THE FIRST STEP

My first blog was about why "lighter footprints" are so important. If we make our footprints "lighter" we can stop the climate reaching the tipping point, of no return, that would end the Earth's ability to provide fresh water and food for all of us. This is not inevitable - yet - but we need to act while we still can.

So what do I mean by "lighter footprints"? In simple terms, I mean making less of an impact on the Earth's finite resources in our daily lives, using less oil and other fuels that cause a build-up of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that affect the climate.
Just like good intentions to lose body weight, it is very important to avoid going on a crash diet, denying ourselves so many items that have seemed vital to us, or give us pleasure, that we give up, succumb to temptation and then binge. We need to change our lifestyle gradually, sustainably. The first change is just to pause before we act and consider alternative actions.

We have been advised to "recycle" for a long time. That message has now expanded to "reduce, reuse, recycle". It needs to be expanded even further:
"refuse, reduce, reuse, repair, recycle".
We should only recycle things that we have not been able to reuse or repair.

Just pause and consider "refuse". For example this is about

• not buying a new car / TV / kettle / whatever, when the items you have still work, because your friends are so pleased with their new purchases;
• saying no to requests for trendy, flimsy, plastic toys with batteries and choosing something that you will enjoy playing with, with your child;
• saying no to excessively packaged fruit and vegetables, air freighted from overseas, and choosing loose items, grown nearer home;
• saying no to plastic carrier bags in shops - take reusable bags with you;
• saying no to a suggested visit to a restaurant which you know serves large quantities of meat with uninteresting vegetables. Choose one that serves a variety of tasty food which uses little or no animal products.

You may be surprised by the last example, which is not directly linked to the Earth's finite resources and carbon dioxide. However animal husbandry produces methane which is 21 times more powerful a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, see the EarthSave report.

I am sure that you can provide other instances where, in future, you might pause and say no, and walk away cheerfully with lighter footprints. If you would like to pass on your tips, please add a comment.