What on Earth 88

WHAT ON EARTH

F R I E N D S O F T H E E A R T H S C OT L A N D ’ S

M E M B E R S ’ M AG A Z I N E

Friends of the Earth Scotland is:

> Scotland’s leading environmental campaigning organisation

> An independent Scottish charity with a network of thousands of supporters and active local groups across Scotland

> Part of the largest grassroots environmental network in the world, uniting over 2 million supporters, 73 national member groups and 5,000 local activist groups

Our vision is of a world where everyone can enjoy a healthy environment and a fair share of the earth’s resources.

Friends of the Earth Scotland is an independent Scottish charity SC003442

What on Earth is published by and copyright to: Friends of the Earth Scotland 5 Rose Street, Edinburgh EH2 2PR T: 0131 243 2700 E: info@foe.scot W: www.foe.scot

Editor: Eilidh Stanners

Design: Emma Quinn

Cover image: Protestor at Edinburgh COP27

Climate March, Photo: Neil Hanna

The views expressed in What on Earth are not necessarily those of Friends of the Earth Scotland. FoES accepts no liability for errors, omissions or incorrect data in advertisements

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Directors’ view 3

Tackling the energy crisis 4

Dreaming of a green Christmas 7 The future is not f *cked 9

Parent’s campaign saves 13 local bus route The doorstep refill company making 15 reuse easy

Directors’ view

By Alice, Mary & Kerrigan, Interim Co-Directors

We’re coming to the end of another busy year, and we’d like to say a huge thank you for supporting Friends of the Earth Scotland. There’s a lot of progress that’s been made this year, and none of it would have been possible without you.

We started the year on a high, with Cambo having been put on indefinite “pause”, which brought much needed momentum to carry through this year, as we’ve been campaigning against the Jackdaw gas field and now the Rosebank oil field.

The council elections took place in May, and we used the opportunity to make clear how vital our new councillors are in tackling the climate crisis, calling on all parties to make policies on transport and waste management a priority

The Scottish Government committed to banning new incinerators, which was a huge step forward and must mark the beginning of the end for these polluting projects. We shared our views on the new circular economy law which will change the way we use materials.

We’re still facing a lot of challenges, with the fossil fuel price crisis being felt as we move into winter Through our campaigning, we are working to change our energy system so it works better for people and for the planet. This is one of the issues that’s covered in this edition of What on Earth magazine, along with stories on local campaigning, art as a tool for creating change and tips on how to have a green Christmas.

Thank you again for all of your support, and we hope you have a lovely festive season

Through our campaigning, we are working to change our energy system so it works better for people and for the planet.

Tackling the energy crisis

By Ryan Morrison, Just Transition Campaigner

If the picture was clearer, I'd start here by letting you know the massive concerns we have with the approach from the UK Government to tackling the major crises we face today but in the midst of ongoing chaos at Westminster, at the time of writing I'm none the wiser what that approach will be when this magazine reaches you.

Political chaos

Both energy bills and oil executive bonuses are rocketing. While she was Prime Minister Liz Truss introduced the Energy Price Guarantee, limiting the cost of energy for an average household to £2,500, with the Government paying energy companies’ additional costs for two years This lasted less than a month as the new Chancellor Jeremy Hunt changed the government policy to limit it to a six month period despite warnings that bills could rise to as much as £4,000 for an average household in 2023.

Both energy bills and oil executive bonuses are rocketing.

With the third Prime Minister this year now in power, and a fourth Chancellor to boot, people across the country have experienced a summer of extreme heat and drought before a winter where many won't be able to afford to warm their homes and there isn’t anywhere near enough being done about it.

Fossil fuel companies are being allowed to make obscene profits, while households are fearful of their next bill

Oil and gas bosses are making millions

It’s no coincidence that Liz Truss failed to set out a more comprehensive approach to tackling the multiple crises we face today after a leadership bid backed with money from groups supporting more oil and gas Instead, she gave out new licences for oil and gas companies in the North Sea, lifted the ban on fracking in England and chose to guarantee oil and gas company profits through public money, instead of using a proper windfall tax to redirect their excessive gains.

