After Spain hits record highest temperatures for April last week, questions are being asked about how we can help the environment, and more importantly live more carbon-neutral lifestyles.
Dr Jake Bicknell explored climate change with an eye on the different impacts of climate change and how we can change our patterns to better the planet in his Global Skills Award Lecture: Climate Change and You. Deconstructing the basics of climate change, explaining the greenhouse effect, temperature increase, and biodiversity loss, presenting flooding models and other projections, he presented the real issues the planet will face if we continue inaction and our current habits.
“So unfortunately, governments don’t always respond to scientists – they respond to corporate lobbyists. BUT, they also respond to votes and voters – and that’s you, and that’s me”
Dr Bicknell concluded the lecture by urging us to get ‘food smart’, being more responsible for the products we consume: he coins this the ‘climate diet minefield’. To answer this, he issued the following recommendations:
- Eat less meat and dairy, and try a plant-based diet.
- Eat in season, and reduce your food miles.
- Try renewable energy!
- Use less ‘stuff’, consider your need for consumption.
- Lobby politicians and vote for green policies.
“Recognise that we’ve just got one planet… one planet that sustains life for everybody… Shout about climate change, do what you can and let’s make a difference.”
Watch Jake’s inspiring lecture here, and start your climate-awareness journey. You can also watch his TEDx talk on ‘Why It’s Time to Protect our Precious Planet’.