Coming off carbon

All developed nations have to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions now – by a factor of between three and 10 – with a very real deadline of 2050. The clock is ticking and we haven’t even started yet (emissions are still rising). Strictly speaking I suppose we don’t actually have to do anything, survival is not compulsory.

Saving the planet, of course, is a huge and daunting task. The temptation is to hold our hands out in despair and say “What difference can I make?” Or we simply wait to be regulated, (perhaps privately voting against regulation!).

But the fact is that individuals can make a difference. One person in one office can influence others. One office can influence a whole company. One company can influence a whole sector. The UK still has an opportunity to lead and prosper. What an adventure it would be to demonstrate to other countries what can be done to radically shrink our own footprint now. Now that would be leadership. (And where would overseas investment flow if the UK proved it had found the secret to eternal life?).

My advice is to start at home. Experiment with big changes in the home and then bring that new enthusiasm to the workplace.

The worst possible thing we can do is moan – and postpone doing anything for another 10 years.

What sort of person do you want to be? How would you like your clients to see you? How would you like your children to see you? Public perception and understanding about “climate chaos” has grown enormously, partly due to the BBC’s excellent recent series on the subject. What sort of people do you wish to be seen with, or seen doing business with? What if they are thinking the same as you?

I believe that any steps towards a more sustainable way of life can bring many rewards, including financial. Everyone has to find their own way. It doesn’t really matter if it’s a big step or a small step, but eventually we have to come off carbon. So why not start now?