It has never been clearer that this harmful energy system serves a tiny minority of people whose primary interest is their bonus or dividend payout. For the rest of us, worried about climate change and our bills, it is failing to provide warm homes and a safe climate.

Against the chaotic backdrop of Westminster, the Scottish Government must seize this opportunity to speed up the transition to a reliable, affordable system powered by

renewables and run in the public interest This year it has exactly that opportunity.

Scotland’s opportunity to change the system

A new Energy Strategy for Scotland, setting out how our energy system will look in decades to come, is being developed right now. It must meet the multiple challenges we face by outlining how all available levers will be used to end the grip of the fossil fuel industry and build a zero carbon, green and just energy future.

It has never been clearer that this harmful energy system serves a tiny minority of people whose primary interest is their bonus or dividend payout.

There are huge opportunities for the Scottish Government to use its powers and money to ensure that we are less reliant on fossil fuels and therefore less exposed to their volatility, while preventing climate chaos 81% of homes in Scotland rely on gas for their heating, our roads are dominated by fossil fuel cars and the oil and gas industry is being supported to pursue reckless tech fixes like “carbon capture” that can’t deliver the transformation we need.

Supporting a just transition away from fossil fuels is more urgent than ever A transition which ensures our homes use renewable heat, rather than expensive gas; that takes power away from fossil fuel executives by supporting communities and councils to own their energy and use it to invest in our areas; and that sees us doing our fair share of climate action to stop the worsening impacts we see here and across the world already.

Our energy system isn’t set in stone, it doesn’t have to be designed to serve the CEOs and shareholders of the big energy companies

Across Europe, we’re seeing people building energy systems that can meet our needs and protect our climate with support from their governments and councils

When the Scottish Government lays out its vision for our energy system, it must show us how they will put power in our hands, away from the global volatility of fossil fuels and towards locally controlled green energy

Suppor ting a just transition away from fossil fuels is more urgent than ever.

Dreaming of a green Christmas

Pratt, Circular Economy Campaigner

Christmas is a special time of year, but the pressure to spend money is everywhere. Over-consumption adds to the climate crisis because the more we buy, the more resources are extracted and climate emissions generated.

But you don’t have to buy into the hype to make sure you have a special Christmas! Instead of having a consumption heavy holiday, you can have a creative, personal and less expensive one instead.

Here are some suggestions for how to make your festive season better for the planet

Buy less. Secret Santa is a fun way to make sure everyone in a group ends up with one personal gift, rather than lots of small things. There are lots of websites to help you coordinate it without needing to get the whole group together.

Buy second hand or make your own. A thoughtful gift doesn’t have to be an expensive one It’s ok and often even more appreciated to buy second hand or make something yourself and you can have much more fun shopping.

Rent a Christmas tree from a Scottish farm rather than buying it. Once Christmas is over, the tree is returned to the farm and replanted

Kim

Rent your party outfit. You don’t need to spend lots of money on an outfit you’ll only wear once or twice. Instead check out the websites that rent clothes there are options for a couple of days for a particular event, or a whole month so you can wear your chosen attire across the festive season.

Make some of your own decorations. Fairy lights are not the only way to make your home look festive; make paper snowflakes and chains, bake salt dough into christmas tree ornaments or forage for pine cones and green foliage. If you have kids, they’ll be delighted to get involved, and it’ll be something special to bring out the Christmas box for years to come.

Choose your wrapping paper wisely. Any paper with glitter or foil can’t be recycled, so instead opt for plain brown paper, old newspaper or decorate your own. Get creative with some festive drawings. And when you are unwrapping presents make sure to keep back undamaged paper for next year.

