Continue reading Musselburgh kids help safeguard the future of golden eagles
SCOTLAND’S ‘woke’ kids are bullying their parents into becoming more eco-friendly to save the planet, according to new research by leading comparison site Moneyexpert.com.
Pester power is becoming a force for good as half of mums and dads (48%) say they have been pressured to go green and save energy by the mini-Greta Thunbergs in their own home.
And while you might expect vocal teenagers to drive behaviour change – two thirds (65%) of parents say the pressure is coming from kids as young as 4!
The study, to mark Big Energy Saving Week, may highlight the visibility and influence that the teenage climate-change activist, and recent events such as the Australian bush fires, are having on the nation’s kids, and their family’s energy consumption habits at home.
Four in five (80%) parents say the ‘mini Greta’ in their home has talked more or asked more questions about the environment and the climate crisis over the past 12 months.
Wildlife TV presenter and conservationist Michaela Strachan said: “We are in crisis mode when it comes to looking after our planet. We all need to radically change our behaviour to live in a more sustainable way and we need to do it now.
“Last year was a serious wakeup call when we all became aware of just how serious the challenge has become. It is so inspiring to see that children are leading the way, taking action, encouraging their parents to change and becoming future eco warriors.”
And as a consequence of this planet-friendly pester power, the most common changes made are walking or cycling more (44%), making more of an effort to turn off the lights (35%), turning down the thermostat (21%), washing clothes at lower temperatures (18%), and taking shorter showers (14%).
However, despite kids heaping on the pressure, four in five (80%) parents say that it’s actually their children who are the biggest energy-wasters. Half (49%) of parents say they still have to nag their eco-warrior kids to switch off lights in unused rooms, and 29% say their child takes longer than usual in the shower.
Over the past 12 months 92% of parents have made environmental changes to their lifestyle and to the running of their home, with three in five (61%) admitting that if it wasn’t for their child, they wouldn’t have realised the importance and impact of their current actions.
However, despite being inspired to take positive actions, only a quarter (27%) of parents say they currently use a renewable energy provider. And it appears they are a little “green” about how it works.
30% say they won’t switch because they believe green energy is more expensive than their current energy provider, and more than one in 10 (11%) believe switching won’t make a tangible difference to the climate crisis.
However, recent analysis by Moneyexpert.com highlighted that for the cost of powering a home with average gas and electricity yearly consumption, savings of over £300 per year can be made by switching to green energy rates.
A fifth (20%) hold the misconception that a renewable electricity supplier sends energy direct from solar and wind farms into people’s homes, when in reality, everyone gets their electricity from the same grid and it’s a question of how a supplier sources electricity that matches what you use.
Jason Smith, CEO of Moneyexpert.com, said: “Typically the focus of Big Energy Saving Week is about making ethical choices about energy consumption – and in light of the climate crisis, we want to make people aware that it is absolutely possible to save money in an environmentally responsible way.
“Misperceptions about the cost of green energy are getting in the way of people taking steps that are both purse-friendly and planet-friendly. With a couple more months of winter, and high energy bills ahead, now is a great time to listen to your kids, re-evaluate your current expenditure, and explore whether there’s a better deal available from a renewable energy supplier.”
For information on how you can save both money and energy and find a green energy provider, visit Moneyexpert.com.
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Major Investment at Seafield Waste Water Treatment Works
Following an independent review, a number of recommendations were made for the site and these improvements have been delivered.
In addition to measures already taken, Scottish Water’s further investment of about £10 million in improved sludge storage will be delivered during a new investment programme, which starts in 2021.
This follows a review of treatment capacity in the region which has established that Seafield and Newbridge WWTWs can accommodate forecast growth in the region until at least 2029, after which there will need to be a review of further required investment at that time.
Scottish Water will work with its partners in the Edinburgh and Lothians Drainage Partnership (ELDP) to reduce the amount of surface water entering our sewers and volumes arriving at Seafield WWTW, and to mitigate climate change risks.
Scottish Water is committed to minimising odour issues in the area of the Seafield WWTW and is working closely with its operating partners, Veolia, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and Edinburgh City Council.
Douglas Millican, Scottish Water’s Chief Executive, said: “Scottish Water has already completed a lot of the work that was recommended in the independent review and we are committed to working with the community going forward to ensure that the planned investment and future investment is done in partnership.
“We are bringing forward this investment in extra sludge storage to help with odour risk management and we are confident that, as strategically important sites, Seafield WWTW and Newbridge WWTW can accommodate additional waste water to meet the needs of a growing region.”
He added: “Scottish Water is committed to working with stakeholders on our short-term investment and in developing options for Seafield WWTW in the long-term.”
Ben Macpherson, constituency MSP and Chair of the Seafield Stakeholder Group welcomed the planned Scottish Water investment at Seafield WWTW.
He said: “I very much welcome this £10 million of major investment by Scottish Water to upgrade the Seafield Waste Water Treatment Works and minimise odour issues in the area.
“I pay tribute to all of the Stakeholder Group for helping to secure this investment, and particularly the local Community Council and Residents’ Association who, along with others including myself, have campaigned for improvements over several years.
“Following the recent independent review of the site and surrounding networks, I’m pleased that Scottish Water is implementing the recommendations and that our Stakeholder Group has made a positive impact.
“This investment should make a meaningful difference towards addressing the odour issues that occur in Leith, and improve the performance of the Seafield Waste Water Treatment Works for the benefit of Edinburgh as a whole.”
Roseanna Cunningham, Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, said: “This latest investment from Scottish Water into our biggest waste water treatment works, is an important step in improving operational resilience and ensuring the site continues to serve the growing needs of our capital city.”
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Amid media reports that security costs for UN Climate Change Conference (COP 26) in Glasgow could cost “several hundred million pounds”, GMB Scotland Secretary Gary Smith said: “The prospect of hundreds of millions of pounds of public money spent on policing costs alone will sicken frontline council staff and struggling local communities.
“The world’s political elite will swoop in and out of Glasgow later in the year but the city’s many challenges will remain the day after the circus leave town.
“What exactly are we hoping to showcase by hosting this summit?
“The Glasgow waste crisis is getting worse – you only need to look at the latest footage of the conditions facing cleansing workers on a daily basis.
“Our home carers are working alone on foot at night to provide basic home care help for some of our most vulnerable citizens.
“The council needs to find an additional £250 million to settle residual equal pay claims for tens of thousands of council staff past and present.
“It also needs to replace its discriminatory WPBR with a new job evaluation system lifts up the pay and conditions of chronically low-paid staff.
“Our priorities are all wrong. The best thing government could do for Glasgow is to ditch hosting the COP and instead invest the money in dealing with the state of the city.”
Up to 200 world leaders are expected to attend the 2020 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 26) from 9 – 19 November. The event is being hosted by the UK Government, but exactly who will foot the massive security bill is still to be agreed.
Rest assured, though, that whether it’s Westminster, Holyrood or both sharing the burden – one way or another, you and I will ultimately pick up the tab!
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