After December’s UN environmental conferences our government announced: “Nature is both the essential foundation and a powerful engine of our economy, and helping nature to recover is one of the most cost-effective ways of tackling so many challenges, including the causes and impacts of climate change, thirst, hunger and ill health and of bolstering peace and prosperity.” About the outcomes from the conference, they further went on to say “The agreement includes global targets to protect at least 30% of the world’s land and at least 30% of the global ocean by 2030, and to see natural systems restored, species populations recovering and extinctions halted.” Good news but history shows that of the UN biodiversity targets agreed in 2010 the UK has missed 17 of the 20.
So how can we help the UK protect the environment? Clearly, we cannot leave it to our politicians to deliver for us; we need to do what we can and persist in lobbying the government and politicians.
What can we do ourselves? Actually, quite a lot but it may take a bit of adjustment to daily routine. Below we make two suggestions- you may already be doing these or better and not all adjustments are suitable to everybody, but we can all promote these small steps to people for whom they apply.
Make sure food waste goes into the correct bin. Did you know that the UK throws away over 10 million tonnes of food waste per year, the worst in Europe. Food waste put in the waste bin is not harmless, it goes to landfill and releases methane, which is 25 times more harmful than CO2. Of the 10 million tonnes, 7 million comes from households (108kg per year per person) and 5 million tonnes of that is edible, so could be frozen or used for meals the next day. Many people who think they produce no food waste still generate large amounts made up from tea bags, coffee grounds, fruit and veg peelings, bones and egg shells. Food waste that goes into the food recycling can be used for anaerobic digestion, this produces biogas which can be collected and used to generate electricity: in the UK this accounts for the power supplied to approx. 200 000 homes. One banana peel recycled in this way can create enough electricity to recharge a smart phone twice!
We would like to hear from anybody with a recommended recipe to help us go green. Not only with re-using food waste, but also low carbon, such as reduced or no meat and dairy, also as we need to reduce what we put in our waste and recycling bins, recipes to avoid us needing to buy highly packaged convenience food. If we get enough recipes, we can put them on our website.
Make more use of public transport. The government has just introduced a scheme whereby single bus fares are limited to £2. So, it is a good time to give the bus a try. Why not try Tuesday ‘Bus-day’ for a month or so and then feedback on your experience based on your knowledge gained? As the bus service is a commercial enterprise unless enough people use the buses they won’t run. If there is a reliable bus service some users may feel able to give up their cars which would reduce parking and congestion problems. Those over state pension age will know they can get a bus pass that entitles them to free bus travel within Hertfordshire and also outside peak times in the rest of England. Also, half-price travel on trains within Hertfordshire.
Join our Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/knebworthenvironmentalgroup). We would love to hear from anyone who has recipes or other ideas, or who would like to get involved. Please get in touch with us via our Facebook group or email Kristin at knebworthenvironmentalgroup@gmail.com. Our next meeting is at 8PM on the 9th February at the Station pub: you can email in advance or just turn up.