Plan ahead for meals. Research shows food waste increases at this time of year. Minimise your food waste by planning ahead. Portion planning apps can be useful if you are expecting guests. Don’t forget to make a bit of space in your freezer so you can keep any leftovers.

Lift share. If you’re travelling across the country to see family and you're going to an area that’s difficult to get to on public transport, see if you can find people to share the journey with. Places like community Facebook groups are a helpful way to find people

As individuals, changing our buying habits and rejecting corporate greenwash is a great way to be part of the shift that we need towards more sustainable levels of consumption. Christmas

is about connecting with others, not boosting business sales. This year, let’s take back Christmas for people and the planet.

The Future is not F*cked

Scott Herret, Just Transition Organiser

If you’ve lived in Aberdeen for any period of time, you’ll be aware of how deeply embedded the oil industry is within city life It not only provides jobs and livelihoods for thousands of people in this area, but its dominance also influences the city’s institutions like no other city in Scotland. From partnerships with Aberdeen City Council to longstanding links with academic institutions and funding for cultural institutions like Aberdeen Art Gallery, the oil industry is part of the social fabric of Aberdeen.

From debate to dialogue; the role of art in energy transitions

So it isn’t surprising that I find conversations with people in the city about phasing out oil and gas can often be challenging When I began my role at Friends of the Earth Scotland as a just transition organiser in the North East, I began thinking of ways to open up conversations that try to overcome the defensive reactions that I’ve encountered when people suspect I’m one of those ‘climate activists who are coming for their jobs’.

associated

connected

How art can create change

Art has infinite possibilities I’ve heard it described as the one thing that makes life worth living I've an interest in how art influences (and is influenced by) the culture in which it belongs This led me to listen to a podcast about the role of art in social change. One of the conclusions is that great art is often produced out of dire social circumstances, for example war or economic collapse this art can reflect the times and may well be moody, dark and brilliant. But another conclusion of the podcast was that research showed that art associated and connected with social change often carries a hopeful message of a better tomorrow.

I began thinking how could I apply this insight to Aberdeen, where the future is a huge worry, for both climate activists seeing oil supply vessels sail out of the harbour everyday despite the climate crisis, and for offshore workers who have felt the decline of pay and conditions in the last seven years while feeling the sharp end of declining public support and erosion of the social licence for their industry

I got together with Orla Kelly, a friend who runs a spoken word night in Aberdeen, to hatch a plan. We decided to run a poetry workshop in Torry, Aberdeen, asking people to respond to the question ‘How do we let go of the world of oil and all it represents?’.

...art

and

with social change often carries a hopeful message of a better tomorrow.

We had a mix of people attending the workshop, including those from the local community, students, oil workers and people who were married to oil workers People wrote their pieces, and the work that was produced was performed at a spoken word night called 'The Future is not F*cked' a few weeks later.

We filmed the night with the intention to simply record the performances which could then be shared to a wider audience, but it ended up being so powerful it sparked the idea to create a standalone film with the footage to reach more people. Over the next few months the filmmaker Sara Stroud began editing and creating a film that pieced together fragments of the performances from the night along with short interviews to tell a story of the oil industry through Sara’s own eyes, as somebody who was born in Aberdeen and grew up with it

Opening up conversations

A 20 minute film, also called The Future is Not F*cked, was created and it has now been shown to audiences in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh. On each occasion it has been well received and prompted some interesting discussions within the audience

One of the Aberdeen screenings prompted some challenging and important discussions about gender inequalities and the form of masculinity that the industry is seen to give rise to by some This session was attended by a mix of people from within and outside the industry, and there was a general sense of frustration aired towards the city's post oil future planning and how the transition is currently being led.

...there was a general sense of frustration aired towards the city’s post-oil future planning and how the transition is currently being led...

