Family Climate Emergency Assembly 1 January 2023

2 x 40min zoom call with households in Montreal, London, Cambridge and Abingdon-on-Thames. The web site is averaging about 80 hits a month and 4000 pages/year. This is without any promotion or publicity, and the decline of interest probably matches the lack of actual progress in reaching both national and international carbon reduction budgets and targets.

There were a number of achievements; one less diesel replaced with an EV. Less flying. Boiler flow temperatures below the 50 degrees that represents ASHP readiness. The agreement to the installation of an AHSP in a flat. Significant increases in green advocacy and campaigning and the content of work. General feeling that progress is inadequate with limited optimism seeping in through the attitudes of some businesses (eg Natwest Bank!?) and, possibly, the younger generations. (eco-clubs and potential of further school strikes).

The other topics for discussion included, the climate impacts of under-occupation of housing, the continued reliance on air travel (despite some shift to rail), the marginal benefit of eliminating meat from low meat diets, the green claims being made by various suppliers, the efficiency of ASHPs but need for supplemental heat in low temperatures, the positive impact on the renewable industries caused by Putin’s war and fossil fuel supply policies, the anticipated impact of heating costs on mortgages, the (unaffordable) cost of achieving our agreed target of zero carbon by 2030 (esp heating and travel)…

Gradually reducing the benefits of individual and household actions focuses attention on the greater impacts that could be achieved at work, as sustainability becomes a strategic objective for employer and clients. In terms of ‘bangs for a buck’ supporting the right kind of politicians could be more effective than investments in green tech and lifestyle changes.