a just punishment: frightening others with the possibility of disaster becomes a form of revenge. Ask yourself why you are attracted to the idea of disaster. Research tells us that these stories don’t lead to engagement and that there are better ways of trying to involve people.
Information changed my mind. Why do you say it doesn’t change other people’s?
All of us forget the times when information passed us by or we dismissed it as irrelevant. We don’t remember the occasions when we got up to make the tea when climate change came on the news or picked up a leaflet and put it straight in the bin. The information only made sense to you at a point when you were ready to absorb it. Think about what created that moment for you. Information is important only when people are ready for it.
Most of my difficult climate conversations just arrive. I feel I don’t have much control over them. What do you suggest?
Try to balance these occasions with ones that you create yourself. If you’d like to talk to someone about climate change, think about making the time and space to do so on your own terms. Decide what would be a realistic outcome for you. Prepare what you want to say. Think what you would like to hear about from the other person. Listen well. Keep the first conversation short unless they clearly want to continue. Meanwhile, have some prepared responses for those difficult times when you’ve been ambushed. Some people find they can use humour to deflect the conversation. Some turn attention to the tactics of the other person, for example, “You love to wind me up, don’t you?” This sometimes has the effect of disarming the other person and allowing a change of subject. Some people risk a direct challenge such as, “I think you’re using this to get at me about other things you’re cross about.” Work out how to withdraw from conversations that don’t seem to be going anywhere.
Don’t we just need to get on with things instead of talking all the time?
We need to do both. Not enough people – only 15% – are ‘getting on with things’. Most are avoiding any real engagement. You may be surprised to find how many people share your concerns but feel too powerless, hopeless or disillusioned to do anything. Talking with them about how they feel is often the first step towards action.
Don’t we need more good news stories?
We need to distinguish between realistic, inspiring examples and illusory, utopian daydreams. We certainly need the former and we hope we’ve put plenty of examples in the stories throughout this book. Think critically about the value of the good news stories and projects you hear about. Are they genuinely good examples or greenwash? Real solutions or daydreams? Widely applicable or minority pursuits? Grab the former and talk about them wherever you can.
People ignore me to my face, then three months later I find them lecturing me on the urgency of climate change or the benefits of home insulation. What’s going on?
Most people don’t change overnight. You have probably been part of a gradual process in which your friends shifted their attitudes. Many people find it humiliating to admit that someone else helped to change their mind. Most people like to think that they have arrived at their point of view independently. Be flattered. Treat their change of view with good nature and humour.
I volunteered to be Green Champion in my workplace but people either ignore me or delight in winding me up. What can I do?
This tends to happen when there is not proper support for the Green Champion scheme. Sometimes it has been introduced as a piece of greenwash. Sometimes there have been good intentions but not enough thought given to what is involved. Are you given enough time for these responsibilities? Is there sufficient support from senior management? Has a budget been allocated for the changes that are needed? If your answer to these questions is ‘no’, think about who you can talk to about changes to the scheme that might be needed.
Shouldn’t we be teaching children? It’s their future and they’re the ones who will have to make the big changes.
Each generation seems to hope that the next one will solve the problems they have failed to address. It’s easy to get primary school kids to identify with endangered species and help with the recycling but this rarely lasts into their teenage years. It’s also very easy to make children feel anxious about an issue like climate change. Children have very little power or control. They can’t dictate where they go on holiday, what they eat, how their homes are heated or what fashions will make them feel acceptable to their friends. Even more than adults, children need to feel safe if you are addressing a difficult subject like climate change. Most talks given to schools take little account of this and children can end up feeling alarmed and fearful. A more positive approach is to develop children’s interest in the natural world and offer them plenty of enjoyable experiences that can act as an antidote to our high consumption culture and give them the skills to deal with an uncertain future. Research suggests that people who spent time playing freely outdoors as children tend to have a deeper sense of connection to the natural world and more pro-environmental attitudes.26
Don’t we need a spiritual re-engagement with the natural world?
Some writers on eco-psychology emphasise the idea of spiritual re-engagement with nature. Spiritual connections are important for some people but not for everyone. The major faiths all have views on the relationship of people to the natural world and people with religious faith frequently find support through their religious practices. For other people spirituality and religion are turn-offs. Do what feels right for you but don’t try to impose your spiritual or religious beliefs on others – it’s unlikely to help.
Climate change spells d-i-v-o-r-c-e in my household. How do I stay true to my values and save my marriage too?
It’s unlikely one topic will lead to divorce so perhaps you are struggling with a number of difficult conversations. This may not be the best time to add climate change to the list of flashpoints. If things are looking really bad, try making an appointment with a family counselling charity. Come back to climate change issues once you are both feeling better about the relationship.