At a recent workshop on how to engage the public around climate change, we asked participants to name the climate policies they found most exciting. Here’s what they said:
Note: Our collated responses mostly focus on policies in the UK. For an inspiring global list, check out 100 climate policy breakthroughs.
1. Banning peat products by 2024 🧱
Peat, the dense mud-like substance found in bogs, is a slow-forming yet super-efficient carbon sink. When it is dug up for fuel or compost, it releases huge amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
__Learn more: __ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/may/18/sales-of-peat-compost-to-gardeners-to-be-banned-from-2024
__ 2. Net-zero public institutions 🏢__
The Environment Agency and the National Health Service both set out detailed plans to reach net-zero emissions by 2025 and 2040 respectively.
Learn more: https://www.england.nhs.uk/greenernhs/a-net-zero-nhs/#:~:text=Our%20aim%20is%20to%20be,We%20have%20set%20two%20targets%3A&text=For%20the%20emissions%20we%20can,reduction%20by%202036%20to%202039 and https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/environment-agency-ea2025-creating-a-better-place/environment-agency-ea2025-creating-a-better-place
3. Women’s economic empowerment and climate change (COP26) 🦸
Women’s economic and empowerment can go hand-in-hand, says this WOW report ahead of the COP26 climate summit.
__Learn more: __ https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/980912/Guidance3-WEE-Climate-Change-Primer.pdf
4. Climate change litigation databases ⚖️
Climate activists are winning several landmark rulings on climate justice. Litigation databases help to coordinate and disseminate these wins.
Learn more: http://climatecasechart.com/climate-change-litigation/
5. The ‘20-minute city’ boosts localism! 🚴
Championed by the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, the 20-minute city aims to bring all of one’s needs within walking distance from home.
Learn more: https://www.tcpa.org.uk/the-20-minute-neighbourhood
6. Retrofitting homes to be energy efficient 🏡
Improving energy efficiency in houses is a vital step towards reducing emissions and lowering bills.
__Learn more: __ https://green-alliance.org.uk/resources/reinventing_retrofit.pdf
7. Industrial decarbonisation in 'geo-clusters' 🏗️
A strategy to work closely with specific industries aims to coordinate and amplify their decarbonisation efforts.
8. Recycling carbon pricing revenues into further GHG reduction actions 📈
Carbon pricing aims to ascribe an economic value to carbon emissions. A vital step in this process is to recycle revenues from carbon pricing into measures that will help decarbonise the economy.
Learn more: https://www.genfound.org/media/1657/carbon-revenue-recycling-final-paper-december-2018.pdf
9. City-level composting ♻️
Mountains of food waste can become a ripe source for fertiliser or energy production. Cities like San Francisco and New York are making ambitious plans to divert food waste away from landfill.
__Learn more: __ https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/130618-food-waste-composting-nyc-san-francisco
10. Scottish Government: reduce car journeys by 20% 🚗
Many governments are supporting the transition towards electric vehicles. The Scottish government has taken on the more ambitious goal of phasing out motoring in general.
(Picture Credit: Pexels)
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