What We Need To Do Now For A Zero Carbon Future

Some minor extracts from the various chapters below — thought that they are highly relatable and empowering...

It was 21 per cent of the country’s CO2 emissions in 1990 and it is now fully one third. Recent reports have thrown up alarming statistics on emissions from cars which have gone up. The reason is the growth in SUVs.

The typical British car is driven about 8,000 miles a year. This means that the average new car produces about a tonne and a half of CO2 a year.

A British family of three, each eating the average amount of beef (about 18 kilos a year each) would see a high carbon footprint from the meat than from driving a car, or from the electricity used in their house.

About 60 per cent of the world’s agricultural land is devoted to the production of cattle, even though beef accounts for only about 2 per cent of all calorie intake.

Clothing represents a significant environmental concern. It is the largest part of our carbon footprint after running the house, using the car, taking flights and eating food. The 18 kilos or so of clothes that the average Briton buys each year cause almost half a tonne of greenhouse gas pollution.

The fibres of both cotton and polyester are shortened each time they are reprocessed, making full recycling very difficult.

The British buy more clothes than any other country in Europe, encouraged bu low prices in UK shops, and the number of times a piece of clothing is worn has been falling. After purchase, we typically wear an item less than 100 times, and then dispose of it just two years after purchase, even though it is usually still in good condition.

Although some clothes are re-sold in second-hand shops — and a diminishing amount is exported to Africa — most clothing is thrown away while still perfectly wearable. Virtually none is recycled; less than 1 per cent of clothing is made into some form of new clothing after being thrown away. Only about 13 per cent is reused in any way, mostly for making into bedding or cleaning rags. Most fabric ends up in incinerators or landfill.