The big picture
What is it all about? Why do I need to be concerned about climate change?
The big picture: To limit the effects of climate change, globally we’re aiming to stop the temperature of the Earth going higher than the 1.5C it has already risen.
To achieve this, we need to cut our carbon footprint in half by 2030, and in half again by 2040. These might seem unimaginable or unquantifiable numbers if you’re at the start of your climate journey, but Greener and Cleaner is here to help you break this down and find manageable actions that suit you, your family, your household – and even your workplace if you want!
What can you do?
The only effective way to limit the impact of climate change is to minimise carbon dioxide (CO2) production. As individuals, if we are seriously concerned for the lives of ourselves, our children and our grandchildren, there is much we can do:
Cutting your carbon footprint
Your carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide and methane) that are generated by your actions.
There are some simple and free online calculators that can help you work out what your starting carbon footprint is.
Once you know what your carbon footprint is, you can work to reduce it.
There are simple changes you can make, along with more complex ones. Greener and Cleaner is here to support all the changes you want to make. Browse through our website for ways to get greener and join our dedicated Facebook group Greener & Cleaner Bromley (& Beyond) for informal tips, advice and support from others on their journey to a greener and cleaner life.
If you’d like more help with your carbon footprint you can also book our Carbon Literacy training. A real eye-opener, Carbon Literacy training dramatically opens up the discussion around why it’s so important and what it really means.
Make changes now
Some of the key things you can do include:
- Reduce, reuse, recycle.
- Going plastic free.
- Going car-free or adopting active travel where possible.
- Reducing the number of flights you take.
- Cut down on eating meat – especially red meat. Vegetable diets save money too!
- Growing your own vegetables. Buying locally produced food.
- Consuming fewer manufactured goods and less processed food. Buying new only when necessary. Buying second-hand.
- Spreading the word. Lobby. Protest.
- Limiting family size – having one less child can reduce our carbon impact enormously.
How is it possible to do that? What other changes can I make to live a greener and cleaner life? Find ideas, tips and advice in our get greener section, broken down by areas of your lifestyle and home.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Central to our ethos are the principles of reduce, reuse, recycle.
Above all we need to reduce our consumption and we need to eliminate our reliance on single use plastics. We need to think more about what we can reuse; and we need to improve what can be recycled and what we actually recycle. There are many simple actions you can take to get greener, and we’re here to help you find what works best for you. We are a no-judgement zone.
Big picture concepts
We know first-hand that eco-anxiety and worrying about where to start can be overwhelming. Throughout this section of the website we hope to guide you on your greener and cleaner journey; whether you are just starting out, looking for specific tips or just unsure where to go next.
Two of the most important considerations when working to live a greener lifestyle are:
- Understanding and reducing your carbon footprint
- Adopting a reduce, reuse, recycle approach to your lifestyle choices.
What does the future hold?
We envision a world with less carbon emissions and we want you to help us get there.
We’re a friendly bunch, coming together to share knowledge advice and tips on ways we can make positive and proactive changes to reduce our environmental impact.
Three ways you can start:
- Read more about us and the work we do.
- Visit The Hub in person for tailored advice about what changes might suit you at home or at work.
- Browse the Get Greener section of this site for areas of interest to you.
