🌱 The Grumpy Optimists #49
The effects of Storm Eunice and tips on how to keep your Friday night pints sustainable
Happy Monday folks 👋
It’s the last week of February, the days are really starting to stretch out and Spring is now firmly in our sights. At the moment it feels like time truly is flying by (along with wheelie bins, bags - and in Croydon, even people - with thanks to Storm Eunice). Jokes aside, we hope that you’ve all managed to stay safe and well over the weekend through these wild weather conditions.
Rather fittingly, this week looks at the multiplier effect that extreme weather events such as Eunice have on climate change, in which the destruction they cause actually contributes to the increasing frequency and intensity of future storms (cue, vicious cycle). We also have a great podcast recommendation for you, as well as tips on how to make your beer-drinking habits kind to the planet (which sounds almost too good to be true, thank you Brewdog).
Let us know what you think below and have a great week 👇
👀 Articles to read
🌼 University of Exeter gets £10 million for biodiversity research. The funding will go towards the University’s ‘Renewing biodiversity through a people-in-nature approach’ (RENEW) with the focus on the connection between people and biodiversity and how to embed biodiversity into finance and business.
🍃 Winter Storms have felled over 8 million trees in the UK. Climate change is causing more intense and frequent extreme weather events, which is having a destructive impact on our carbon-rich habitats. Storm Arwen alone blew down roughly 8 million trees, while the impact of Eunice is expected to be even greater. Not only does this hamper the carbon sequestration that we get from forests, but also the rich biodiversity that they host - particularly in the case of our ancient native woodlands.
🏭 Study confirms that oil companies have been greenwashing their energy transition. When it comes to Big Oil and their ‘green’ agenda, it’s usually best to take whatever they promise with a pinch of salt. Little surprise then that Exxon and the gang have been talking about their energy transitions, but with the help of PR firms, it turns out there’s little substance to their plans.
✊ Growing number of activists taking the climate crisis to the courtroom. Around the world, more activists are taking governments and big companies to court to push the agenda of the climate crisis and demand action. Have a read and see which cases we should be keeping a close eye on this year.
🍺#Treehack: getting the most eco-benefit out of your beer
Some of you may be aware that the craft brewery, Brewdog - popular amongst casual sippers, full-time beanie-toting hipsters, and everything in between - have gone carbon negative. In 2020, they bought a whole load of land in the Scottish Highlands to plant trees and restore peat. The energy, carbon emissions, and water required to produce beer are surprisingly high (although vary according to the type of beer). Therefore, as long as suitable trees species and appropriate management take place, this venture is good news!
Last year, they partnered up with the Eden Reforestation Project to launch a “Buy one get one Tree” initiative, where they plant a tree on your behalf for every pack of selected BrewDog beer you buy. You just have to pop a unique code that comes with each pack onto the scheme’s landing page. A quick tip though - some of the older QR codes on their packaging and advertising advise you to use a code inside your 4-pack cardboard box. In case you’re as confused as I was, upon finding no such code, it turns out you have to use the code at the bottom of your can (you’re welcome!)
🎙️ A podcast to check out
While we all take climate change and our urgent need to cut emissions as a given, many disagree with the politics of climate change. This podcast by The Guardian’s ‘Today in Focus’ looks at the Tory Net-Zero Scrutiny Group. The group is using the cost of living crisis as a tool to promote anti net zero policy due to its impact on the poor, something the Tories only seem to care about when it favours them.
The group is threatening to create a renewed political challenge to climate action. This podcast excellently looks at the formation of the group, what they’re campaigning for and how they will impact the UK’s progress on climate action.
That’s all from us this week folks. Stay healthy and optimistic.
The Grumpy Optimists 💚