Sustainable(ish)

As Covid restriction ease and borders open up again, many of us are desperate to escape the unpredictability of the British weather and experience some sunnier climes. However travel, or certainly international travel, feels pretty synonymous with flying and with the associated hefty carbon footprint that comes with that.Having resigned myself to damp summer holidays in our caravan in an effort to reduce our carbon footprint, it was brilliant to chat to Georgina Wilson-Powell, all about her new book, The Eco Conscious Travel Guide, about all the amazing adventures on our doorstep, travelling both with the UK, and around Europe via train. After reading the book and after our podcast chat, I’m actually getting really excited the thought of planning a European train adventure with the kids next Summer, one where the travel becomes part of the holiday, and that enables us to really see the countryside we’re passing through and to soak up more of the culture of different countries, rather than simply flying over them.Enjoy! LISTEN... CHECK OUT...Georgina on Twitter- Is it Really Green?- The Eco Conscious Travel Guide- [085] - Is it Really Green?Pebble Magazine- Website- Facebook- Twitter - InstagramThe Man in Seat 61Race Across the World[017] - Sustainable(ish) Travel with Earth Changers (podcast episode)Travel without Plastic (podcast episode)The Knackered Mums Eco ClubThe Sustainable(ish) FB group DO...Check out The Eco Conscious Travel Guide!Plan your rail adventure!Share your plans with friends and family to kick off those gentle conversations about lower carbon travel Are you inspired to have a go at some European train holidays?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! […]

It's very very easy to feel despondent about the climate crisis and the state of the planet.And it's very very easy (and I think very natural) to feel overwhelmed and powerless to make a difference to such a big and complex issue.Those of you who have been following for a while and paying attention(!) will know that I bang on a LOT about individual actions and the power that we have to make a difference. In a general, we may only be a drop in the ocean, but all those drops make up the ocean type way. But in terms of quantifying how much of a difference we can make, how much of a contribution we can make, as individuals and households, I haven't come across much in the way of science and stats.But now I have!In this episode, I'm chatting to Tom Bailey, the co-founder of an exciting new project called The JUMP - "a grassroots project created by normal people, The JUMP is for anyone worried about the state of nature but are not necessarily ‘environmentalists’."It was created after a a group of organisations got together to research what difference individual actions could make, and which actions would be the most impactful. I love the science and the facts that Tom shares, and I  really really love the approach of The JUMP around making these changes accessible and joyful – something that everyone can get involved in.Listen in to find out:What proportion of the emissions cuts needed by 2030, individual actions can account forThe 6 'shifts' that The JUMP have identified as being the most impactful we can makeOodles of inspiration for how to get involved, and how to get your school/workplace/community on board too! LISTEN... CHECK OUT...The JUMP- Website- Facebook- Twitter- IG- The science behind The JUMP- Sign up to Take The JUMPC40 CitiesSustainable(ish) Carbon Literacy Course#NothingNewIn22World Resources Institute - The Elephant in the BoardroomFairphoneTeracube mobile phone[090] - Mend it, wear it, love it with Zoe Edwards[091] - Make My Pension Matter [129] - Climate Hubs for Community Action with Zero Carbon GuildfordThe Knackered Mums Eco ClubThe Sustainable(ish) FB group DO...Visit The JUMP website and sign up to Take The JUMP!Share this podcast and invite other people to Take The JUMP!Think about how you might be able to get your community, school or workplace involved and Taking the JUMP! Did you enjoy this episode as much as me?Are you inspired?Are you going to Take The JUMP?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! […]

DID YOU KNOW?We have lost over a million acres of wild landscapes in the UK since the end of WW2The total garden space in the UK is greater than all the nature reserves!Our gardens have huge potential to be havens for wildlife and pollinatorsI'm very much not a gardener, but I'm super aware that our garden could be working harder for nature and wildlife. So it was great to get to chat to Paul Jupp from Meadow in My Garden, all about how to do it!Paul is just brilliant - his passion and enthusiasm for not just wildflowers, but for the power of planting a seed as a hopeful act and a way of helping nature and also communities is infectious! LISTEN... CHECK OUT...Meadow in My Garden- Website- Facebook- Twitter- IG- Choosing the right seed mix - Buy seeds from Meadow in My Garden@ShitLawns on TwitterActive HopeNo Mow MayThe Knackered Mums Eco ClubThe Sustainable(ish) FB group DO...Plant some seeds! Take part in No Mow MayIs there anywhere in your community you could plant some wildflower seeds or bulbs? Or anyone in your community you could rope into a spot of community planting? Will you be planting some wildflower seeds?Or doing something in your community?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! […]

