Prior to the coronavirus pandemic campaigners of all ages and from all walks of life were vociferously voicing their concerns and outrage at the stark reality of the impact of climate change.
A year ago, South Kesteven District Council, added its voice to the campaign, declaring a climate emergency. There are some who would say that we could have started sooner. I wouldn’t disagree. But the important thing here is that we have declared a climate emergency, and we have already taken action.
Within the year, despite the challenges of Covid-19, we worked with the Carbon Trust to measure the council’s carbon footprint and publish a comprehensive report on the findings. We have already started working with partners to look at how we can reduce our carbon footprint and, importantly, how we can enable our residents and businesses to do the same. This partnership approach is essential, because no matter what we do as a council, it won’t make any difference unless it is part of a wider societal move to say enough is enough.
On Monday, The Prince of Wales gave a passionate speech in which he talked about our chance, a moment in history, to make a real difference by resetting for a more ‘sustainable and inclusive’ future.
He also said that if we do not take ‘swift and immediate’ action, climate change will dwarf coronavirus in terms of its impact on our world and on our lives.
That is why our food waste trial was so important. Food waste is a huge contributor to climate change because of all that is involved in the production of food. If we reduce our waste, we can reduce our consumption, which reduces demand on the Earth’s precious resources.
This week also marks National Recycling Week in the UK. I am a staunch supporter of recycling, and always check labels to see what can and can’t go in my silver bin. Recycling is certainly an important part of our collective action which is so essential if we are to ‘reset’ our environment. However, serious resetting will need more than recycling, it will need a complete rethink on how we individually, and as a community, consume resources. Therefore, reduce and reuse have to be remembered alongside recycle, at all times.
Sometimes this may feel like a big ask. We are all busy, nearly all the time. And 2020 remains a difficult and challenging year, especially for our young people, those at school, in further or higher education, or just venturing into the workplace. I hate to sound grim, but the immediate future is difficult enough, without compounding problems with continual reckless waste. So I am trying to learn more about what I can do personally, and what we can do as a council to, as the Prince of Wales said, ‘reset’ before it is too late.
