With all the political changes in the UK recently, many of us have lost track of what is happening with net zero.
But what is net zero, and where are we currently at in the UK?
Net zero means that we are not adding any more carbon to the atmosphere than we are taking from it.
To achieve net zero, all carbon emissions need to be cut as much as possible, for example from homes, transport, industry and agriculture. However, there will be some sectors – for example aviation – where it is more difficult to cut emissions. So action will also need to be taken to reduce the impact of these residual emissions either by changing land use so it can absorb more carbon, or by using a range of technologies to extract carbon directly.
Net zero is not an optional extra. In December 2015, the historic Paris agreement was agreed at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21). Since then 195 parties – 194 countries plus the European Union – have joined a legally binding international treaty to work together to reduce carbon emissions and achieve net zero..
Under the Paris agreement, the UK has set a target of achieving net zero by 2050. As part of this, the first target is cutting carbon by 68% by 2030. However, a recent report by the CCC – Committee on Climate Change – has found that we are currently on target to achieve only about a third of this.
In the recent King’s Speech, the new Labour government set out nine bills related to achieving net zero, including nationalising energy and railways, bringing bus services under local authority control, promoting sustainable aviation fuel, and reforming planning to support various net zero initiatives.
But as well as government initiatives, there are things that we can all do to reduce carbon emissions and help to move forward to net zero. Let’s take a look at what is meant by carbon footprint.
Every person on the planet has a carbon footprint. Your carbon footprint is the impact of your daily activities on the environment. It is measured by how much carbon dioxide (CO2) you create and release into the atmosphere.
There are various carbon footprint calculators online, for example the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) Environmental Footprint Calculator which asks questions about your carbon usage and emails you the results.
But there are also several simple things that you can do on a daily basis to reduce your carbon footprint. Here are five things that will all make a difference:
The new “Three R’s” – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – are an excellent reminder on how to minimise waste generated in our homes. This in turn impacts the amount of natural resources, landfill and energy we consume.
The average home in the UK contains far more stuff than we actually need. So one way to start reducing your carbon footprint is to start shopping more mindfully. For example, when food shopping, just buy what you actually need rather than filling up your trolley. And for other purchases, such as clothes, why not give yourself a 24 hour cooling off period to decide whether or not you really need them?
Each household in the UK generates around a tonne of waste per year. We could all reduce this by seeing if any items can be reused for anything else rather than just throwing them away.
If something is not able to be reused, always try to recycle it wherever possible. Most local councils offer various recycling collections. You can check what can be recycled in your area on the Gov UK website. There may also be recycling collection points in public areas such as car parks in town centres or supermarkets.
Four simple ways in which you can change your diet and reduce your carbon footprint are:
There are many small steps that we can all take to save energy in the home. Ten of these are:
We cover all the above points in more detail in our article How to save energy in your home this winter.
On the last point – install energy saving measures in your home – it could be worth considering investing in energy saving measures such as cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, and solar panels. Even if this means a personal loan now, it could pay dividends in the future. And some measures may be eligible for energy-saving grants: for details see the Gov UK website.
When you need to buy something such as clothing or household goods, consider buying second-hand rather than new. This may not always be possible but there are many places where you can buy excellent quality second hand goods, some of which have hardly been used at all.
For example, take a look at Facebook Marketplace, eBay and other online sites. Or pay a visit to your local charity shop, some of which also have larger stores specialising in furniture and household goods.
Buying second hand is much better for the planet than buying from new all the time. In the case of clothes for example, did you know that the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of annual global carbon emissions!
If you are a car driver, another way to reduce your carbon footprint is to cut down the amount of time you use your car. It can be easy to get into the habit of using the car all the time without really thinking about it. But by putting just a little more thought into how you use your car, you could save energy and reduce carbon emissions.
Five ideas to try are:
We hope that this article has helped you to think about how you can contribute to the UK’s net zero targets by making small changes in your daily life. And if you are interested in making a financial investment in net zero – for example home energy saving measures or an electric car – remember that Munzee offers personal loans online that may be able to help.
Check back here soon for more lifestyle and financial tips from Munzee Loans.
Is it time to start learning something new this autumn?