Sustainable(ish)

Awareness of the climate crisis feels like it is at an all-time high. All the studies tell us that 75-80% of people are worried about it, but we're still not really talking about it, and lots of people aren't really sure what they can do about it. There are lots of reasons behind this, but sometimes feeling like we don't have the knowledge or expertise to start conversations, and like we don't know enough. Many of us might feel like we kind of understand what's going on, and what's causing the problems, but possibly we wouldn't be able to explain it to our kids.Which is where Carbon Literacy comes in.You might have heard me banging on about Talking Climate - the Sustainable(ish) Carbon Literacy course in the last few months. So I thought it was probably a good idea for an episode all about Carbon Literacy - what it is, how it works, and how to get involved. And who better to hear from, than one of the co-founders of the Carbon Literacy Project, Phil Korbel.I first heard about Carbon Literacy during the first Covid lockdown, when I took a course delivered online by Pete Watkins from Speak Carbon. Inevitably it then took me a while (about a year!) to get my act together and create my own course for individuals and households, but in March this year I launched it, and since then have trained over 130 people. And those 130 people add to the 42,000 people worldwide that have also done the course and gained their carbon literacy certificate.It's been amazing to run this course - seeing lightbulbs go off, and seeing people's confidence grow in the science, the impact and their agency to create positive change is HUGE. Everyone has to create two pledges at the end of the course, and reading these pledges as they come in makes me smile from ear to ear. Listen in to hear more about the project, the courses and how to get involved. Enjoy! LISTEN... CHECK OUT...Carbon Literacy Project- Website- Facebook- Twitter- InstagramIPCC reportsMOD climate and sustainability strategyHouse of Lords - Environment and Climate Change Committee - In our hands: behaviour change for climate and environmental goalsThe JUMP[138] - How much difference can individuals actually make - with Tom from The JUMPDepartment for Education's strategy for sustainability and climate changeNational Climate Education PlanKeep Scotland Beautiful Climate Ready Classrooms[117] - Transforming Eco Education with The Ministry of Eco Education[133] - UK Schools Sustainability NetworkTalking Climate - The Sustainable(ish) accredited Carbon Literacy courseThe Sustainable(ish) Facebook group Let me know your thoughts on this one!And if you enjoyed this episode, please do leave a review and/or comment wherever you get your podcasts!  […]

Often one of the first ways that young people start to express themselves is via fashion, but fashion comes with a considerable environmental footprint. Textile production accounts for around 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and uses 1.5 trillion litres of water annually. And we all wear clothes. In today's episode I'm chatting to someone who is on a mission to get young people engaged with slow fashion. Tze Ching is the founder of Refashion My Town, which is educating young people about the impacts of their clothing choices, and equip them with the skills and resources they need to repair and upcycle their own clothes.There are so many great ideas in here, that all of us can get involved with, whether it's with young people or with our wider community. Do let me know if you're inspired after listening to this to think about a mending circle, clothes swap, upcycling workshop, or something else!Enjoy! LISTEN... CHECK OUT...Refashion MyTown- Website- Facebook- Twitter- InstagramTze Ching on Linked In[079] - Repair What you Wear[090] - Mend it, Wear it, Love itThe Sustainable(ish) ClubhouseTalking Climate - The Sustainable(ish) accredited Carbon Literacy courseThe Sustainable(ish) Facebook group Let me know your thoughts on this one!And if you enjoyed this episode, please do leave a review and/or comment wherever you get your podcasts!  […]

In this episode I’m chatting to Parisa Wright, who is an absolute powerhouse of positive change – to the extent that I felt the need for a nap after speaking to her! I am in absolute awe of her passion, her energy and her absolute commitment to creating a greener and cleaner world for all our of children and for future generations. Parisa’s journey starts in the same way that many of ours will have done – looking at the changes she can make in her own life and home. She then started to think about how she could get others involved in her local community and created a local FB group and started running regular events. Not content with that she went to a fully fledged charity and raise hundreds of thousands of pounds to open an eco hub in a large shopping centre in London. And even then she’s not content and is involved in research into how we engage people with the behaviour changes needed, and is looking at how the charity can support other towns and cities to create eco hubs.As I said, Parisa is an absolute powerhouse, and for anyone who ever says ‘but what difference can one person actually make’ I will certainly be pointing them in her direction! I think you’re going to love this episode – please do let me know!Enjoy! LISTEN... CHECK OUT...Greener and Cleaner- Website- Facebook- Twitter- InstagramParisa on Linked InALBERT - sustainability for film and TVUK government Eat Well recommendations[129] - Climate Hubs for Community Action with Zero Carbon GuildfordThe Sustainable(ish) ClubhouseTalking Climate - The Sustainable(ish) accredited Carbon Literacy courseThe Sustainable(ish) Facebook group Let me know your thoughts on this one!And if you enjoyed this episode, please do leave a review and/or comment wherever you get your podcasts!  […]

