Monday 31st August

Note: This is the last day of my journal. I will be sad to finish. But really this is just the beginning. Now to put what I have learnt into action…

I wanted to get an in depth feel for what a net carbon zero lifestyle might look like. In order to do this, I felt it was necessary to model it as part of my daily life.

Why is the real life context so important? Because the real world is an unknown. This project changed a lot of my assumptions. It proved to me that assumptions can be dangerously off the mark Especially when clichés become embedded in climate culture. Real life is a bit different.  

If an intervention is a ‘seed’ then the context is the ‘soil’. Alongside the importance of what you do (intervention) and how you do it (implementation), the context that you do it also matters. It is the interaction between these three elements that makes for success.

Of course my life is just one context. It may mirror a lot of what other people do but to gain an ever wider understanding, it would be helpful if citizens from all walks of life trialed the net carbon zero lifestyle. Just for one day. Or a week if you are feeling a bit more adventurous.

‘Practical wisdom’ comes from just getting stuck in: “No guilt, just roll up those sleeves and do all you can” says Climate Scientist and Activist Peter Kalmus.

2 x bananas – 160g

2 x green tea – 42g

Cycle 8 miles – 24g

Curried egg sandwich – 450g

Vegetable crisps – 300g

2 x local seasonal apples – 20g

Fig cake with almonds – 350g

Sage tea – 21g

Butterbean soup – 350g

2 hours TV – 180g

Time online approximately 5 hours

Data and servers – 5 x 50 = 250g

Device laptop  – 5 x ?

Fridge – 64g

Average water use – 38g