The EcoCentrics

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 hello@theecocentrics.com 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

Sewage leaks and weeks of rain mean the health of our rivers is low, plus our seas are too polluted to swim in. So what's to be done about the UK's muddy waters?  See how the ocean's colour is changing  https://eapsweb.mit.edu/news/2023/Study-The-oceans-color-is-changing-as-a-consequence-of-climate-change Tietê River in Brazil https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2023/07/08/brazil-river-foam-pollution-cprog-orig-ff.cnn UK Parliment report on the water quality of rivers  https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5802/cmselect/cmenvaud/74/report.html

PK & Tom discuss Hydrogen and the role it might play in our climate friendly future. From heating homes to off-road vehicles and why it has its own colour chart.   If you want to know more about Hydrogen ... https://about.bnef.com/blog/liebreich-separating-hype-from-hydrogen-part-two-the-demand-side/ https://www.nationalgrid.com/stories/energy-explained/what-is-hydrogen The views in this podcast are of Tom Bedford and PK, not the companies that they are affiliated with. 

PK & Tom discuss the heatwaves sweeping Europe and America, how it compares to previous years and the impacts this is having on biodiversity, other weather events and human health.  Useful links and extra reading ... https://interactive.carbonbrief.org/impacts-climate-change-one-point-five-degrees-two-degrees/ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-023-01132-6 https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/12/us/florida-ocean-heat-coral-bleaching-climate/index.html https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/learn-about/weather/oceans/el-nino https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/jul/18/women-greater-risk-heatwaves-men-extreme-weather-study

PK & Tom discuss why the UK is no longer a leader on climate action, what the UK needs to do to get back on track, plus the uproar around Wimbledon's sponsorship.    Here is that Climate Change Committee report...  https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/2023-progress-report-to-parliament The views in this podcast are of Tom Bedford and PK, not the companies that they are affiliated with. 

It's festival season so PK & Tom discuss their carbon impact. The festivals with the best green initiatives, why travelling to a festival is more carbon intensive than the events themselves and why you should always take your tent home.  Useful Links  Big Green Coach: https://www.biggreencoach.co.uk/why-are-we-green Vegan Campout https://www.vegancampout.co.uk/environment Shambalafestival https://www.shambalafestival.org/essential-info/sustainability/ Glastonbury Green Policies https://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/information/green-glastonbury/our-green-policies/ DGTL Festival Netherlands https://dgtl.nl/sustainability/ Environmental impact of abandoning you tent at a festival: https://theconversation.com/the-environmental-cost-of-abandoning-your-tent-at-a-music-festival-120198 Festival Safety:  https://www.festivalsafe.com

PK & Tom discuss eco anxiety, why we may feel overwhelmed when reading climate news and the proactive things we can to abate those feelings.  Extra reading ... Climate Anxiety in Children and Young People: A Globe Survey: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2542519621002783 The Children of the Anthropocene, Bella Lack https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-children-of-the-anthropocene/bella-lack/9780241501085 Caroline Hickman, Eco Anxiety & Climate Psychology https://www.caroline-hickman.com/climate-psychology Science Based Targets Initiative https://sciencebasedtargets.org/ 21 Climate Anxiety Resources: https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/climate-anxiety-resources-to-energise-action/

PK & Tom explain climate tipping points. From permafrost, coral reef die-offs and melting ice sheets - which have we crossed, are they irreversible and what's happening behind laboratory doors with regards solutions.  And here are some useful links referred to in the content of this episode, plus some extra reading if you want to know more.  Carbon Brief Tipping Points: https://www.carbonbrief.org/explainer-nine-tipping-points-that-could-be-triggered-by-climate-change/ Ice Sheets 10% lose per decade: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-18934-3 Coral Reefs: 1 billion people depend... https://sciencepolicyreview.org/2020/08/coral-reefs-are-critical-for-our-food-supply-tourism-and-ocean-health-we-can-protect-them-from-climate-change/ 10th of Mountain Glaciers... https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/29/world-lose-glacier-ice-climate-targets Anthrax-Reindeer (aka - the name of PK’s band) https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0209140 Austrian Permafrost mountain summit collapse: https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/14/europe/austrian-mountain-fluchthorn-rockslide-climate-intl/index.html Plus … https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/sep/08/world-on-brink-five-climate-tipping-points-study-finds

PK & Tom kick of season 2 with a discussion about the 1.5C limit. Where did the figure come from? What happens if we exceed it? And how does El Nino affect global temperatures?  Show Notes Since recording this episode El Nino made the headlines, read the latest at time of release. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-65839060  That IPCC report Tom mentions in this episode.  https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/ A great website if you’re looking for ways to reduce your carbon footprint. https://takethejump.org That pilot project PK mentions about living a 1.5 lifestyle https://1five.org/ To find out how many miles you’ll really get out of your Electric Car https://ev-database.org/ That documentary about The Paris Agreement  https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement A great book about The Sixth Extinction https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17910054-the-sixth-extinction Plus that recommended podcast from Tom on the 2000 US Election  https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00081t7?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile The views in this podcast are of Tom Bedford and PK, not the companies that they are affiliated with. 

PK and Tom discuss how some brands may not always be as climate friendly as they make out. They explain what greenwashing is and share tricks and tips on how to spot the offenders.  Recommended Reading - Merchants of Doubt by Naomi Oreskes & Erik M Conway Research for the quiz came from https://thesustainableagency.com/blog/greenwashing-examples/ The views in this podcast are of Tom Bedford and PK, not the companies that they are affiliated with. 

PK & Tom discuss the frightening normality of hyper consumerism, why buying stuff doesn't necessarily make us happier, plus the benefits of a circular economy. Recommened reading - The Spirit Level: Why Equality Is Better For Everyone by Kate Pickett & Richard Wilkinson To find out more about the Circular Economy go to https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/circular-economy-diagram The views in this podcast are of Tom Bedford and PK, not the companies that they are affiliated with.