Going Green Podcast, Video blog and Daily News

  The Greenest Thing You Can Do Today? Stop Buying Stuff. There’s a particular kind of pressure that appears in the final hours before Christmas. The shops are still open. The ads are louder. The emails insist you’ve forgotten something . Somewhere, someone is telling you that love can still be expressed with a last-minute purchase. It’s exhausting. And environmentally speaking, it’s spectacularly unhelpful. The lie of the “one last thing” Last-minute shopping rarely produces meaningful gifts. It produces: Panic purchases Poor quality items Fast fashion Gadgets that need batteries Things that will be returned, regifted, or quietly binned by February Each of those steps adds transport, packaging, energy use, and waste — all for something nobody actually wanted. Consumer pressure thrives on urgency Sustainability fails when we’re rushed. Urgency bypasses thought, values, and restraint. The entire system depends on the idea that doing nothing is not an optio...

  A Greener Approach to the Traditional Christmas Dinner Christmas dinner is one of those moments where tradition, nostalgia and comfort food collide. Roast potatoes must crunch just right, gravy must be plentiful, and someone will inevitably ask whether Brussels sprouts are meant to squeak. But Christmas is also one of the most resource-intensive meals of the year. From imported ingredients and energy-hungry ovens to food waste and disposable decorations, the environmental footprint of the festive feast is larger than many people realise. The good news? You can make meaningful improvements without turning Christmas into a joyless exercise in self-denial. Here’s how to keep the spirit of Christmas while lightening its environmental load. Rethinking the Centrepiece For many households, turkey is non-negotiable. If that’s the case, choosing free-range, UK-reared turkey with strong welfare standards already reduces impact compared with cheaper, intensively farmed alternatives....

  2025’s AI Boom Came With a Hidden Environmental Cost Artificial intelligence had a spectacular year in 2025. Faster models. Smarter assistants. AI everywhere — from education and healthcare to marketing and music. But while the tech headlines celebrated innovation, a quieter story emerged in the background: AI’s rapidly growing carbon and water footprint . Recent research has shown that the explosive growth of large AI models in 2025 drove significant increases in CO₂ emissions and water use , largely due to the energy demands of data centres that train and run these systems. Why AI Uses So Much Energy Training modern AI models requires: Vast data centres running continuously Thousands of high-performance GPUs Massive cooling systems to prevent overheating All of this consumes electricity — and in many regions, that electricity still comes from fossil fuels . Even once trained, AI models continue to draw power every time they are queried. As AI tools become embe...

  The EU Just Weakened Its Own Green Rules – And That Should Worry Us All This week, the European Parliament approved a major rollback of the EU’s flagship sustainability reporting and corporate due-diligence rules. It didn’t make many headlines. It probably should have. The changes dramatically reduce the number of companies required to report on environmental damage, human rights abuses, and supply-chain harm . Even more concerning, they strip out plans to harmonise access to justice across member states , making it harder for affected communities to hold companies to account. In short: fewer companies covered, weaker oversight, and less legal protection for people and the planet. What was supposed to happen? The original laws were designed to: Require large companies to report honestly on their environmental and social impacts Hold businesses responsible for human rights abuses and ecological damage in their supply chains Create consistent legal routes across the E...

  Still Burning: When Will the Age of Fossil Fuels Actually End (and What Can You Do About It?) Governments dither. Oil giants drill. But change can still start at your front door. ⏳ The Clock Is Ticking. Loudly. We’ve known for decades that fossil fuels are the main driver of climate change. And yet… the coal chugs on, the oil keeps flowing, and natural gas is still branded “clean” in some circles. While world leaders shake hands at summits and sign pledges with increasingly distant targets, emissions continue to rise. The age of fossil fuels is like your least favourite dinner guest — long overstayed and increasingly toxic. Why the Delay? Despite the science being clear: Fossil fuel subsidies still amount to trillions globally Many climate pledges are non-binding or delayed until 2050 or later Countries fear economic instability or political backlash from a rapid transition Fossil fuel lobbies are… not shy And all the while, extreme weather events ar...

  From Bouquets to Broccoli: How Climate Change Is Reshaping Our Gardens The RHS predicts a 2026 filled with tabletop vegetables and drought-hardy blooms. 🌱 The Climate-Resilient Gardener: Coming Soon to a Patio Near You The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has spoken, and it's less “roses and romance” and more “radishes on your windowsill.” Their latest top trend predictions for 2026 show a significant pivot in UK gardening habits — driven not by fashion, but by climate breakdown . 🔮 RHS Plant Trend Predictions for 2026 The key forecast? Green-fingered Britons will be: Swapping cut flower bouquets for edible houseplants Embracing compact food-growing – think herbs on the windowsill , tomatoes in buckets , and even dwarf aubergines on the dining table Selecting heat- and drought-resistant species to withstand more erratic weather patterns “The future gardener isn’t just pruning roses — they’re prepping dinner on the windowsill.” ☀️ Why the Shift? Be...

  Looking for a Greener Holiday: How to Relax Without Wrecking the Planet ✈️ Jetting Off? Or Just Jet-Lagged Thinking? As the holiday season approaches, many of us are planning a well-deserved break. But before you click “Book Now” on that long-haul flight to somewhere sunny, it’s worth asking: Can we holiday without harming the planet? Spoiler: Yes — and no, it doesn’t mean sleeping in a tent while chewing on organic lentils (unless that’s your thing). 🌍 The Problem with Traditional Holidays Let’s face it, the carbon footprint of a standard holiday can be massive: ✈️ Flying is one of the most carbon-intensive activities individuals can do 🏨 Hotels often have high energy use (hello, 24/7 air con) 🌴 Resorts can drain water and resources from already stressed local environments So what’s a weary eco-warrior to do? ✅ Greener Holiday Choices That Still Feel Like a Treat Here are some ways to have fun and protect the planet: 🚆 Take the Train Try a scenic...

