🌱 The Grumpy Optimists #26
6 months of The Grumpy Optimists!
Goooood morning all.
An exciting day for us at The Grumpy Optimists - we've been providing you with a weekly update for 6 months now! Not bad right?
As a bit of a back story, Will and George came up with TGO around this time last year as we sat in our childhood bedrooms wanting more than a 9-5. We wanted to share our thoughts with people willing to listen and provide a more optimistic outlook on the climate.
We love our readers (hi Mum) and we'd love to know what you'd like to read more about. We'd love to hear from you, so please leave a suggestion below.
We have big plans for the next year and we're always looking for people to help. Ella has been a fantastic addition to the team and we're excited about what we have planned. Anyway, enough of us, more of the action. 👇
Articles to Read 👀
👣 Whose responsibility is a carbon footprint? The news broke this week that the carbon footprint calculator was created by BP in 2004 to place responsibility for climate change on individuals rather than businesses. This is just one example of a company causing serious environmental damage and shifting responsibility for climate change away from itself and onto consumers.
💭 Why does this matter? This is a classic example of a big business shirking responsibility. Rather than taking the opportunity to transform the energy sector and shift to renewables, these companies invest in marketing to distract us all from the issues at hand. For example, Shell has just pledged to install 50,000 on-street EV charge points by 2025. Although this is good news for electric cars, it is likely that the energy to power these charge points will come from fossil fuels. We need something like the Montreal Protocol which banned CFCs globally and helped to heal the ozone layer. Rather than allowing business-as-usual and hoping that companies will do the right thing, we need everyone to work together to hold each other to account and take meaningful action.
🚺 Countries with more female politicians pass more ambitious climate policies. A study has found that electing female politicians can result in more stringent climate policies. Although more research is needed to better understand this connection, it's another great reason to elect female politicians and reb
🏡 Ofgem has launched a fund to help UK homes and businesses go green. Britain's energy regulator has launched a £450m fund to support innovative projects that will help the UK meet its net-zero climate targets. This is expected to contribute to the UK's ambitions to cut 68% of emissions by 2030 and 78% by 2035. The government also announced that it will offer carbon reduction workshops to businesses across the UK. The support will only last until the end of COP26 because (of course) that’s when we will have solved climate change…
Book Review - Eat Like a Fish, Bren Smith
Summary: The story of one man's journey from commercial fisherman to restorative ocean farmer, and how this could be the key to sustainable food and protecting our oceans. Part memoir, part manifesto, this book will inspire you to bring sea greens and shellfish to the centre of your plate and make you think differently about how we can restore the ocean.
In this fascinating read, Smith seamlessly combines lessons learned from years spent working as a commercial fisherman and a love for the ocean with a guide to the future of ocean farming. He addresses the complexities of the fishing industry, the challenges created by climate change, and the potential of regenerative ocean farming to change the way we farm the ocean.
One of the things we loved most about it was the way it weaves personal stories with scientific information, making it engaging at the same time as providing practical takeaways. Much like the ocean itself, the science isn't dry, there's just the right amount of information for the reader to come away much more informed and inspired about ocean farming.
We’re excited by this type of farming, as kelp and shellfish are both sustainable crops that can also be used as carbon sinks and nitrogen filters. Smith has started an organisation called GreenWave, which is building a network of ocean farms. Or, if you're keen to give it a read and learn more about this optimistic and innovative climate solution, you can nab yourself a copy here.
What can you do about climate change?
We’re back with another weekly tip to help you take easy steps to reduce your climate impact. But don’t forget, while we can all make changes as individuals, it’s not just our responsibility but big business and government too. 💚
🏦 Green your investments!
Investing can be a great way to make your money go further (especially with interest rates as low as they are). But then there's the moral dilemma - where's your money actually going? Is it being used to fund the extraction of fossil fuels? We've rounded up a few companies who are making it easier to build sustainable investment portfolios, giving you peace of mind that your money will have a positive impact on people and the planet:
⏰ Tickr (now CIRCA5000). Tickr provides an easy to use platform for sustainable investment in people and the planet. You can see what and who you are funding and support green investments. You get £15 free if you sign up using this link.
💰 Triodos Bank. Extremely ambitious, with a long-term aim to reform the banking sector entirely. Focuses on using your money to create jobs and drive green industries. In 2017, over a third of their loans supported wind, solar, and other energy-saving projects. They also donate £40 of your first £100 invested to Friends of the Earth, who have partnered with Triodos since 2007 to encourage the transition to sustainable banking.
🌷 Tulipshare. Tulipshare use the power of finance to hold big companies accountable. It’s not so proactive (it doesn't focus on supporting renewables or eco start-ups), but is more reactive/responsive - aiming to tackle Coca Cola's excessive plastic consumption, for example. It’s different to an investment account and you won’t get a return as you may elsewhere but it’s another way to channel your money into action.
That's all for now folks! Have a great week and stay optimistic.
George, Ella, and Will 💚