Episode 10: Tools for Change, Part 2
Libby and Renée get into next-level footprint change with the 4 Decarbonista principles, an approach that has worked for both of us, even as very different people with different life circumstances and different personalities. Renée breaks down her first year reduction actions step by step, and walks us through the principles as an illustration of how this kind of change can be done strategically. She talks us through setting goals, looking at the numbers, and building a plan and sticking to it (so we don’t get all guilty or sidetracked!). Libby wonders whether weighing your compost is a good idea in all circumstances, and we discuss how planning helps us harness our energy and willpower for the critical things rather than getting caught up or stressed out by the little things we “could” be doing. We discuss how, aside from the actual reductions, a growing self-awareness and getting better at tuning into ourselves can actually become a regular outcome of carrying out a reduction plan. We also revisit the rebound effect and how it can rear its head if we don’t plan for it. Join us in this episode for the juice on how to make a robust footprint reduction plan!
In a somewhat unconventional 12-episode podcast series, a Novelist and an ex-Googler – Libby and Renée, based in Switzerland – draw on science and data as well as humanity's creativity and flawed beauty to come to terms with – and find actions to address! – our global, local and personal sustainability challenges.
Reach us anytime at sustainablemailbag@gmail.com
Shownotes
Links
Food calculators, tools and other studies to help you find bite-sized trials for your plan:
The BBC food calculator https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46459714
A study on food CO2 per 100kgs https://ourworldindata.org/environmental-impacts-of-food
The WWF Top 10 Worksheet and other calculators and data sources are available on https://decarbonista.world/tools
The Collaction pledge page Renée used for her clothing pause was found here https://www.collaction.org/crowdactions/start
An old (1994) study: Energy Implications of Glass-Container Recycling https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1340012/m2/1/high_res_d/10161731.pdf
The Decarbonista worksheet “Set Yourself up for (Reduction) Success” can be found here https://decarbonista.world/worksheets (Get it for free when you use promo code Podcast2020)
The music!
’Optimistic Life' performed by The Smithereens, used under license from Shutterstock