The Glasgow and Edinburgh screenings were combined with a screening of a film called ‘Offshore’ that was commissioned by our friends at Platform. Having seen both films together, a member of the Glasgow audience played around with the language of ‘decommissioning’ of the industry and pondered how one goes about ‘decommissioning the culture of a city’ away from oil. So while the film alone may not necessarily be pivotal in bringing about the change and transition away from oil and gas that we so desperately need, it’s been fantastic to see how it’s brought people from different perspectives to a place, to be challenged, but also to allow responses to be heard and bring dialogue and learning between people that may not have otherwise happened

We are planning future screenings of the film over the coming months in the North East of Scotland, so please keep an eye on our social media channels. If you’re interested in hosting a screening for your organisation or community group, then please contact me at sherrett@foe.scot

Parents’ campaign saves local bus route

I’m Krissy and I live in central Scotland with my husband and three teenagers. We live in a wee hamlet called Braco, a sleepy hollow in Perthshire. Whilst we do own a car, our kids depend on public transport very heavily.

We heard from a local dog walker that Stagecoach were planning to cut the 15A bus service which goes through Braco we wouldn’t have known if it wasn’t for this chance meeting.

All three of our children use the Stagecoach buses every day to get to school in Dunblane and college in Perth, so we were really shocked to hear this This particular service is vital to us as a family, as whilst we are a car owning family, I am a nurse with differing time commitments and the children need their independence

I checked the Stagecoach website to verify that changes were afoot and to my horror, saw the consultation period was very short to contest any changes.

I knew other local children who depend on the 15A service, so I walked to their homes, alerted them and we started a 'save the bus' WhatsApp group (rather tongue in cheek!). It transpired that no parent or child knew, all were horrified and came on board.

The proposed service changes were going to detrimentally affect my family's day to day living and it was for this reason that I thought, I must do something!

To get things going, I called Stagecoach who said it was a lack of drivers that was the problem. They urged me to email them with my concerns which I duly did, as did everyone on the 'save the bus' WhatsApp group.

I decided to start a change.org petition to save the 15A bus and it soon garnered nearly 400 signatures. I hadn't a clue how to start a petition but gave it a go, and lo and behold, social media got hold of it and off it soared. Unbeknownst to me, the 15A is a crucial service to many not just those going to school so the petition was well received and supported. I'm grateful for every signature!

The group put our heads together and contacted local MSPs, community councils, the schools, and their parent councils Our local newspapers took an interest in the story too

Not long after the short consultation period closed we were delighted to hear that the 15A bus service that’s used for school children has been saved!

The rest, we do not know as yet, but it’s going to make a big difference for everyone who uses the bus for commuting. We couldn't quite believe it when we heard the news! The kids are delighted too, although downplaying this for fear of looking happy of course.

If any other communities are threatened with removal of important bus services, I would say that even if you feel you have no discernible skill in challenging the status quo, just go for it! Share your concern, in whatever way you know how, and in doing so, others may just join you. This is what I did and soon, there were lots of concerned people and agencies on board

I’m really grateful to everyone who got involved and would also like to thank Stagecoach for listening!

At Friends of the Earth Scotland, we're campaigning for a comprehensive publicly owned bus network to tackle climate change and reduce inequality. Across Scotland, about a third of households don't have access to a car, so buses are a vital lifeline. We need to start thinking of public transport as an essential service, like education or health

If you are campaigning against a local bus cut in your area and want some support, please get in touch with us at info@foe.scot

The doorstep refill company making reuse easy

By Kim Pratt, Circular Economy Campaigner

Elephant Refills is an Edinburgh-based doorstep refills company, providing household cleaning and body care products. They aim to make it as easy as possible for people to reuse plastic packaging, and deliver by bike. I spoke to its founder, Alison Powell, about how it works and why she decided to set it up.

Kim Pratt: For those of us new to the idea of doorstep refill services, can you explain how Elephant Refills works?

