Happiness is matter of perspective, which I think this quote about the climate crisis exemplifies perfectly.
“I’m optimistic for the future because we haven’t even tried yet”
What a great way to interpret the depressing news that even with the new pledges made at COP26, it is now clear the world is still on a trajectory for temperature rises of between 2.4°C and 2.7°C.
Unfortunately I can’t remember where I heard the quote to credit the owner of this clever mind. If you do, please let me know.
If you want to hear about those actually trying to reduce global temps read on …..
Nothing mentioned in this article has been sponsored. It’s all just my own personal opinion. If you like your sources to remain independent then please;
share this article, or
buy me a coffee on Ko-fi, or
make a one-time donation via Paypal
Photo by Pascal Debrunner on Unsplash
Wildlife Friendly Gardening
A lovely Irish guide on creating an Autumn garden to support biodiversity
Peat made up less than 30% of compost sold to gardeners in the UK in 2021
Allotme is being billed that ‘Airbnb for gardens’. Most listing are for the UK, but I found one in Ireland!
Pesticide use in France has now been banned from private gardens, hotels, campsites, theme parks, healthcare establishments, sports facilities, and cemeteries.
A lovely article by Mullingar Shamrocks GAA Club on how they have made positive changes for the betterment of local wildlife.
And another supporting local biodiversity on church grounds from Whitechurch Parish in Rathfarnham.
Some short videos on how to save seeds and a lovely video on the work of the Irish not-for-profit Seed Savers
Listen to a podcast about the only certified organic ornamental plant nursery in Ireland
Sustainable Schools
Start the academic year on the right foot with my guide to sustainable school & college supplies
Low Carbon Transport
Numerous European countries are experimenting with free public transport, including Spain, Germany, Estonia, and Luxembourg with countries like Ireland, Italy and Austria reducing fares or introducing vouchers for lower-income workers.
Making wind powered transportation by sea a reality
Ethical Clothing
Great article on the need for a living wage in the garment industry on the RTE website
Plus a petition you can sign to make it a reality
Planet Positive Food Choices
Meat consumption has fallen by 12% in Germany in the last decade, from 63 kg per person in 2011, to 55 kg today.
M&S has removed all ‘best before’ dates from more than 300 fruit and vegetable products in a bid to reduce food waste
Interesting article on the carbon footprints of various food types
Protecting Biodiversity on Land
The US government has pledged to plant one billion trees over the next decade.
Nepal have announced that tiger numbers have more than doubled in a bit more than a decade.
Colombia has launched a $245-million initiative to support the creation, expansion, and improvement of 32 million hectares of protected areas in the next decade.
The Native Woodland Trust is able to quadruple the size of it’s nature reserve in Co Westmeath
Ulster Wildlife have doubled the size of their Slievenacloy Nature Reserve, making it as big as 480 football fields!
38,052 acres of private timberlands in Montana have become part of the Lost Trail Conservation Area
Over the past 20 years global tree cover has increased by 130.9 million hectares – an area larger than Peru. 36 countries are now gaining more trees than they’re losing, including Ireland, Poland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan.
Sussex farmers plan to rewild a nature-rich green corridor to the sea
€75,000 is granted to an Irish midlands bog restoration project
Protecting our Oceans
Non-profit organisation The Ocean Cleanup has removed more than 100,000 kg of plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
Seaclear are using robots to clean the ocean floor of plastic waste
Reducing Carbon Emissions
In response to climate change, the huge hub airport Schiphol in the Netherlands will cut the number of flights it operates from next year
Interested to know the carbon footprint of your social media habit? Here it is with a further analysis by Brightly Eco
Soot from rockets has 500 times the climate impact as soot from airplanes
Energy Conservation
Spain brings in new energy-conserving air conditioning rules
And French shops ordered to close front doors when using air conditioning
The Romanian government has published an emergency law to phase out coal by 2030, which is expected to be approved within a month
Gaming for Climate Change
Skewb is a minecraft based game that teaches about climate change
Fossil Fuel Free Finance
Also 1.7 million United Presbyterians had voted to divest from the five big oil companies.
Eco Activism
Ministers in Southern US states are working to change minds about the climate crisis
Sustainable Consumption
RepairActs are collecting 1000 stories of repair across Ireland.
My Waste’s upcycle challenge is back for 2022.
85 million cubic metres of air are shipped to UK homes each year due to over-packaging, leading to 6,000 tonnes of potentially avoidable CO2.
Eco Events
Fleadh Cheoil 2022 to host Ireland’s first sustainable and circular campsite
Sustainable Agriculture
Frustrated at the absence of a sustainable source of palm oil US company Dr Bonner creates it’s own
The EU has banned the imports of crops using two bee-killing, neonicotinoid pesticides
Till next month. In the meantime find me on Facebook or Instagram and if you want to read previous newsletters, just click the link.
Elaine
living lightly in ireland 