Family assembly 2025

Jan 06, 2025

The Scharf (shorthand for the extended family from which 9 in UK, USA and Canada showed up) assembly took place on Zoom on 5 January 2025 four years after the original, when we pledged to reduce personal/household emissions to zero by 2030 and to work/campaign on systemic emissions and biodiversity loss. The chosen footprinting programme is on the web site and we have been varying from about 2 to over 5 planets. There has been definite progress in moving to electric vehicles (EVs now about 50%) and one London household has not replaced a car written off by a joy rider. There has been a significant reduction in meat eating (especially red meat) and we have two (plus an 18month old addition) vegetarians. In this conversation we should all aim to be “sustarians”; adapting and adopting our diet to minimize carbon emissions, protect and enhancing biodiversity (esp in fresh and salt water environments) and encouraging conviviality.

Progress has also been made at work with local authorities (Cambridge is one of the ‘greenest’ in the UK), NGOs (ie the REA) and campaigning (applying the planning system to a just transition). For example the move to EVs would only reduce overall emissions if the fossil car was scrapped or repowered. It seems that older petrol and diesel cars are being shipped to Africa where they will continue to emit carbon indefinitely.

Flying remains a problem with families congregating for weddings and enjoying grandchildren. There are many younger adults in the family with the potential of more of these reasons for aircraft emissions. At least the family understand the impacts that, ironically, are likely to have the greatest effects on these younger generations. Unfortunately there are no signs of low carbon flying - jet zero for the masses is a fantasy. We were reminded that the purpose of the ‘family assembly’ (and our pledge) was to share our knowledge and concerns in the spirit of transparency and solidarity.

A footnote to the January assembly was a request to be joined in June/July by the ‘next’ generation. A 13 year old leader would be a wonderful addition to the discussion about the future, and a vindication of the formula based on families. There is some resistance to the concentration on individual/family based action when the power to change is mostly with governments and corporations. Participating family members see this as a false dichotomy.

Another concern is the conflation of campaigns where concerned citizens and activists are seen as lumping together apparently unconnected issues. However, this should not be relied on as an excuse not to pursue either or both campaigns according to our individual choices. This family emergency assembly and web site is about climate change and biodiversity loss.