Alison Powell: Elephant Refills works a bit like the old fashioned milk deliveries Customers leave out their empty bottles and I deliver full refills of household cleaning, hair and body care products to their doorsteps Each customer has their own set of bottles that they continually reuse I swap them in and out It is simple and easy to do, a quick email to me, and customers receive the refills they need on their doorsteps on my delivery days. All my deliveries are free and by bicycle

KP: Why did

Elephant refills?

AP: I was listening to a radio programme explaining the importance of reusing as opposed to recycling and I suddenly wanted to do something about it It seemed such an obvious way to reduce single use plastic waste As a family we were more and more aware of the impact of our consumption habits on the world and I thought it was important for my children from early on to make the right choices whenever possible and to think in a sustainable way.

Refill shops are amazing but in reality you have to have the time, the money and be very organised to make that work for a busy household. I wanted to offer a really simple, affordable, convenient way to introduce as many locals as possible to reusing rather than recycling It was a lightbulb moment when I realised I could do something locally myself I had just bought my Elephant Bike, so I was well set up to deliver by bicycle and hence the name, Elephant Refills.

you decide to set up

I wanted to offer a really simple, affordable, convenient way to introduce as many locals as possible to reusing rather than recycling.

KP: Are there any other initiatives you have been inspired by?

AP: I love anything that reuses materials My Elephant Bike is a great example of reuse, where a charity has taken bikes from The Royal Mail refurbished them and sold them on They are wonderful, sturdy, hardwearing bikes and I love the fact that they have been repurposed and were postie bikes in a previous life.

I have a huge duvet coat (called a Sitting Suit!) and the padding for it is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. I use it camping and after swimming I also love my Wakebag backpack. It’s made from poly paper fibres spun and bound together to create the look of paper, but it’s durable and thick like leather. It’s waterproof too which was a surprise.

I am inspired by anyone who takes something discarded or sustainable and makes it into something practical and reusable. I do it as much as I can with small things in the house and I love to see people making a living from doing it.

KP: Refill models allow your customers to reuse rather than recycle plastic why is this important?

AP: The future for our world has to be in reusing rather than recycling We can’t keep producing more and more stuff. It seems common sense that it is better to use something again and again rather than continually producing more I am a keen recycler but where there is a reusing alternative that has to be the best way for our future.

We can’t keep producing more and more stuff.

KP: Chemical pollution often has an invisible impact on our bodies and the environment. How important is it to you to make sure all your cleaning and body care products are non toxic and eco friendly?

AP: My original aim was purely to make reusing as easy and affordable as possible for people At the time, I did not really consider the chemical impact of the products I was going to sell I just thought it was important that I made reusing easy for people I naively thought I could source big containers of popular brands and use these for refills

Before I set the business up, I was frustrated by how easy it was to just buy a cheap bottle of shampoo from a single use plastic bottle. The choice and quantity of hair and body care products in plastic bottles drives me crazy in the supermarket I contacted manufacturers of these same products but it wasn’t possible to set up a refill system with these brands. They just didn’t do it

Then I visited some refill shops and discovered the wonderful natural, eco friendly products from Suma and haven’t looked back I love the thought that these products are totally natural and harmless to the environment It makes me feel better about using them in my own home and on our bodies daily No nasties I now have these lovely products on tap and top up the body washes, shampoos and conditioners and cleaning products whenever necessary.

KP: What challenges have you faced with the business?

AP: My business model is to try to keep my costs down as much as possible so my prices can remain reasonable and affordable to as many people as possible. I am disappointed that however hard I try, I am unable to make my refills an affordable option for everybody I really want to change peoples’ consumption habits and make more people think of reusing rather than recycling but the cost of living crisis is making it harder for people to pay that bit more.

I think something needs to be done to support people to make the right decision for the planet like a surcharge on plastic packaging Manufacturers need to be encouraged to come up with refill solutions for the supermarkets to make the changes we need at a large scale.

