Yesterday, 29th July 2021, was Earth Overshoot Day, what is earth overshoot day? It is the date in the year where our demand for resources, in a single year, surpasses what earth can provide and regenerate. The Global Footprint Network hosts and calculates Earth Overshoot Day. How is it calculated? By tracking global demand for… Read the full article >
Contribution of Wildlife to Climate Change Mitigation
When we talk about nature-based carbon storage and climate change mitigation, the conversation is often focused on vegetation: forests, peatlands, seagrasses. And whilst this is for good reason (the carbon stored in all animals is less than 1% stored in plants), it is important not to discount the role that animals play in improving the… Read the full article >
World Environment Day
#GenerationRestoration Tomorrow, Saturday 5th June, is World Environment Day, so the UN are launching their decade on Ecosystem Restoration. They are calling it a “rallying call for the protection and revival of ecosystems all around the world.” The decade runs from 2021 to 2030 to coincide with the deadline for the UN Sustainable Development Goals…. Read the full article >
A small change can make a big difference…
Small alterations can cause large-scale, irreversible changes and, in the case of the climate, this can cause a dramatic shift to an entire climate system. Scientific evidence suggests that irreversible changes in the Earth’s climate systems are underway, meaning we are in a state of planetary emergency. Scientists commonly refer to ‘tipping points’ in this… Read the full article >
Keeping Carbon Locked Up: Realising the Benefits of Our Peatlands
It’s easy to dismiss the earth beneath our feet, but the soil we walk on may have potential for storing significant amounts of carbon. For example, in the UK, the peatlands have been referred to as the ‘UK’s rainforests’ as they act as an important carbon store. Peat is found in almost every country on… Read the full article >
Recognising World Wildlife Day 2021
Taking place on 3rd March 2021, UN World Wildlife Day celebrates and raises awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants. This year, World Wildlife Day will be celebrated under the theme “Forests and Livelihood: Sustaining People and Planet”, highlighting the vital role of forests and their ecosystem services in sustaining the livelihoods of millions… Read the full article >
Factors to bear in mind when doing your food shopping
There’s much more to the naked eye than our weekly food shop suggests. Each item you pick up from the supermarket has a category of packaging, has travelled several miles to be there and has consumed energy, water and potentially land on it’s journey. The following blog highlights some of the key components to consider… Read the full article >
Cyclone Eloise’s Impact on Mozambique and our Borehole Projects
Whilst we enjoy bringing you news of the positive impacts and developments of our Mozambique projects and the incredible work of our partners, Village Water and WATSAN, today we bring an update from the field at a more challenging time for the region. As always, our partners have been quick and effective in their response…. Read the full article >
The Big Energy Saving Week 2021 – how can you cut down and save money?
This week is the Big Energy Saving Week! It’s a national campaign aimed at encouraging people to switch to cheaper energy tariffs, check if they’re eligible for discounts and support, and sharing tips on how to make your home more energy efficient and save money on your bills. Switching tariffs One of the easiest ways… Read the full article >
Cumbria’s ambition to become the UK’s first carbon-neutral county
This is the exciting news that the county of Cumbria is aiming to decarbonise by 2037, with tourism, housing, transport and agriculture standing out as the focal areas to cut emissions. The UK Government has committed to achieving net zero CO2 emissions by 2050, so this announcement is a significant ramping up of ambition at… Read the full article >
CO2balance moving into 2021
Climate change is affecting every country on every continent. 2019 was the second warmest year on record, with atmospheric concentrations of CO2 projected to continue rising. Factoring in the global COVID-19 pandemic, the UN’s SDGs slogan ‘Leave No One Behind’ is more relevant than ever. The COVID-19 pandemic is the biggest economic and social crisis… Read the full article >
COP26
The UK will host the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow on the 1st – 12th of November 2021, after being delayed 12 months due to the COVID pandemic. However, the pandemic may have actually had one positive outcome. It has demonstrated the urgency… Read the full article >
The big players: What are they doing to reduce emissions?
The Paris Agreement has been a vital milestone set across nations to strengthen plans to fight climate change. With COP26 fast approaching, the UN has said action in 2020 is crucial to avert runaway global warming. So… what are the big industry players doing to reduce their carbon footprint? Apple: In July 2020, they became… Read the full article >
Lockdown emissions and the potential for a green recovery
Emission reductions caused by COVID-19 restrictions From early 2020, when lockdowns were enforced to slow the spread of COVID-19, the effects of reduced emissions were witnessed all over the world. News stories of reduced air pollution in China and clear waterways in Venice circulated the internet. One study found that during the peak of global… Read the full article >
Kilifi Community Mangrove Project Underway
Globally, mangrove deforestation occurs at a rate of 0.17% per year. This equates to roughly 24 million tonnes of CO2 lost to the atmosphere each year. To compare, Myanmar’s annual emissions are of a similar scale[1]. Mangrove ecosystems are hugely beneficial both in terms of carbon storage and the ecosystem services they provide. Mangroves provide… Read the full article >