Football – I have to confess I’m not really a fan, and it’s certainly not an area I would usually associate with sustainability. And if we’re not afraid of stereotyping, then I wouldn’t have pegged football fans as big eco types either.Today’s guest is part of an organisation looking to change that , and to harness the power of sport in general, and football in particular to drive sustainable change.Rich Holmes is part of Planet League, a frankly brilliant idea, that encourages football fans to sign up for their favourite team, and then score goals for them by doing some simple eco actions. I can’t tell you how much I love it!Sport is a huge unifier, and as we’ll discuss in the podcast, it has ‘permission’ to engage fans in their everyday lives, as if we’re an avid fan, it can feel part of our identity.And it’s not just fans that they influencing, Planet League is working with many of the country's top clubs to support them to go greener too.This really is a fascinating episode – I hope you enjoy it. And please do share it with any schools, local football clubs, or football fans in your life – the next Planet League Cup is kicking off of the 10th Oct – I’m going to see if I can get my husband and son to sign up! LISTEN... CHECK OUT...Planet League- Website- Schools resources- Twitter- Instagram- TikTok[128] - Turning the tide on climate anxietyForest Green Rovers - vegan foodReading FC - warming stripes kitGame ZeroGreener GameThe Halo Effect - Southampton FCSport Positive LeagueBen Mee - Carbon neutral football transferGary Linekar on Twitter[154] - Leading by example - does it work?Scope FSolitaire Townsend - Scope XThe Sustainable(ish) ClubhouseTalking Climate - The Sustainable(ish) accredited Carbon Literacy courseThe Sustainable(ish) Facebook group Let me know your thoughts on this one!And if you enjoyed this episode, please do leave a review and/or comment wherever you get your podcasts!  […]

What's the best climate charity to donate to?How do I know that my money is actually being used for good stuff and not swallowed up in admin?What sorts of things might charities be funding when it comes to helping the climate crisis?When I think about donating to a climate charity, whether that's a personal donation, or if I'm thinking about running some kind of fundraiser, I find it hard to know which charity I should donate to. Organisations like Greenpeace, World Wildlife Fund, and Friends of the Earth spring to mind, but other than that I'm a bit stumped.And it seems I'm not the only one. Apparently only 2% of philanthropy is currently going to climate mitigation. And it turns out there are some amazing organisations doing brilliant stuff to help to fight the climate crisis.In this episode I'm chatting to Olly Tapper, who is the Development Manager at the Global Returns Project - a UK based climate change charity. The Global Returns Project have done all the research and identified what they feel to be six of the most impactful charities and not for profits working on climate solutions, and created a Global Returns Portfolio.The charities in the portfolio (listed below) might surprise you and it was fascinating to hear about these brilliant projects, that we might not automatically think of as being a really key part in working to solve the climate crisis.The six charities are:Ashden - finds, funds and supports organizations delivering new, affordable and sustainable energy solutions around the world.Client Earth - a team of lawyers ensuring existing environmental laws are respected and helping governments develop effective environmental policies.Global Canopy - targets the market forces driving the Climate Crisis and the destruction of nature. Its data platforms enable and increase pressure on companies, investors and governments to halt their impacts on tropical forests and other vital ecosystems.Rainforest Trust - safeguarding existing rainforests is one of the most effective ways to fight climate change. Every donation will be matched by a generous supporter, doubling the impact.Trillion Trees - will ensure one trillion trees have been re-grown, saved from loss, and better protected around the world by 2050.Whale and Dolphin Conservation - a global champion for whale and ocean-based solutions to the Climate Crisis. Whales play an important role in maintaining a healthy ocean and planet by accumulating carbon and fertilising carbon-sequestering phytoplankton. LISTEN... CHECK OUT...Global Returns Project- Website- Donate- Twitter- Facebook- Instagram[091] - Make My Pension Matter with Make My Money Matter[015] - Money as a force for good with Triodos[013] - Be good and do good with your money - with Good With MoneyProject DrawdownHow much is a whale worth?The Sustainable(ish) ClubhouseTalking Climate - The Sustainable(ish) accredited Carbon Literacy courseThe Sustainable(ish) Facebook group Let me know your thoughts on this one!And if you enjoyed this episode, please do leave a review and/or comment wherever you get your podcasts!  […]