I think something needs to be done to support people to make the right decision for the planet

Wave of group cycle rides shows demand for safe cycling

By Gavin Thomson, Transport Campaigner

We’ve known for a long time that areas of our cities have high levels of air pollution that’s damaging our health. Traffic fumes cause heart attacks, strokes, and respiratory problems like asthma. There’s also mounting evidence on the risks to cognitive function from the air we breathe, including links with dementia.

A new report from Environmental Standards Scotland the body that scrutinises environmental law shows that these air pollution problems go far beyond the biggest cities and that councils and the Scottish Government are failing to address it

Travelling by walking and cycling for short journeys is one of the best ways to get cars off the road, reducing pollution and carbon emissions. At the same time, it brings benefits for our physical and mental health.

We saw a huge increase in cycling over the first year of the pandemic which made it even more clear that people will cycle if they feel safe, whether that means fewer cars on the road or

segregated cycle lanes. Councils have a range of powers at their disposal to make it safe, easy, and cheap to travel sustainably, but progress has been slow all over the country.

At the same time, we’re seeing an increasing number of grassroots cycling initiatives taking place to try and make the changes that people want to see coming from councils

Group cycle rides

If you live in Inverness, you might have seen a big colourful bike ride around the city centre It’s called Kidical Mass and since the first one in Scotland started in Inverness, we’ve seen the idea begin to spread across the rest of the country.

Kidical Mass groups comprise parents and children who take part in regular bike rides to raise awareness of the barriers that people, in particular children, face to cycling But it’s not just parents and children who take part, these rides benefit everyone from wheelchair users, to people with visual impairments and all members of the community

They are well established so far in Inverness, Perth and Dundee, but I’m sure we’ll see more of them in our towns and cities soon.

The name is a pun on ‘critical mass’ a bike ride which happens in cities around the world, including Inverness, Glasgow and Edinburgh, for cyclists to reclaim space by riding together.

We’re also starting to see more ‘bike buses’ popping up to help children cycle to school while staying safe and protected by going in a group These bike buses, for example at Shawlands Primary in Glasgow and Corstorphine Primary in Edinburgh, are great because cycling and physical activity really benefits children at school

All of these rides are safely stewarded, mainly by mums and dads, and are loads of fun.

Why are these ideas taking off so quickly?

This rise in open and accessible rides to help children cycle safely has likely been encouraged by the shifts in how we moved around over the course of the pandemic.

During the first lockdown back in spring 2020, there was a huge increase in family cycling because there were no cars on our streets.

The safety that this brought encouraged lots of people who wouldn’t otherwise have cycled to get out on the roads with their children.

When the cars started returning, many people stopped cycling as much because they didn’t feel as confident on the busy roads. This is why it’s so important that bike rides are stewarded with plenty of hi vis.

Research has shown that many parents would rather not drive to school but they are worried about safety so these initiatives are a great way to tackle this and show councils what change is needed.

Meanwhile, over the last couple of years, cities across Europe have been closing off roads to cars so that they can open up to people Paris and London have both made big changes to make it easier to get around by bike.

Closer to home, Glasgow City Council has announced big plans for reshaping the city centre. But many of our cities and large towns have remained the same ≠ and even reversed the spaces for people measures that were brought in during the pandemic

Families moving faster than councils

What unites all these rides and campaigns is that families are moving faster than councils. People want to be able to cycle around safely and to do that at the moment – while they’re waiting for councils to build segregated cycle networks they need to have a lot of adults in hi-vis.

The money is available for cycling. The Scottish Government has committed to spending 10% of the total transport budget

on active travel (walking, wheeling and cycling). This is the necessary level of investment to reduce car use and consequently to reduce emissions, and it's a massive increase on the spending we’ve seen in recent years.

So there’s loads more cash coming for councils that want to create new cycle lanes, or improve pavements, or create small green spaces from former parking spaces, or a hundred other ways to make our towns safer and greener. The only question is whether councils will spend it.

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