There's a LOT of information out there isn't there? On the internet, on the radio, in our newspapers, on the tel-box.And a helluva lots of opinions too.About everything, including climate stuff.So how do we know who to trust?How can we tell when we're reading what is essentially an opinion piece from a journalist or a publication with an agenda, and what is actual climate science?It's hard right?That's why it was great to chat to Jack Marley, the Environment and Energy Editor of The Conversation in this episode of the podcast. The Conversation is an online publication with the tagline "Academic rigour, journalistic flair' and they provide a platform for scientists to share their peer -reviewed research findings with a wider more mainstream audience than your average scientific publication might normally get. It aims to re-build trust in journalism, as an independent source of news analysis and informed comment written by academic experts.Jack and I chat about all kinds of things in this episode - frequently both diving off on tangents, but I think that's often how the best conversations (no pun intended..!) happen.Enjoy! LISTEN... CHECK OUT...The Conversation- Website- Facebook- Twitter- IG- 5 key points in the IPCC report on climate change impacts and adaptation - Climate scientists: concept of net zero is a dangerous trap - Climate denial hasn't gone away - here's how to spot arguments for delaying climate action  - Climate change: yes, your individual action does make a differenceIPCC 6th Assessment ReportUK becomes first economy to pass net zero emissions lawAmy Westervelt- Drilled PodcastEdelman Trust BarometerThe Sustainable(ish) FB group DO...Have a 'climate conversation' with friends or familyQuestion what you read or here - Who has written it?  Who has funded it? Do they have an agenda?Share this podcast! What did you learn from this episode?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! […]

In this episode I'm chatting to Steve Shaw who is the Director of Power for People, a not for profit organisation campaigning for the UK to rapidly transition to 100% clean energy and for this to benefit local communities. Steve has been on the podcast before, way back in Episode 44, talking about how to get your MP to take action on the climate crisis. If you haven't listened to it already, do - it's especially helpful if you're a bit like me and not entirely sure how parliament works and how new policies and laws become a reality.Power for People's latest campaign is called The Local Electricity Bill, and I know that that has the potential to sound a teensy bit dull. BUT IT'S NOT! Local energy production is actually super interesting, and feels really very relevant in the light of the gas price crisis we're currently experiencing. AND this episode gives us all ONE simple easy thing to do: Write to our MPs to ask them to support the bill.I know that sounds super grown up, and it can sometimes feel totally pointless writing to your MP, especially if they're in a safe Tory seat like mine, but it only has to be a couple of lines, and whatever reply you get back from your MP, forward it to People for Power and they'll help you follow up.Here's what I've written to my MP:Dear Dr MurrisonI am one of your Warminster constituents and I'm writing to you to ask you to give your support to The Local Electricity Bill.The bill currently has cross party support from 300 MPs, with David Johnston and Peter Aldous, both Conservative MPs, sponsoring it.Community renewable every schemes have huge potential to enable access to not only lower cost clean energy, but also to create green jobs with local economies. However it is currently hampered by huge costs and unfair regulations, making it very difficult for such schemes to be economically viable.Allowing community energy schemes to start up and run more easily will go a long way to helping us to meet out climate goals, and it feels especially pressing at the moment with the war in Ukraine to do everything we can to help the UK gain as much energy independence as possible.There is an MP briefing provided here which you may have already seen, and which should hopefully answer any questions that you have.This bill really does feel like the proverbial 'no brainer' in terms of climate wins for the government - I would love to know that it has your support.Kind RegardsJen GaleHonestly, this has the potential to be HUGE. So often the climate crisis feels overwhelming, and often it seems like the government are moving in entirely the wrong direction, but we feel very powerless to do anything about it. THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT!!With the support of just a few more MPs this bill could really get some traction and become a reality, helping to transform the energy landscape across the UK and make it much easier for communities to set up local renewable projects that have benefits for local people in terms of job creation and lower energy bills. Total win win right.Let's make it happen.Please please please do write to your MP after this episode - I think we usually have about 1000 downloads - 1000 letters to MPs would make a HUGE difference. If you're not sure who your MP is, you can find out here.Do leave a comment to let us know if you do write to your MP - and also share that you've done it on social media (do tag me, @sustainableish)  Share this episode with friends, family and colleagues and ask them to write too. Let's do this!! LISTEN... CHECK OUT...Power for People- Website- Facebook- Twitter- IG- Sign up to support the campaignThey Work for You - website to find out who your MP is and how to get in touch[044] - How to get your MP to take action on the climate crisis (podcast)[112] - Community Energy with Brighton Energy Co-operative (podcast)The Sustainable(ish) FB group DO...**WRITE TO YOUR MP TO ASK THEM TO SUPPORT THE BILL!**Share with friends and family and ask them to do the sameSign up to support the campaign on Power for People Have your written yet...?!!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! […]

