James Thinks : Environment

writing is a kind of thinking

Sloping roof with 12 solar panels on red brick house under a partially-overcast sky.
Living with domestic solar panels

Solar panels are now a regular sight on rooftops. We've had them nearly three years, so I'll share our experiences of installation and use.
Partial view of an air-source heat pump standing on grass by a brick wall.
Living with an air-source heat pump

Our experience with an air-source heat pump providing domestic heating and hot water.
Handwritten letter regarding the CEE bill
Letter asking MP to support the climate and ecological emergency bill

I'm writing to ask you to support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill.
Wooden building front with tiled roof and Centre for Alternative Technology sign. In front is parked a well-laden bicycle.
Centre for Alternative Technology Short Course: Scaling up community action

My experiences of attending the Centre for Alternative Technology course: Zero Carbon Britain - Scaling-up Community Action in the Climate and Ecological Emergency.
Striped paper straws of various colours on a flat surface
Social action: Voluntary or mandatory

There's a long-running debate within climate activism about whether to concentrate on individual changes or more systemic ones... I want to look at it from another angle.
Solar farm arranged to resemble a panda
Technology as a climate saviour

A big part of what I’ve found comforting, has been thinking that technology would solve the problem of climate change.
Board game laid out on wooden table. Cards and player board in the foreground, in the background is the main Daybreak board showing globe and thermometer.
Board game review: Daybreak

Review of the co-operative climate change board game, Daybreak.
Airliner viewed from below showing contrails against dark sky
Are environmental campaigners hypocrites?

A famous environmental campaigner takes a flight, eats meat or drives a car. These are environmentally-damaging activities. They are therefore a hypocrite and can be ignored.
Coloured picture of the globe centered at zero degrees of longitude, showing populated areas in red, shipping lanes in yellow. Label states
Global temperatures and reduced atmospheric aerosols

Making sense of 2023's unusually high temperatures in the context of some recent research.
Newspaper article with flowers picture listing some UK carbon emissions
How much does your personal carbon footprint matter?

Asking individuals to change their lifestyles to help the planet is nothing new. We’ve known about climate change since at least the 90s. Even back then people were encouraged to recycle, drive less and so on.