Often at this time of year people reflect on actions they can take to make the world a better place. With the world’s leaders at COP28 having just made global plans for addressing climate breakdown, there’s plenty of individual local actions you can take that will benefit you, your family’s future and the planet. Let’s look at the super six:
1. Food
Following a largely plant-based diet can be healthier and produce less carbon emissions. Choosing local produce benefits our local farmers and also cuts food miles. Look at our website (climateactionstokesleyandvillages.org) for where to buy local/sustainable food plus recipes for tasty plant-based treats and using every part of your veggies and fruit to reduce waste, as well as tips for growing your own.
2. Nature
Spending more time enjoying the great outdoors, connecting with nature, improves mental as well as physical health and it’s free. We organise wildflower walks to help people understand more about our environment, as well as tree planting, nature’s own carbon absorber.
3. Waste
In a recent North Yorkshire Council survey, recycling was the most popular of all actions people are currently taking to reduce carbon emissions. This coming year, move further with the waste pyramid (reduce, reuse, repair, recycle). To reduce, for example, avoid single use plastics. Reuse items such as envelopes, wrapping paper, and food containers – and use refill shops in Guisborough, Northallerton, Castleton, East Rounton. For repairs (fix it, don’t bin it), we run monthly Repair Cafes in Stokesley / Swainby and more are popping up all over North Yorkshire. Come along for a free lesson in sewing or bike repairs!
4. Transport
Cycling and walking are great exercise for enhancing your fitness and mobility and if you can use these to replace all or part of a car journey it will help fight climate breakdown too. Recent TV show Race Across the World has shown how much more interesting travel is to take trains and buses than flying and you’ll be cutting carbon emissions too.
5. Energy
Reducing your energy use in your home by insulating well or doing a partial or complete retrofit will not only save you money in the long term but also save adding extra heat to the atmosphere. In the new year there will be a Local Energy Advice Demonstrator project in North Yorkshire helping to plan a retrofit for free, more details in later columns.
6. Connect
Being connected to like-minded people and feeling purposeful are essential for our wellbeing. Climate Action Stokesley and Villages has groups that focus on the five above and meet regularly to share ideas and plan activities. We’d love you to join us, even if you don’t live locally, or consider looking into an eco/climate action group near you. Check out the www.nyclimatecoalition.org which has 25 groups across North Yorkshire; Friends of the Earth has groups in Middlesbrough, Redcar and Darlington; Guisborough has an Eco Group and Saltburn has a youth group Generation Climate.
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