Today we’re talking food. Specifically vegetables. But maybe not in the way that you might expect. We’re all increasingly familiar with the narrative that we need to eat more veggies, and less meat and dairy, both for our own health, and also for the health of the planet. But today we’re talking about specifically about eating vegetables that are in season – why that’s important, and how we can actually do it. Because I don’t know about you, but I find it really hard sometimes to figure out what’s in season when, because it’s all available all year round in the supermarkets. I know the obvious stuff like strawberries and asparagus, but after that I have to confess to getting a bit lost.It was great to chat to Dan Parker who is the chief exec of not for profit Veg Power – some of you might have seen their ‘eat them to defeat them’ ad campaign for vegetables  in cinemas a little while back.  Veg Power are on a mission to increase the UK’s veg consumption and whilst eating more veg at any time of the year is great, knowing what’s in season when, can have significant benefits when it comes to cutting carbon emissions too.Enjoy! LISTEN... CHECK OUT...Veg Power- Website- Facebook- Twitter- IG- 5 reasons to eat seasonal veg- Seasonal Veg CalendarEat Seasonably PosterThe Sustainable(ish) FB group DO...Check out the Veg Power Seasonal Veg Calendar - see what's in season, and then click on the veg name to be whizzed straight to some recipes!See if you could a week or month only eating what's in season (doing this in the late summer/early Autumn is easiest!)Show your kids the calendar and talk about seasonality and why it's important Do you find it easy to eat seasonally or are you like me and a little bit confused some of the time?Did you know about the increased carbon emissions associated with out of season fruit and veg?Are you now going to try and shop a little differently?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! […]

We've had a few episodes on the podcast exploring 'climate education' where I've chatted to various people about the brilliant projects they're involved in to encourage and facilitate education around climate issues in schools. But we haven't heard from any of the young people currently in the education system! This episode hopefully helps to rectify that as I'm chatting to not just one young person but four, all from the UK Schools Sustainability Network, along with Dr Jess Tipton, head of Youth Networks at Global Action Plan, the charity who are hosting the project.The UKSSN was created in Spring 2021 as an umbrella organisation for the regional student sustainability networks that were starting up around the country. It provides students and staff with a way to connect with peers, share ideas and resources, collaborate on local, national and international initiatives, and develop personal, social and workplace skills. They have quickly become a force to be reckoned with and are actively involved in talks with the Department for Education about their review of, and plans for, climate education in schools, and had a team of representatives at COP26 in Glasgow at the end of last year. I am in absolutely in awe of these young people and their passion, eloquence, resilience and determination. At the same age, I was in no way engaged with the world in the same way that these students are - my main concern was getting home in time to watch the Home and Away/Neighbours double bill. I am hugely inspired by them, but at the same time find myself feeling guilty and so incredibly sad that this is something that is a part of their lives and their consciousness. That they have this huge, complex, terrifying issue looming over their lives, when they should be thinking about going out with their mates, studying for exams, and looking forwards to an exciting future.I'm very aware of not falling into the narrative that says "Hurray for the young people, for they will save us!", because that's not fair. It's our generation and those before us that have created this crisis, and it's very much on us to do everything we can to cut carbon and sustain a liveable planet for future generations, but I don't think you can listen to this episode and not feel inspired and hopeful that these young people are part of the conversation, and are helping to create solutions. Enjoy! LISTEN... CHECK OUT...UKSSN- Website- Twitter- IG- at COP26Global Action Plan- Transform Our World on Global Action PlanJess Tipton on TwitterJess Tipton on Linked In[098] - EcoSchools with Lee Wray-Davies[117] - Transforming Education with the Ministry of Eco Education[130] - More Climate Education Good Stuff with Paula MaloneThe Sustainable(ish) FB group DO...Share this episode with any young people you know who might be looking to connect with people on the same journey as themAsk your local school if they're aware of UKSSN and/or want to joinLet the young people you know who are engaged with climate action that you're very much with them, are supporting them, and importantly taking action to help How engaged or otherwise were you when you were younger?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! […]

