Making New Year’s resolutions is generally an inward experience, but what if we thought beyond self-improvement? This year, we’re encouraging you to resolve to improve the planet, too.
It’s been ten years since the Paris Agreement was signed. One of its main goals is to keep the Earth’s average temperature increase to less than 1.5°C above late 19th-century levels. However, even with governments pledging to do act – set net-zero targets and provide climate finance to lower-income countries, for example – current projections suggest we’re headed closer to 2.3–2.5°C.
Why is this my problem?
At Twyg, we don’t like to refer to people as ‘consumers’. To consume is to do away with completely, or to spend wastefully. It’s a dehumanising term that reduces people to being shoppers, resource burners… and not having agency. We prefer to be referred to as citizens, which carries a sense of belonging, agency and togetherness.
I'm already carbon conscious. (Really?)
We invite you to spend five minutes doing this carbon calculator test.
A carbon footprint is measured in carbon dioxide equivalents (CO₂e), a unit that accounts for the fact that different greenhouse gases – such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrogen oxides – have varying global warming impacts.
ClimateHero’s Carbon Calculator takes around five minutes to complete and is a friendly, accessible way to check your carbon footprint. As a car-less vegetarian who rarely shops or flies internationally, I confidently clicked ‘no’ to questions about indoor heating and air conditioning, assuming I’d fall into the Climate Friend category (2–5 tonnes CO₂e). Instead, I was labelled a Climate Consumer, with a footprint of 5.8 tonnes CO₂e.
I appreciate that ClimateHero starts by highlighting what you’re already doing well – avoiding palm oil, for example, or eating seasonal produce – before moving on to suggested improvements. Some are less realistic: Uber South Africa – which I use – doesn’t currently offer environmentally friendly ride options. If you’re a Golden Arrow Bus Services commuter, you’ll fare better than me. Cape Town recently introduced a fleet of electric powered buses. Others feel far more achievable. Eating more vegan meals (I didn’t know that reducing hard cheese consumption has a huge effect), choosing products made from wood, hemp or bamboo rather than metal, glass, plastic or cotton, and being more mindful of food waste could bring my footprint down to 4.8 tonnes CO₂e – a good start.
Twyg low-impact living guides
The Home Guide: Create an Earth-friendly home
The Kitchen & Food Guide: Cook and clean with care
The Bathroom Guide: Take stock of your beauty regime
The Wardrobe Guide: How to lower your fashion impact
The Waste Guide: Refuse, reuse and recycle
The Garden Guide: Watch how your garden grows
The Travel Guide: Holiday with peace of mind
- See all our guides here
- Feature image by Cottonbro Studio via Pexels
