Good news on climate change: seven stories to get you fired up about solutions

Great news hit the headlines when our new YouGov poll showed a record number of Brits want to take action on climate change. Even more impressively, we’re willing to pay more taxes to see that happen. But that’s not the only bit of good news.

In amongst the frightening headlines there are real reasons to hope, and be inspired to act. One Home’s founder Angela Terry said “I have spent over 20 years working in this field and finally there is a growing awareness of just how urgently positive change is needed.

“If you mentioned climate change in the pub or at the school gates five years ago you would no doubt create an awkward silence.

“But now instead of tumbleweed, people have more questions, they want to know more.”

Here are positive indicators we’ve spotted lately that should inspire us all to take action today.

1) Everyone’s talking about climate change

More than a third of Brits would pay more tax to fund measures to decrease our carbon

A YouGov poll conducted for One Home shows that over half of us in the UK care about climate change. 78% of us think it poses a real threat to our children, and more than a third of us would be willing to pay more tax to fund measures to decrease our carbon. These poll results show a real seed change in how we think about climate change. So we can start the conversation, and get to work.

What you can do:

• Join our Facebook group and start a conversation with other people who are also looking for ways to tackle climate change.
• Take an action from our ten top tips. Then find five friends and encourage them to do the same.

2) The UK Government gets on board

The UK government declared a climate emergency on 1 May 2019. It was the first government to do so globally.

Crucially, the government promised to accept the findings of the Climate Change Committee report which came out on 2 May. It showed that, provided we take action now, it’s possible to halt our contribution to global warming and keep the planet’s temperature at a manageable level.

As a result, Theresa May took a vital step on 12 June and committed the UK to reaching Net Zero emissions by 2050.

While it’s not great that we have to declare an emergency, this offers a real mandate to change the way we run our businesses, our homes and our infrastructure. And the good news is we have the technology already.

What you can do:

• Many local areas have said that they want to become carbon neutral by 2030. Look at what your area and representatives are saying and doing about the climate emergency.
• Join the Climate Coalition for their big event this month: The Time is Now.
• Find groups, specialists and support in your area to go green in our Resources section.

3) Wind and solar power are now cheaper than burning fossil fuels.

In June the global cost of renewable energy hit an all time low. According to research done by IRENA, this means renewables are already the cheapest form of energy in many parts of the world, and that is set to continue and spread.

What you can do:

Get to grips with the options on green energy and find out if you could benefit from switching.

4) We’ve proved we can go coal free

In May 2019, Britain powered down on coal for more than 17 days – the longest we’ve gone without burning coal for electricity since the industrial revolution. In the same month, we saw the biggest rise in green energy, with over a quarter of all UK homes being supplied by solar power for a day. We CAN live without fossil fuels, and it will save us money as well as helping to save our planet.

What you can do:  

• Join the green revolution! Find a green energy supplier and switch today.
• The cheapest energy is the energy we don’t use. Find out how insulating your house could help you save money and cut carbon.

5) The future is in safe hands

With young people like Greta Thunberg leading the vanguard against climate destruction, we can be truly proud and hopeful for the future. Rather than sitting around and waiting for adults to take action, over 1.4 million young people have joined the School Strikes for Climate globally. Events were organised in 1,400 cities in 110 countries on Friday 24 May. With the next generation so active, vocal and involved in the climate issue, there’s real hope that the future will be in safe hands.

What you can do:

Talk to your children and grandchildren about climate change. Be supportive and open to questions, and if you don’t know the answers, research them together. You’ll find information and ideas throughout the One Home website. This article also shows how to have positive and engaging conversations about climate change.

6) The UK is going electric

There are now more EV charge points than petrol stations in the UK

In comparison with diesel or petrol cars, electric vehicles (EVs) are cheaper to run, much quieter, and indisputably greener. And now, there are more EV charging points than petrol stations in the UK. Brilliant news if you were cautious to join the EV crowd for fear of running out of charge. Meanwhile, estimates predict the number of EVs on the road will be around 125 million by 2030 – that’s roughly one for everyone in Japan.

What you can do:

• Find out about the benefits of going electric for your next car.
• Get an e-bike and cut your travel costs and emissions whilst getting some of that fresh air you’re helping to create.

7) Businesses are going green

In the UK and internationally, businesses are waking up to the real benefits of going green. As climate change becomes a pressing issue for consumers, there’s no denying that it presents a great opportunity for businesses as well. Switching to green can save them money and appeals to their customers. Plus with new legislation coming in, it pays to get ahead of the curve. Supermarkets like Morrisons are doing away with plastic and using solar panels to power their distribution centres. Waitrose is trialling a “bring your own container” scheme to cut waste in its Oxford store. Clothing companies are recognising the impact of fast fashion on the environment and are looking at every aspect of their supply chain to see how it can be improved.

What you can do:

If you work for a company that could be doing more for the environment, why not take these green tips to your boss and start a conversation at work?

Communicate, Educate, Activate

We know climate change is a massive problem. And we know we have very little time to bring down our emissions so that warming is limited to 2C. And with such frightening and depressing headlines, it’s easy to become disheartened – and anxious – about global warming.

But there is so much we can do, on a personal and a national level. And now, as never before, people are talking about climate change, discussing the issues and looking for the solutions. We can all be part of that conversation. We can all be part of the solution.

Featured image: Photo by rawpixel.com from Pexels

Other images: Sam Forson from Pexels; Markus Spiske temporausch.com from Pexels, Photo by rawpixel.com from Pexels

Disclaimer

This information is provided for guidance only. Please see the full disclaimer in our terms and conditions.

Please share this article and comment on social.