By Becky Burchell

Stuff. It’s all around us. We accumulate things, trinkets, presents and prizes as we move through our lives. But what does it really mean to us? And how can we reduce the amount of stuff we consume, to help lower our carbon footprint?

The first thing we learn is that everything we spend money on has a carbon footprint. From clothing to electrical goods, crockery - even emails and experiences have a carbon footprint. To create a theatre show or a football match takes loads of energy before and during the experience (rehearsals, heating and lighting buildings, transport for performers and players etc).
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Is everything we enjoy bad for the planet? 

By Karen Jones

It’s a dark, damp November night, far too warm for the time of year, as we all meet upstairs at Mediterranea to consider the effects our eating habits have on our carbon footprints. It soon becomes apparent that these are complicated and highly personal, with roots embedded deeply in our upbringings, culture, health concerns and emotions...

By Kalina Palka

I'd love to travel less but ...

I want to be a travel writer... swim with dolphins...  see the Galapagos Islands. I work in Crystal Palace but can't afford to live there. I've got a bad knee. I don't like walking in wind. I believe that travel broadens the mind ...

We're playing a game to illustrate the obstacles to reducing the amount of travel we do. Annabel's is the corker:  I'd love to travel less... but I want to travel more!

Dear God, how are we going to change when travel is so entrenched in our culture?

By Nicola Jeffery

How many Carbon Conversationalists does it take to change an energy efficient light bulb?

Week two of Carbon Conversations began with sharing how we feel about climate change so far. Armed with three chapters of 'In Time for Tomorrow', two fiery vegetarian pizzas and a creamy cappuccino, we discussed our concerns about the immense scale of the problems we face, but also how necessary it is to act. With some of us feeling positive, others overwhelmed or even switched off, we all began to develop optimism for new technologies for the future. 

By Ben Cuddon

​Session one of Carbon Conversations Crystal Palace got off to a great start. We gathered in a cosy room above Mediterranea pizzeria and our discussion ranged over a number of issues.
 
First we talked about whose responsibility it is to deal with climate change. There were various opinions here, but we all agreed that individuals and families have a key role to play. What we were slightly less agreed upon was how to spread the message to other people. Should we seek to convince people by presenting them with the scientific facts, or should we try to engage them on an emotional level?