The EcoCentrics

PK & Tom discuss consumerism and Christmas, from advent calendars to jolly jumpers, how can we embrace the festivities in a sustainable guilt free way? And when it comes to trees, which is the most eco-friendly, the fake fir or a real replantable? 

Rent A Tree
https://www.thechristmastreecompany.com/rent-a-christmas-tree

Sustainable Christmas
https://www.wwf.org.uk/top-tips-sustainable-christmas

Waste Free Christmas
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/24-ways-to-waste-not-this-christmas

The Not So Jolly Stats 
https://www.businesswaste.co.uk/christmas-waste-facts-its-not-very-jolly/

Christmas Wrapping
https://www.gwp.co.uk/guides/christmas-packaging-facts/

Lidl Rental Jumpers
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/nov/23/lidl-christmas-jumper-loan-scheme-nspcc 

PK & Tom catch up for the first time since The King's Speech and discuss the licensing of new oil and gas fields. Is this a political move? Do the economics add up? And what impact could this have on the nation's spirit?
 
 
The Nish Kumar Climate Breakthrough film is here ...
www.climatesciencebreakthrough.com
 
Petrostates planning expansion of fossil fuels ...
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/nov/08/insanity-petrostates-planning-huge-expansion-of-fossil-fuels-says-un-report
 
The International Energy Agency say no to new coal mines or oil & gas fields ...
https://priceofoil.org/2023/08/16/shut-down-60-percent-existing-fossil-fuel-extraction-1-5c/ 

Five Times Faster by Simon Sharpe 
https://fivetimesfaster.org/

Green Swans, John Elkington
https://www.greenbiz.com/article/green-swans-and-exponential-decade-conversation-john-elkington

After the announcement that UEFA will expand its football tournaments in 2024, PK & Tom discuss what impact this will have on the environment. They also look at how climate change is impacting UK football clubs today, the teams that are leading the way when it comes to green credentials, plus why PK is thinking of taking up plogging. 
 
 More about European football and its impact on the planet ...
 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67159156
 
 Carlisle United affected by flooding...
 https://www.carlisleunited.co.uk/news/2021/november/chief-exec-it-does-cause-real-concern/
 
 Forest Green Rovers and their green credentials... 
 https://www.fgr.co.uk/eco-park
 
 Reading FC climate stripes kit...
 https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2022/july/25/home-kit-2022-23-showyourstripes-hoopsforthefuture/
 
 Crewe Alexandra solar farm ...
 https://www.crewealex.net/news/2023/february/reds-to-go-green-with-ambitious-solar-farm-scheme

PK & Tom chat about some of the brilliant projects in the UK, where the local community have taken decarbonisation into their own hands and helped regenerate their area. Take a listen for some real inspiration on how to make a difference where you live. 


Inspiring examples discussed in this episode... 

DTE Derby
https://www.dtederby.org/

Gwynedd
https://www.deg.wales/about-deg/?lang=en

Civic Square
https://civicsquare.cc/

Atlanta Free Food Forest
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/02/22/us/atlanta-free-food-forest-trnd/index.html
https://www.aglanta.org/urban-food-forest-at-browns-mill-1/



Plus support on getting started ...
 
https://www.cse.org.uk/my-community/

https://www.keele.ac.uk/study/cpdandleadership/cpd-bootcamp/skillsbootcampinplace-baseddecarbonisation/

https://www.cse.org.uk/resource/community-retrofit-guide/

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/18-billion-awarded-to-boost-energy-efficiency-and-cut-emissions-of-homes-and-public-buildings-across-england

PK & Tom reflect on the last few days of flooding in the UK and they discuss the scary stats around halloween, why you shouldn't feed pumpkin to hedgehogs, plus Tom's spooky upcycled costume.

Here is some extra reading on halloween waste ...

https://www.wastemanaged.co.uk/halloween-waste/

https://www.businesswaste.co.uk/halloween-waste/

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/oct/25/uk-expected-to-waste-terrifying-number-of-halloween-pumpkins

Plus some tips on having a more sustainable halloween 

https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/10-green-halloween-tips 

PK & Tom discuss why we're obsessed with building more stuff, the impacts this can have on the environment and what are the lower carbon solutions? From green steel to carbon capture, using waste material and the benefits of AI - no stone is left unturned.


The problem with concrete...
https://www.fairplanet.org/story/concrete-climate-change-environmental-injustice/

Demand for sand ...
https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/rising-demand-sand-calls-resource-governance

Carbon capture & storage ....
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/carbon-capture-usage-and-storage-market-engagement-on-cluster-sequencing

The Peak Cluster project ...
https://www.peakcluster.co.uk/

PK & Tom discuss fast fashion, charity shops and consumption habits. Plus guest Kate Kenneally talks sustainable swimwear and why legislation is needed to make the industry more ethical.

To get in touch with PK & Tom email [email protected]

To find out more about Kate's Swimwear
https://gen-reswim.com/

Other useful links
https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/world-of-change/AralSea

https://changingmarkets.org/portfolio/fossil-fashion/

https://bemorewithless.com/project-333/

That company Tom mentioned at the end of this episode
https://laagam.com/pages/our-way

Sustainable Superstars
https://eu.patagonia.com/gb/en/home/

https://www.rei.com/

We don't make money from this podcast, but if you'd like to support a cause then please donate here https://www.givedirectly.org

PK & Tom take a trip to a Derby City allotment where they meet plot-casters Elaine & Julia, who demonstrate that growing your own food is not only good for the tastebuds, but it's also great for the planet. 

From helping wildlife to thrive, reducing food miles, to capturing carbon in your garden, growing a few vegetables might be the most eco hobby you could have. 

To hear more from Elaine & Julie take a listen to their Potty Plotters podcast
https://thepottyplotters.podbean.com

Or check out their website...
https://thepottyplotters.uk

PK & Tom break down Rishi Sunak's recent announcement to shift the goalposts of UK green policies. From Heat Pumps to Electric Cars, what has the Government pushed back and how will this affect Britain?

Useful Links

Net Zero: what is it? 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_zero_emissions

Carbon Brief estimates actual cost of the rollbacks by the government:
https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-depth-qa-what-do-rishi-sunaks-u-turns-mean-for-uk-climate-policy/?_thumbnail_id=48111&utm_content=buffer8643c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer#


Boiler Upgrade Scheme
https://www.gov.uk/apply-boiler-upgrade-scheme

Aarhus Convention
https://aarhus.osce.org/about/aarhus-convention

Quiz Sources
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-66872792

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/sep/20/uk-net-zero-policies-scrapped-what-do-changes-mean

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-speech-on-net-zero-20-september-2023

From global heatwaves to the UK’s polluted waters, Climate Change has dominated headlines. PK & Tom return from their August break and discuss the summer's news, the updated shift in planetary boundaries, plus the governments u-turn on nutrient neutrality. 

The podcast that Tom recommends you listen to…
https://tippingpoint-podcast.com/the-problematique-part-1/

The book that Tom couldn’t put down …
https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/braiding-sweetgrass-indigenous-wisdom-scientific-knowledge-and-the-teachings-of-plants-robin-wall-kimmerer/2981482?ean=9780141991955

Plus some extra info that you might find useful…

Nutrient Neutrality - https://www.ft.com/content/5558364c-e40c-42e9-bbf4-837b1f57a4d1

The Cost Of The Heatwaves https://www.allianz.com/en/economic_research/publications/specials_fmo/global-heatwave-implications.html

The Global Stocktake - https://unfccc.int/topics/global-stocktake

Updated Planetary Boundaries - https://www.stockholmresilience.org/research/planetary-boundaries.html