I know that I’m not alone in occasionally feeling a little bit "what’s the point?" Do my actions really make a difference? Will it really make any odds in the grand scheme of things if I take recycle this bottle, buy this new pair of jeans, or even take that flight?Our individual actions can feel inconsequential in the face of the overwhelming enormity of the climate crisis and the scales of the changes that need to happen. Which is my attention was caught by a sentence in a book I read recently (Zero Altitude by Helen Coffey – you can listen to my chat with Helen in Episode 143) about individual action having a ripple effect that can start a public conversation (I bang on endlessly about the ripple effect of our actions in the Sustainable(ish) Clubhouse, and once you start to notice it, you really do see it in action!). The book then referred to a study by Steve Westlake, where he looked at the impact it has when one person tells their family and friends that they’re giving up flying for climate reasons. Steve found in his study that half of respondent who knew someone who had given up flying because of climate change, said that they flew less because of their example!I was fascinated by this and promptly did a quick Ecosia search (top tip - swap your search engine for Ecosia - they use their ad revenue to plant trees!) for Steve Westlake. It turns out that he’s a PhD student at Cardiff University exploring how leading by example can influence behaviours and attitudes towards climate change. Which I totally wanted to hear more about, so in my usual slightly over-excited way, I got in touch with Steve and invited him on the podcast to talk about his research. And I’m delighted to say that he accepted, and that this is our chat – enjoy! LISTEN... CHECK OUT...Steve Westlake- Cardiff Uni page- On TwitterZero AltitudeEp 143 - Can a travel editor travel flight free - with Helen CoffeyThe Sustainable(ish) ClubhouseTalking Climate - The Sustainable(ish) accredited Carbon Literacy courseThe Sustainable(ish) Facebook group Let me know your thoughts on this one!And if you enjoyed this episode, please do leave a review and/or comment wherever you get your podcasts!  […]

Today's guest has been on my podcast guest bucket list literally since it began, so there may be a small element of 'fan-girling' in this episode..!Hermione Taylor is the Co-Founder and Director and DoNation - "a platform helping organisations to inspire their communities to create long lasting change."She has such a great 'founder's story', involving a bike ride to Morocco (as you do!), and this chat is packed with tips and ideas for how to engage others, whether that's as part of your workplace, or any other group/community you're involved with.And speaking of bike rides, Hermione also shares details of DoNation's Ride The Change COP 27 bike ride, riding from Swansea to London, over 4 days at the beginning of November. I've very nervously signed up, and would LOVE to see some friendly faces - here's the link if anyone fancies joining me..! LISTEN... CHECK OUT...DoNation- Website- Twitter- Facebook- InstagramRide The Change - COP27 cycle rideHow Bad are Bananas?Count Us In- [080] - Count us in - Climate action for a billion people (podcast episode)Talking Climate - The Sustainable(ish) accredited Carbon Literacy courseThe Sustainable(ish) Facebook group Let me know your thoughts on this one!And if you enjoyed this episode, please do leave a review and/or comment wherever you get your podcasts!  […]

