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This is a bad idea: Private and private flying are major contributors to global carbon emissions.Cover Images/Zuma Press
This story was first published by the Guardian and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration.
Research showsThat people in wealthier, high-consuming countries can help avert climate breakdown by making six relatively straightforward lifestyle changes, creating a society of “less stuff and more joy.”
Experts say if enacted these “shifts” would account for a quarter of the required emissions reductions needed to keep the global heating down to 1.5 C and increase pressure on government and the private sector to make the necessary far-reaching systemic change.
The research inspired Jump campaignIt encourages people to sign up to make these changes. Tom Bailey, one its co-founders, stated that if the idea of making all six shifts too difficult, you can start with a few of them to make a difference.
1. Quit e-wasting
Keep electronic products—smartphones, personal computers, smartwatches, and TVs—for at least seven years. “The addiction to gadgets and buying ‘stuff’ in general is a major contributor to carbon emissions,” according to the report.
The study shows that the extraction of rare earth metals and the production of ever more products can often produce more emissions than the actual use of the items. For example, only 13 percent of an iPhone 11’s lifetime emissions are down to its use; the other 86 percent are associated with its production, transport and end-of-life processing.
“We typically replace these products for an upgraded model at least every couple of years,” says Bailey. “The target is to keep electronic products for five to seven years—their full optimum lifetime.”
He says people should try repairing equipment, borrowing, renting or buying second hand, adding: “If you really need something then keep new items to a minimum.”
2. If possible, get rid of private cars
Many people have grown used to owning cars. For some, their car is essential for work or for disabled people or those who live in remote areas.
The research shows that car ownership is a major driver of huge greenhouse gas emissions. Globally, transportation is responsible for around 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions. More than two-thirds of these emissions come from engines of motor vehicles.
Campaigners are calling on those who can to stop using private vehicles—ideally getting rid of any they own—and to turn instead to public transport, walking, cycling, or carpools. “If you were planning on buying a car, see if you can hold off and find alternatives which can get you where you need to go,” said Bailey. “If you are feeling brave, get rid of the car/s you have, or see if you can join a car-sharing scheme to share the benefit—and the emissions.”
The study says that although there is a lot of emphasis on the role of electric vehicles in tackling climate change, a bigger effort needs to go towards reducing the number of cars on the road overall as a significant source of emissions is in the manufacture of vehicles—even EVs.
3. Dress retro
The clothing and textiles industry is responsible for more greenhouse gases emissions than international shipping and international aviation combined. The rise of fast, disposable fashion is fueling this trend. “Lower prices often means poorer quality clothes that don’t last as long,” Bailey said. “But these low prices have also resulted from unseen human and environmental costs such as pollution of rivers, poor working conditions, low wages and exploitation of workers in factories.”
Campaigners are therefore urging people to buy second hand, repair or adjust existing items and restrict purchases to three items a year—ideally ones that are durable and will last.
Bailey said: “These clothes might be more expensive, but it is worth considering the cost per wear. If it will last three times as long but is only double the price, that’s a financial saving over the lifetime of the item and better for the environment too.”
4. Get greener
More than 25 percent of total global emissions come from the food system and today’s research shows there are three changes to diet that would dramatically reduce the impact of the food we eat:
- Switch to a mostly plant-based diet.
- You should eat everything you buy.
- Consume healthy quantities
Bailey said: “Changing our behaviors around food is the most impactful of all the shifts. And it’s not just about climate change; if you look at biodiversity loss, land use change, fertilizers in the ocean creating dead zones and the massive extinction and loss of insects due to pesticides, these problems are all driven by food.
5. Fly less often
Globally, aviation contributes about 2 percent to global emissions. This figure is rising faster than any other transport mode. The inequality of flying is also high: Only 15% of the population take 70 percent of all flights in the UK.
The global average number of flights per individual in 2017 was one short-haul roundtrip every one to a half year, according to the research. Experts say halving this number—committing to one short-haul round trip every three years or one long-haul round trip every eight years—would have a huge impact.
Bailey said: “We can still see the world: flying abroad 15 to 20 times over a lifetime, or travelling more slowly overland to different places. But we must be realistic about how weekend city breaks abroad can impact our lives. Why not visit all the incredible places we have closer to home?”
The report recommends choosing holiday destinations that are closer to home, which you can reach by train, ferry, or bus. It also recommends using technology such as video calling to stay in touch with loved ones.
6. Fight for the power
The actions outlined above can lead to huge reductions in global emissions—25 percent of that required to keep to 1.5 C of warming—but the research is also clear that the bulk of reductions will come from systemic change made by governments and the private sector. Campaigners call for people to make at most one change in their lives to help transform the system. Some ideas include:
- Switching to green energy suppliers
- If you have the funds, heat pumps and insulation can be installed in your home to improve energy efficiency.
- Shifting assets to green investments
- Use ethical and green banks
- Energy efficiency at home
- Activists, peaceful protestors and those who write to their representatives can push for change.
Bailey says: “This shift is different to the others because the research doesn’t imply that individuals are responsible for changing global systems. However, we know that personal shifts to our own lives can, collectively, have a massive impact.”