I was very excited towards the end of last year asking if I would like to chat to anyone about Earthshot - a book that addresses the challenges facing the planet and that explores some of the best solutions that exist to turn the tide on the environmental crisis. Many of you might have heard of the Earthshot Prize - which is an idea that came from Prince William, to encourage innovation and funding of climate solution. Here in the UK, there has been an accompanying TV series, as well as a series on Radio 4, and there was a very glitzy 'green carpet' event to announce the winners for this year that gained lots of media coverage. The book has been co-authored by Colin Butfield and Jonnie Hughes, who are both superstars in the fields of wildlife documentary making and whose studio has produced the likes of Our Planet and A Life on our Planet with Sir David Attenborough. I jumped at the chance to chat to Jonnie, and confess I was a little starstruck to be attempting a sensible conversation with someone who regularly chats to the likes of Prince William and David Attenborough - I hope I didn't embarrass myself too much...Do have a listen, check out the book and the series, which is still on i-player (and hopefully will stay on there!). I made a point of encouraging the kids to watch this series, as I think it's so important foe them to see the hope. To see the solutions that exist and are in progress, and the army of people who are devoting their lives to finding solutions and creating a brighter future - a lot of climate programming can be overwhelming and anxiety inducing, but this was the opposite.Enjoy! LISTEN... CHECK OUT...Earthshot- The book (I've linked to it on World of Books, but it's available anywhere you can buy books, and do ask your library if they have a copy!)- Website- TV series on i-player- Radio series on BBC Radio 4- 2021 winnersStudio SilverbackThe Sustainable(ish) FB group DO...Read the book/watch the TV series/listen to the radio series, and get inspired by all the amazing projects out there!Use the book or series as a springboard for an optimistic climate conversation with friends and/or familyIf you've got kids of school age, how about suggesting a school-wide 'Earthshot Prize' competition..! Did you watch the series when it was out? 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! […]

I was delighted to finally get the chance to chat to Sophie Unwin after literally years of following each other online! Sophie is the director and founder of the Remade Network - a Glasgow based social enterprise with a mission to build a repair economy from the ground up through the creation of a  network of repair social enterprises that create jobs, tackle climate change and reduce inequality - how's that for a win, win, win!Sophie is an absolute inspiration - she's got a brilliant back story of how she came to be so passionate about reuse and repair and an amazing track record of setting up successful repair projects. Her vision for not only the Remade Network in Glasgow but also how this model could be replicated and rolled out other cities and towns is incredibly hopeful and at the same time feels totally do-able! Sophie is proving that these enterprises can be viable businesses that contribute to the local economy at the same time as tackling waste and climate change.Enjoy! LISTEN... CHECK OUT...Remade Network- Website- Facebook- Instagram- TwitterRepair CafesThe Sustainable(ish) FB group DO...Think about how you can incorporate repair and reuse into your life! Could you mend or fix the next thing that breaks?If you're lucky enough to live near any of the Remade Networks projects in Glasgow, pop along and pay them a visit!Think about what you might be able to do in your community or workplace to start the conversation around repair and reuse. Anyone else loving the idea of a repair econmony?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 more I hear about and read about 'climate education' the more I think that this is such a vital part of the jigsaw, and how we're really doing our children and young people a huge disservice by not a) educating them about the world around them and how it's changing, and b) empowering them to recognise and realise the power and agency that they have to create positive change.I've previously chatted on the podcast to Lee Wray-Davies from Eco Schools England, and to Paul Turner from the Ministry of Eco Education, and am delighted in this episode to get a chance to speak to Paula Malone. Paula wears many many hats, and is doing so much amazing stuff. She's a mum to her 6 year old daughter, a UN accredited Climate Change Teacher, she works for Energy Sparks - a schools energy education programme, is a trustee for Wicked Weather Watch - a charity that brings climate education into schools via actual Arctic explorers!, and is a governor for not one, but two schools!In this episode we chat about all of Paula's different 'hats', her experiences of bringing climate education into everyday teaching, and Paula shares lots of ideas and tips for how we might be able to support and 'nudge' any schools that we have involvement with to take climate action. Enjoy! LISTEN... CHECK OUT...Paula on TwitterEnergy SparksWicked Weather WatchUK Student Sustainability NetworkTransition NetworkThe sisters who challenged McDonalds and Burger King to ban plastic toys in Happy Meals10 year old campaigning to end plastic toys on children's magazinesChildren change their parents' minds about climate changeGlobal Action Plan - Dirt is GoodThe Sustainable(ish) FB group DO...Have a look at the Energy Sparks website - you can find schools local to you and check out their energy usage!Have a look at some of the brilliant resources on the Wicked Weather Watch website - I think that the Arctic is one of the themes in the English primary curriculum!(Gently!) ask your school what sustainability actions they are taking (and if they need any help!) How is 'Eco Education' at your/your kids school?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! […]