SUSTAINABLE RESOLUTIONS FOR 2010

I would be amazed if there is any reader of this blog whose footprint on this planet doesn't need to be made lighter, to help the global community to limit global warming to 2C above pre-industrial temperatures. If anyone reading this is confident that their current footprint is sustainable, I hope that you will get in touch. I'm sure that all readers would like to learn from you.

I know that I should do more to reduce my greenhouse gas emissions and the following is my plan for 2010.

I will keep things simple, focussing on three words which remind me where I should concentrate my efforts: BALANCE, CLUTTER and WASTE, listed in alphabetical order as I'm unclear, so far, of their priorities; perhaps that will become clear during the year.

WASTE
Taking the last first: the need to reduce waste is obvious, but we may need to spend a bit of time recognising what is waste. It is easy to persuade ourselves that by putting bottles, cans and paper in a recycling bin and sending leftover food to a Biodigester, we are avoiding waste.

Recycling involves considerable greenhouse gas emissions: could any of the items be reused (as containers for something else, as scrap paper, as insulation, as anything else?) or should we have planned ahead to avoid buying them (bottled water, canned drinks, tinned food)?

Planning ahead is also important in avoiding food waste, which is far more significant for both our household budgets and limiting global warming than the benefits of anaerobic digestion over landfill.

Giving cast off clothing and other items to jumble sales and charity shops may not seem like waste, but did we really need new items?

CLUTTER
I don't expect that I am alone in my need to reduce clutter, though I realise that the clutter in our house is a more severe problem than is usual. Living amongst clutter wastes time in so many ways, and also makes my footprint heavier as I sometimes buy new, small items and then find that I had one (or even more) already...

Each day I intend to ask myself if I have done anything to reduce my clutter and, if not, what I can do tomorrow. This is likely to include visits to charity shops - with a large rucksack or our bicycle trailer.

BALANCE
Balance is necessary for sustainability, not only for the survival of the planet but also for personal survival to avoid becoming a drain on the overstretched NHS and a burden on our friends and relatives.

For the planet I might balance an occasional helping of meat with some vegan meals, or buying new shoes that I didn't really need with teaching people how to crochet decorative patches on moth holes or worn cuffs, to prolong the life of much loved garments.

For my personal survival, a good balance is needed for physical and mental health. I need to balance:
> working for others and doing things for my household, my family and myself;
> activities requiring sitting still, concentrating hard and physical activities;
> strenuous activities, both physical and mental, and relaxing activities.

If my guidelines are not what you were looking for, and you need a useful checklist, try the FoE website.

If you have any suggestions for resolutions for 2010, please add a comment.