The podcast is back after the summer break!And I'm kicking off with a solo episode from to celebrate and reflect on 10 years since we as a family embarked on a year buying nothing new.I didn't know it at the time, but that year, that slightly naive challenge, would change my life (cliche klaxon!).It changed not just how and where we shop, but also how I see my place in the world. I was left with the very certain knowledge that what we do, what I do, matters. That it makes a difference. Even if it's just to me and my life and my carbon footprint, or to our little family. But it makes a difference.And the ripples that that year have created, amongst friends and family, but in the big wide world too, are huge - and those are just the ones that I know about.I hope you enjoy my little trip down memory lane!Normal service will be resumed next week - I've got some brilliant guests and interviews lined up for you. In the meantime, do let me know your thoughts on this episode!I look so young.... LISTEN... CHECK OUT...The Big Green Bus Tour!- FREE 5 day challenge - kicking off 12th SeptTalking Climate - Carbon Literacy courseMy Make Do and Mend Year - the original blog posts!The Sustainable(ish) Facebook group Did you follow my original Make Do and Mend Year? Let me know in the comments! KNACKERED BUT WANT TO 'DO SOMETHING'..?Join the Sustainable(ish) e-mail list and get inspired to make easy imperfect eco-changes! By signing up you'll also receive my weekly sustainable(ish) newsletter. You can make use of the unsubscribe link in every e-mail at anytime SIGN UP NOW! […]

I hope you’re enjoying this little trip down memory lane while the podcast takes a break for the summer. This time we’re re-visiting my chat with the brilliant Lauren from Wear 'em Out pads. I did a little listener survey recently and this came out as one of the firm faves – I think largely because Lauren is so down to earth and real about her experiences and her own journey. This is so refreshing and reassuring for the majority of us who are also stumbling our way along, finding things out, trying things out, getting things wrong and trying again.Enjoy this one, whether it’s your first time or your listening again! LISTEN... CHECK OUT...Wear 'em Out- Website- Facebook- InstagramA beginners guide to eco-friendly and plastic-free periods (blog post)[031] - Plastic free periods and wipes with Natracare (podcast)[035] - #bleedredthinkgreen - the world's first reusable tampon applicator with DAME (podcast)[040] Pants for your period with WUKA (podcast) A beginners guide to period pants (blog post)The original podcast episodeThe Sustainable(ish) Facebook group Did you listen to this one first time round, or is it fresh to your ears?What are your favourite episodes that you'd love to listen again to over the summer?Let me know in the comments! KNACKERED BUT WANT TO 'DO SOMETHING'..?Join the Sustainable(ish) e-mail list and kick off your imperfect eco-action with my '5 easy Sustainable(ish) things you can do from your sofa'! By signing up you'll also receive my weekly sustainable(ish) newsletter. You can make use of the unsubscribe link in every e-mail at anytime SIGN UP NOW! […]

The podcast is having a bit of a break over the summer, so we’re re-running some of the fun and I’m picking some of my fave episodes from the last 140 odd. It’s been a tough job choosing, but also really lovely to browse through the back catalogue and remember all the wonderful people and organisations I’ve been lucky enough to get to chat to!Today’s ‘re-run the fun’ episode is Episode 50 – Everything Electric Cars with James and Kate. I’ve chosen this one because it possibly feels even more relevant now than it did a few years ago when it was first released.The speed of the rise in uptake of electrics cars has taken everyone by surprise and I’m sure I’m not alone in delighting in seeing so many of them out and about day to day. But lots of people still have lots of questions about them, and this episode with James and Kate, who have a brilliant EV You Tube channel which I’ve linked to in the show notes, should hopefully help answer lots of them.EVs aren’t a magic bullet for de-carbonising our transport systems – we need lots more and lots better public transport, and we need to help encourage active travel, but they are a big part of the jigsaw. Do let me know if you listened to this one the first time around, if this is all new to you, and if you’ve still got any questions about electric vehicles! LISTEN... CHECK OUT...James and Kate- On You Tube- On TwitterThe original podcast episodeThe Sustainable(ish) Facebook group Did you listen to this one first time round, or is it fresh to your ears?What are your favourite episodes that you'd love to listen again to over the summer?Let me know in the comments! KNACKERED BUT WANT TO 'DO SOMETHING'..?Join the Sustainable(ish) e-mail list and kick off your imperfect eco-action with my '5 easy Sustainable(ish) things you can do from your sofa'! By signing up you'll also receive my weekly sustainable(ish) newsletter. You can make use of the unsubscribe link in every e-mail at anytime SIGN UP NOW! […]