sustainability
issue 008
You have to hold yourself accountable for your actions, and that’s how we’re going to protect the Earth. ~ Julia Butterfly Hill
Editorial
I used the WWF calculator to determine my carbon footprint over the last 12 months, taking into account moving across the world, the return flight for Christmas, all the new furniture purchases and living in a country powered by its oil reserves. The UK national average is between 10 and 15 tonnes; the world average is around 5 tonnes; mine was 25.9.
I cried.
I like to think I’m environmentally-conscious, eco-friendly, and helping to make the world a better place, but how can I be when I’m that blase about travel, about the impact of my purchasing decisions and ultra-convenient lifestyle? 51 percent of my 25.9 tonnes came from travel: that’s the international flights and petrol-guzzling 4x4 I drive. When I bought my car, I was more concerned with having a large enough vehicle to feel safe in the pretty crazy traffic of the United Arab Emirates - I genuinely didn’t consider its fuel economy. Petrol out here is so cheap so it’s not a problem, right?
That thoughtlessness extends to my living situation. We are fortunate enough to have the majority of our bills covered by our housing allowance and living in a flat means we benefit from centralised air conditioning: so we don’t need to worry about switching off the lights or staying on top of our AC usage. The WWF calculator was quick to inform me that my home energy use equated to the emissions of three small cars based on average UK annual emissions.
The only area I did okay in was food consumption (which I’ve never been able to say before!) but that’s not because I’ve been eco-conscious. The majority of fresh food out here is imported, particularly fruit and vegetables, which makes them too expensive to purchase regularly. A punnet of blueberries will set me back around £7 which is not sustainable for my wallet; so frozen and locally-grown reign supreme in our shopping basket. Hooray?
The calculator didn’t even ask about plastic bag usage (one bag per item out here!) or the disposable convenience of the takeaway coffee cup (guilty, so guilty). I shudder to think what a more accurate carbon footprint would look like.
This edition, we’re talking sustainability and for good reason. While a large carbon footprint may be shocking, it’s made worse by the fact that my husband’s would be practically identical; I’m part of a huge expat community with similar if not worse footprints; and everyday more people join the ranks of international travellers, holidaymakers, and expatriates. Fast fashion dominates; food waste is astronomical and plastic is inescapable.
We are at a climate tipping point and our piece on climate change covers the dire situation in which we find ourselves. There are some scary articles in this edition, but it’s not all doom and gloom. Women like Doua Ben are taking the initiative and leading the way in the Zero Waste lifestyle in the UAE; #trashtag is the latest internet craze that’s actually making the world a better place; and people everywhere are beginning to rise up.
Change can happen but we need to act fast. It’s time to change the world.
To our contributors, thank you. To our readers, enjoy. ■
Jade Sterling
the facts
The truth about climate change
The fact that climate change is threatening life on Earth is not news. What is news? We have until 2030 to prevent an irrevocable worsening of global warming and its impact on the planet.
climate changing apathy
Climate change seeps into everything we do and if we don’t do something radically different, it’s not going anywhere.
Cocoa is the perfect example of the need for sustainability
In much the same way as plastic straws, the onus needs to be on companies to practice sustainable and responsible production, rather than on consumers to cut down. Every little helps from the individual, but attention needs to focus on suppliers.
Nutrient deficiencies on the rise as carbon dioxide levels climb
Increased carbon dioxide levels are contributing to nutritionally inferior crops such as rice and wheat, potentially leading to nutrient deficient populations.
the hope
Change one thing right now
We can put the brakes on climate change but we all need to start now. Eight super easy things you can do right this second to help change the world.
living the zero waste lifestyle
by Doua Ben
It’s about living entirely waste-free: free of plastic, free of chemicals and simply a more sustainable and healthier lifestyle than the one a lot of us are sadly used to.
#trashtag
We’ve all done stupid things in the name of a good viral hashtag. Remember the Ice Bucket Challenge? Or planking? How about changing the world instead?
The ozone layer is back
In 1994, the United Nations General Assembly designated 16 September as International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, commemorating the date the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was signed in 1987. Thirty years after the protocol was signed, the hole in the ozone layer is closing—so do we still need to worry about it?
the great green wall of africa
The Great Wall of China was built over a thousand years to ward off nomadic raiders—the Great Green Wall of Africa stands to repel an enemy far more pernicious.
Want to write for us?
If you’ve got a story, we want to hear it!
the questions
Why can’t we just cover the Sahara with solar panels?
The energy needs of the world could be met by just covering 1.2 percent of the Sahara desert in solar panels. So why haven’t we?
Why are we all fixating on plastic straws?
Single-use plastic is now undoubtedly passé and plastic straws are the latest disposable commodity to find themselves in the firing line.
Paper towels or hand dryers: what's more eco-friendly?
Both hand dryers and paper towels carry an environmental cost, but if you don’t want to wipe your hands on your clothes, you’ll have to make a choice: which option will dry your hands greener?
Is Zero Waste sustainable?
Reducing waste is crucial for living more sustainably, but we have to question the longevity of the zero waste movement because zero waste does not automatically mean sustainable.
Who's buying ivory?
Making ivory socially unacceptable is the only way to stop poaching
Saving the planet with meatless Monday?
As people look for the easiest ways to reduce their environmental impact, many are learning that eating less meat could be the answer. Right?
the future
Sustainability: a match made in fashion
Fashion is not frivolous. It is a multitrillion dollar global industry directly and indirectly responsible for half a billion livelihoods around the world. These livelihoods are literally dictated by your purchasing power; choosing sustainable and ethical fashion means women globally will no longer need to spend all day slaving and still be unable to feed their families.
We couldn’t live without GMO and we wouldn’t want to
There are few acronyms around the world that we all know immediately and GMO is one of them. This is likely due to the constant stream of media attention genetically modified organisms attract: some people say they’re harmful, some people think they’ll help us feed an exploding population. Strangely, people’s viewpoints seem cemented and based not on fact but emotion.
The solution to global warming is right under our feet
We are at the most critical point for climate change now: we have to combat this threat to humanity’s security. We have the solution ready to go and it’s time to insist on change.
Touring an audacious future in the UAE
In a land—and indeed, a region—dominated by cities built on oil wealth, Masdar City is a breath of fresh air.
coming soon
Issue 009 - Flourish
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