Like everyone else, Harborough Climate Action (HCA) is starting off the New Year by thinking about how we might want to do things differently in 2023. In our regular Harborough Mail Climate Action columns during 2022 we introduced the idea of reducing your Carbon Footprint, and we are going to continue that theme into 2023 with lots more ideas and suggestions. Hopefully, you already have an idea of what your current Carbon Footprint is, and what actions your household can take to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions in various ways.
Our diagram gives a reminder of how the Carbon Footprint of a typical UK household is made up.
Remember that your aim should be to halve your Carbon Footprint by 2030 – not all that far away now! And then to get to Net Zero by 2050.
So, as you are drawing up your list of New Year’s Resolutions, here are HCA’s Top 12 suggestions to stand resolute against Climate Change – maybe you can tackle one each month throughout 2023. Full details of how to go about achieving these resolutions can be found on the HCA pages on this website
If you haven’t already done so, measure your Carbon Footprint. Draw up a list of actions you will take during 2023 to reduce it, and start planning ahead to halving it by 2030 and to get to net zero by 2050. Make sure the whole family is involved in creating your plans.
Talk to friends and neighbours about what you are planning to do and find out what has worked for them
Join the Sustainable Harborough Community and get active in one of the subgroups (e.g. Harborough Climate Action or Harborough Transport Action), and sign the Market Harborough Climate Pledge
Waste less food – buy less in the first place, use up leftovers, compost any non-cooked food waste
Eat less meat, but try to ensure that any meat you do buy is locally and sustainably produced
Buy as much seasonal and locally grown fruit and veg as you can, and think about growing your own
Use your car less, walk and cycle more, use public transport more, and plan to fly less
Get a Smart Meter, and use it to measure and monitor your energy usage
Find the best ways to ensure your home is as well insulated as it can be
Buy less ‘stuff’ - Reuse, Refill, Repurpose, Repair, Rethink, Refuse. Only Recycle as a last resort
Find ways to engage with nature, and enhance your own environment by planting a tree or leaving part of your garden to go wild
Write to your local councillors and MP, telling them how urgent it is for both local and national government to really live up to their commitment to get to Net Zero by 2050. Current pledges and policies are not going to get us there. Tell them exactly what help you need from them to enable you to get to Net Zero.
Wishing you all a Happy Green New Year!
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