  Paris, Ten Years On: Climate Promises, Progress, and the Path Ahead 🎂 Ten Years Since Paris — So, Did It Work? In December 2015, nearly every country on Earth gathered in Paris and said: “We’ll try to stop frying the planet.” Ten years on, it’s tempting to roll our eyes. Emissions are still rising. 1.5°C warming is now a lived reality. Oil giants are raking in record profits. But that’s only half the story. ✅ What the Paris Agreement Did Achieve It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t binding. But let’s give credit where it’s due. Here’s what has changed in 10 years: 🌐 Universal commitment : 195 countries signed. That’s unprecedented. 🧮 Climate accounting : Most nations now track and report emissions. 📉 Peak coal : Global coal use is slowing. Investment has shifted. ☀️ Renewables boom : Wind and solar are now cheaper than fossil fuels in most places. 🚗 EV revolution : Nearly every carmaker now has a net-zero roadmap. 🏢 Net Zero is mainstream ...

  Have We Hit 1.5°C? Spoiler: Yes – And It’s Not Just a Blip 🔥 The Breaking News You Probably Missed While we were arguing over oat milk vs. almond milk, the planet crossed a line . According to climate scientists: 2024 is officially the first full calendar year to average more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels . The 12-month period from Feb 2023 to Jan 2024 also crossed the threshold. And no, it wasn’t just a hot spell. This wasn’t “one weird summer.” This was a climate milestone . With 2025 drawing to a close, the question is, will the trend continue? ☀️ Why Did It Happen? Human-caused warming : Burning fossil fuels, deforestation, industrial farming — the usual suspects. El Niño : A natural phenomenon that temporarily boosts global temperatures, adding extra heat to an already warming world. El Niño is cyclical . Human emissions? Not so much. 🧾 But the Paris Agreement Says…? Ah yes. The 2015 Paris Agreement aimed to limit global warming to...

  Blown Away: Wind Power Supplies Over Half of the UK’s Electricity (and Nobody Noticed) ⚡ A Windy Week Worth Celebrating Last week, the UK quietly hit a major milestone in its energy history: More than 50% of our electricity came from wind power alone. That’s right — over half of the entire nation’s energy needs were met by air moving a few blades around in the sky. No explosions, no fumes, no geopolitical gas tantrums. Just wind. 💡 But Where Was the Hype? You’d think this would be front-page news: A clean energy milestone Proof renewables can shoulder the load A moment of national pride But instead… 🦗 crickets We seem to treat renewable success like a fluke. It’s not. It’s the future happening right now . 🌍 What This Means for Net Zero This isn't just a feel-good statistic — it's proof that: Wind is reliable (even in December!) Grid integration is working We can scale renewables without the lights going out With more offshore win...

  Real Strawberry Ice Cream vs. Factory Fakes – What's Actually in That Tub? The Truth Behind the Scoop It’s a hot day. You fancy strawberry ice cream. You open a supermarket tub that cost £1.49 and proudly boasts “Strawberry Flavour” on the lid. But something’s missing: strawberries. And cream. And possibly food you’d recognise. 🍨 Enter the Homemade Hero In our house, strawberry ice cream is a simple thing: A punnet of ripe strawberries (ours came from the garden 🍓) Double cream A splash of milk A little sugar An ice cream maker doing its best Dalek impression in the corner And that's it. No stabilisers. No emulsifiers. No "flavouring" (natural or otherwise). Just actual food . 🏭 The Shop-Bought Mystery Tub Let’s look at a typical cheap strawberry ice cream tub: Water (yes, that’s first) Sugar Skimmed milk powder Palm oil or coconut oil Artificial stabilisers and emulsifiers Red food dye (because strawberries wer...

  The Great British Solar Mystery: If Renewable Energy Is the Future, Why Aren’t There Panels on Every Roof? 💸 The Price Is Rising… Again Electricity bills are still going up. The government says we need more renewables . You’re standing in your garden, squinting at the bare, sun-soaked roof of your neighbour’s house thinking: “Why hasn’t anyone put solar panels up there?” Good question. ☀️ We’ve Got the Technology. We’ve Got the Sun (Sometimes). So… Where Are the Panels? Despite: Falling panel prices Improved battery storage Generous feed-in tariffs (until they were scrapped) National goals to cut emissions … solar uptake remains surprisingly low in many UK areas. 🛑 The Top Reasons for the Rooftop Solar Slowdown: 1. 💰 Upfront Cost Even with long-term savings, not everyone has £4k–£8k to install a system — especially during a cost-of-living crisis. 2. 🏦 Limited or Complex Grants The scrapping of previous incentives like the Feed-In Tariff an...

  Sustainable Gardening: How to Turn Even a Tiny Plot into an Eco Oasis No matter how small your garden is, it can still pack a powerful green punch. 🏡 Small Garden, Big Impact You don’t need a country estate to garden sustainably. In fact, with a bit of planning, even the tiniest garden (or patio or balcony) can become a climate-friendly haven for wildlife, food, and your sanity . Let’s break it down. 🌿 Step 1: Ditch the “Perfect” Lawn Swap out: Water-guzzling, mow-every-week grass For: Clover lawns Mini wildflower patches Or even… no lawn at all Let nature in — and the bees will follow. 🍅 Step 2: Grow Something You Can Eat Yes, even in containers! Try: Cherry tomatoes in a pot Herbs on a sunny windowsill Salad leaves in a shallow trough Strawberries in hanging baskets Growing food = fewer food miles, less packaging, and something tasty for dinner. 💧 Step 3: Water the Smart Way Use a water butt to collect rainwater Mulch...