January 2019 Newsletter

Wishing you a Happy and Sustainable New Year!

Have you considered making a green resolution or two this New Year? Oxford Together on Climate Change are aiming to get 10,000 actions for the climate from across the county. They said: "We know that thousands of people across Oxfordshire are worried about climate change. OXToCC invite you to play your part in doing something about it." Four key areas have been identified for individual action - the food we eat, transport choices, how we use our money and 'making change happen'. Click on the links in the text to explore options and register your changes. A few of the ideas include:
2019 Happy New Year

* Choose a journey you make regularly by car to switch to using public transport, walking or cycling. Here are two bus maps: Oxford Bus Company, Stagecoach, and details of season tickets: Stagecoach, Oxford Bus Company. Note that the two companies have separate tickets.
* Add another meat-free day to your week. Meat production is responsible for 18% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions.
* Switch your electricity and gas to a green energy supplier.
* Plan a holiday using trains rather than planes.
* Switch to a bank which invests positively in sustainable projects.
* Buy locally grown veg through a box scheme or farmers' market.
* Try oat or nut-based milk for a week.

Here's a climate change food calculator, where you can compare the carbon footprint of different foods.

In The Mix in January:

Sat 5th Repair Cafe

Sun 6th Scoop - dried food refills

Mon 7th Poetry at The Mix (evening course, 6 sessions)

Wed 9th Mindfulness meet-up

Sat 12th Pallet DIY workshop

Tues 15th Build your resilience toolkit (evening course, 5 sessions)

Wed 16th French conversation and coffee

Sat 19th Mosaic workshop

Sun 20th Fabric book covers

Sat 26th Silver jewellery workshop

Wed 30th French conversation and coffee (am) and Green Drinks (pm)

Thurs 31st Crochet for beginners (evening course, 5 sessions)

At January's Green Drinks we'll be discussing fracking with Mike Landy: The government is pushing hard to facilitate fracking despite widespread opposition. Mike will explain the background to the government's enthusiasm, review the environmental concerns and explain the current status of fracking development in the UK. Mike Landy has spent over 30 years working in the energy sector, mostly on renewable energy. He managed Sustainable Wantage’s solar PV discount scheme in 2011/12 and is a guide for the Westmill Sustainable Energy Trust.
Rachel, John-Paul and Boost refilling their bottle

We'd be very happy to have your wrapping paper tubes for the resource bank!

The Mix Refills 1000 Bottles!

Thank you to everyone who has been refilling their bottles at The Mix - we refilled our 1,000th bottle last month! Here are Rachel, John-Paul and Boost picking up their laundry liquid.

For more info or to book on any of the courses or workshops at The Mix, email Jo, call 07768 767787, or visit the Mix website.

What is a 'balance point temperature'?

When did you turn on your heating? October? November? Not yet? You might think this is simply a measure of how macho/green/poor you are, but in fact different buildings respond differently to cold weather.

The balance point temperature is the outdoor air temperature when a building's heat losses are equal to its heat gains for a given internal temperature. Below this temperature you might consider supplementary heating.

Energy gains and losses through building The building will gain heat from the sun, people, cooking, fridges and other electrical appliances. How quickly that heat is lost depends on the level of insulation. While some homes will feel chilly if the temperature dips below 14C outside, others remain warm down to 9C or lower, depending on the rate that heat is lost and gained. If you'd like to see this explained in graph form, click here.

Some super-insulated buildings need little or no heating, even in the coldest weather. The Mall of America in Minnesota has no central heating, in a state with average temperatures below freezing for four months of the year. It maintains a temperature of 21C through passive solar energy, body heat, and the heat from store fixtures.

To find out more about insulation visit the Energy Saving Trust. Any tenant or their representatives asking for their landlord's consent to make reasonable energy efficiency improvements cannot legally be refused.

Christmas Tree Recycling

If you bought a fir tree this year, then the carbon footprint of the tree will be a whopping five times greater if you send it to landfill, due to the methane released when it rots. Fortunately the Vale recycles Christmas trees. The trees are cut down, composted and used by local farmers.

Brown bin customers can put their trees out on brown bin collection days during January. Please place it next to the bin not inside it. Trees larger than 6 feet tall must be cut down. There are also various collection points, including Charlton Park Garden Centre, and Buckland and East Challow village halls - click here for further details.

