The recession is bad for business, families and our lives in general as it fills us with doom and gloom but is it helping the environment?
As there is less production in the world as we buy less items as we have less money then the International Energy Agency (IEA) have completed a study recently to state that greenhouse gas emissions have fallen drastically as a result of the worlds economic recession. When added to the fact that governments are actively trying to wean us off oil then green house gasses have reduced which decreases any effect on climate change and the ozone layer.
The news is full of companies aiming to become carbon neutral which means balancing their emissions against carbon offsets in green and eco companies such as solar power. In Manchester where I live the National Grid Power company is paying for a housing associations heating system for blocks of flats to become more energy efficient and they are using this amount of carbon saved as an offset for other parts of this business which are bad for the environment. If a business saves people money in this recession and is good for the environment then it is a win win all round.
One problem is that countries have is know how to help poorer developing countries during this recession to cut green house gases and to combat global warming. Bangladesh has rising sea levels and for those of you that can afford it the Maldives and the low lying islands are also worried about this. China, parts of India and many countries in Africa are facing the desert moving into towns and cities but unless the countries have the money for defenses then it will be difficult to stop this.
Rapid economic growth in China, India and Brazil means more cars on the road and greater polluting industries but the recession will have reduced the growth but as the world economy picks up again so will there output.
To push people, businesses and governments in the right direction we need more than a recession we need a fundamental change in attitudes to usage and especially our disposable attitudes. The recessions will have affected the everyday person in the pocket who is likely to think more about re using food leftovers, driving a smaller car to save on fuel or even use public transport and cut our un necessary journeys. Instead of buying new clothes at a monthly rate will be making them last that bit longer before condemning them to the recycle bin or even selling the clothes and unwanted items as car boot sales or on ebay.
Increasingly people are growing their own food as concerns about pesticides are the increasing cost of food make it more attractive and even a family day even when looking after their pride and joy onions, carrots and potatoes. You should try using a slow cooker or one pot cooking as meals can be made extremely cheap as opposed to pre made frozen food which is quicker to cook.
The UK and USA governments are urging us to spend our way out of the recession yet when people lose jobs or suffer from ill health the welfare safety net is not always what people think it is. Im doing as I always do and save a bit month for worst case scenarios in this recession and in life and by saving you are not spending on items which have a cost to the environment and planet.
If I do have to spend I spend on green, ethical and fairtrade companies were possible as by voting with my wallet I can have a greater impact on the world around me.
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