Cafe Scientifique
Hydrotropia - A Post-Fossil Fuel Sustainable Energy System?
Welcome to the Future
Talk by Kevin Fothergill
Tues 8th January
7:30 (doors 7pm).
The Beacon Cafe, Portway, Wantage, OX12 9BX.

Fast forward to 2119. What will our energy system look like? Can we have a clean and sustainable energy system that is not based on fossil fuels? What might it look and feel like? Will we be better or worse off? There is no certain answer to these questions but Kevin Fothergill, chair of the Hydrogen Hub, will explore how emerging technologies could give us a clean, highly sustainable and more equitable energy system for heat, power and transport and how Oxfordshire could lead the way.
Entrance limited to seating capacity.

Katowice Climate Talks

Crucial UN talks about the climate went over time in order to reach agreement last month. They were discussing the implementation of the Paris climate deal, which will become operational in 2020. The result is a 'Rulebook' agreed by 196 states, which sets out how countries will declare their climate actions: reducing carbon emissions, implementing adaptation measures, and providing financial support for climate action in developing countries.

The UN’s Climate Chief, Ms. Patricia Espinosa said: “This is an excellent achievement! The multilateral system has delivered a solid result. This is a roadmap for the international community to decisively address climate change”.

The United States agreed to the deal despite President Trump’s vow to abandon the Paris Agreement (from which the US cannot formally withdraw until late 2020).

Dodo by Frederick William Frohawk It is notoriously difficult to reach agreement between so many countries, and although the summit could be considered a diplomatic success, plans do not yet go far enough to avoid huge risks. David Attenborough warned leaders at the start of the summit that “If we don’t take action, the collapse of our civilisations and the extinction of much of the natural world is on the horizon.”

In 2018, extreme weather events linked to climate change cost thousands of lives and caused huge damage throughout the world. Ten events cost more than $1bn each, with Hurricane Florence costing around $17bn and Hurricane Michael $15bn.

Risks of 'domino effect' of tipping points greater than thought. A recent study found that 45% of all potential environmental collapses are interrelated and could amplify one another, increasing the risks. Tipping points are increasingly accepted as an explanation for climate changes that are happening with more speed and ferocity than earlier computer models predicted. The loss of coral reefs and Arctic sea ice may already be past the point of no return.

This is too important to leave to political leaders - we need individuals, organisations, local councils, businesses and institutions all to play their part. Many made new pledges at the summit. Young people were also making their voices heard, with 15-year-old Swedish student Greta Thunberg holding daily press conferences. Her message was clear: "We cannot solve a crisis without treating it as a crisis." You can watch Greta's speech and her powerful TED talk, by following the hyperlinks.

If this all feels too much to cope with, you're not alone. You may be suffering from what experts are now calling 'climate grief'. Dr. Lise van Susteren, a psychiatrist in Washington and co-founder of the Climate Psychiatry Alliance, said it’s becoming harder for people to ignore the threats of climate change. “For a long time we were able to hold ourselves at a distance, listening to data and not being affected emotionally,” she said. “But it’s not just a science abstraction anymore. I’m increasingly seeing people who are in despair, and even panic."

One possible way forward is an approach used by the Good Grief Network, which runs 10-step programmes in the USA to help people deal with collective grief on issues that affect a whole society. The steps encourage participants to confront their climate fears and sadness, acknowledge that they are part of the problem but also to find the motivation and strength to be part of the solution.

In Brief

Luxembourg to make all public transport free. In a move to combat air pollution, traffic congestion and climate change, all fares on trains, trams and buses in the country will be lifted next summer. At present fares are capped at a low level: €2 for up to two hours of travel, which in the small nation (about the size of Oxfordshire) covers almost any journey.

Extinction Rebellion logo

Since its launch two months ago, Extinction Rebellion has now gone global, with groups in 35 countries, and many UK towns including Oxford, Swindon and Reading. 100 academics, authors, politicians and campaigers signed an open letter last month, calling for swift action to prevent environmental catastrophe, with names including Rowan Williams, Noam Chomsky, Philip Pullman and Vandana Shiva. The letter states: “We must collectively do whatever’s necessary non-violently, to persuade politicians and business leaders to relinquish their complacency and denial”.

Climate emergency

Several UK towns have now 'declared a climate emergency', including Bristol and London. The thinking behind this is that people are great at responding in an emergency, and the sooner this is recognised as an emergency the more likely it is that the necessary action will be taken. This petition calls on the UK government to do the same.

Oxford schoolgirl ditches classes to fight for the climate. 13-year-old Ava Rourke went on 'school strike' at Oxford Town Hall, because she wants the UK to be more proactive in protecting the world by ensuring the county cuts carbon emissions.

SHARE Oxford is creating a new 'library of things'. The aim is to have items such as tools, games and camp beds available for loan, so that people won't need to buy them. This is a simple way to reduce the environmental impact of production, simply by allowing more people to use the same item. They are currently building up their stock in preparation to launch early this year. If you are having a clear-out here's a list of items they'd particularly like.

New solar households expected to give away electricity for free Officials have confirmed that anyone who adds solar from April 2019 will not be paid for the electricity they export to the grid, although this will hopefully be temporary. The abolition of the 'export tariff' will not affect the 800,000 homes that have already installed panels. The government is likely to announce a market-based replacement to the tariff, but there is expected to be a gap before this is introduced. The Solar Trade Association said it was wrong to end the tariff before setting out new plans. 90% of people responding to a consultation opposed the changes.

Smart ships using bubbles to save fuel. The shipping industry currently emits around a billion tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. By using air bubbles as a lubricant, and rotating cylinders to create a pressure difference which helps drive the ships forwards, smart ships could make fuel savings of around 15%.

Green motor racing? Formula E has been developed with sustainability in mind, using renewable electricity to power the cars, and recyclable tyres. In 2014, the top speed of the cars was about 140mph, but this season they will be able to reach almost 180mph. Spectators are encouraged to use public transport to get to events.

Crisp Packet Recycling. TerraCycle and Walkers crisps have launched a new recycling scheme for crisp packets. Our nearest drop off points at present are in Oxford, Bampton and Aldbourne (near Marlborough).

Out and About in January

Ramblers walks this month include a 6 mile walk starting in the town centre on 17th, a 10 mile walk starting in Charney Bassett on 20th, six mile walk from Court Hill on 26th, and one from Grove on 29th.

Wed 9th - Greenham Common Bird Walk, Newbury.

Sun 13th - Wassail, Thatcham.

Fri 18th - What Now for Climate Justice? After the International Climate Conference in December. Speakers Layla Moran MP for Oxford West and Abingdon and Myles Allen, Head of Climate Dynamics, University of Oxford. Oxford OX2.

Green Drinks Sustainable Wantage Social

Wed 30th January
Discussing fracking with Mike Landy
7:30pm - 9pm in The Mix, Mill Street
Bring your own tipple. All welcome.

Sustainable Wantage

www.sustainablewantage.org.uk

Images: 2019 Happy New Year by Dorothe on pxhere; Rachel, John-Paul and Boost refilling the 1,000th bottle at The Mix, photo by Gareth Evans; question mark by Innovate Impact Media on Flickr; Energy gains and losses through building by Rowinit on Wikimedia Commons; Christmas tree recycling by Ruff tuff cream puff on Wikimedia Commons; Roadsign Future Way by mykedaigadget on Pixabay; Glacier Sunset Melt Iceberg Climate Change by Max Pixel; Dodo By Frederick William Frohawk (16 July 1861 - 10 December 1946), an English zoological artist and lepidopterist. - Extinct birds : an attempt to unite in one volume a short account of those birds which have become extinct in historical times : that is, within the last six or seven hundred years : to which are added a few which still exist, but are on the verge of extinction. By Lionel Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild (8 February 1868 – 27 August 1937). (https://archive.org/stream/extinctbirdsatte00roth#page/n327/mode/2up), Public Domain; Luxembourg tram at Rout Bréck-Pafendall by Metrophil on Wikimedia Commons; Extinction Rebellion placard from Wikimedia Commons; Climate Emergency by Takver on Flickr; Solar panel array roof home by skeeze on Pixabay; Nico Rosberg Formula E Gen2 Racing Car by KAgamemnon on Wikimedia Commons; Crisp packet by Allen Watkin on Flickr; Cup png image with transparent background from pngimg.com.