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Permaculture Ecologi

Permaculture. The clue is in the name.

What is it that links biodiversity loss, ecological degradation, growing depression and a nagging sense of purposelessness pervading the lives of so many? According to a growing movement connecting the ecological crisis to the underlying values at the heart of society, it is our disconnection from nature, and by extension, ourselves.

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For the first few hundred thousand years of human life, we understood ourselves as intimately intertwined with nature, roaming the land in search of hospitable terrain and climate, relying on simple technology to take our fair share of its bounty. With the advent of agriculture, we began to insulate ourselves from predators and inclement climate, able to remain in one place permanently thanks to the creation of settlements and preserving crops in storehouses in case of rainy days. 
Whilst this brought increased security, it also planted the seed of a mentality that nature is something separate from us, to be conquered or guarded against, rather than something of which we are a constituent part. Something we are causally connected to, not merely affected by, and affecting ourselves through our actions. Fast forward 10,000 years or so and this mentality has been carried to its logical conclusion. In search of ever more comfortable and pleasure-filled existences, we have transformed our view of nature from one of respect and awe at that which sustains us into seeing it as a mere resource to be exploited at any cost.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in modern agriculture. As production must rise to meet ever increasing global demand, we gradually deplete our soil through intensive practices which focus on short term yields at the expense of long term health. We <a href="https://ecologi.com/articles/blog/industries-and-sectors-driving-deforestation-what-you-need-to-know" target="_blank" rel="noopener">eviscerate rainforests and replace them with meat and dairy farms</a>, thereby substituting invaluable carbon sinks with a highly resource-intensive industry; or we replace these forests with monocultures (of palm trees for palm oil or soy as animal feed for example) thereby replacing the invaluable biodiversity of the rainforest with what amount to ecological deserts.
When doubts are raised about conventional agricultural practices, the response is that this is the only choice we have in order to be able to feed a global population estimated to be<a href="https://www.un.org/development/desa/en/news/population/world-population-prospects-2017.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 9.8 billion by 2050</a>. But this is a fallacy. Not only will we begin to run out of soil with the capacity to produce nutritional crops as land becomes more scarce and we cannot simply move onto the next field when we have worn out whatever patch we are on. By continuing to treat nature as a resource to be exploited, we will overtip our planetary scales in numerous areas essential to life on earth, from biodiversity loss to greenhouse gas emissions to water depletion. By focusing merely on short term production without looking at the root cause of what has created the emergency we find ourselves in &#8211; namely our positioning ourselves as antithetical to nature &#8211; we are doomed to repeat the same mistakes.

Thankfully, there are ways of protecting our planet’s natural biodiversity whilst supporting the global populace. They simply often go ignored because they are far less profitable for multinational agrochemical corporations (since they rely less on expensive artificial fertilisers and expensive patented seeds for example) and because they advocate a lifestyle which is not endorsed by our current economic and political reality, moving away from rampant consumerism to a slower-paced reconnection with nature. (They are also, admittedly, more complicated and labour-intensive by and large, but this can certainly be viewed as a positive as a means to provide employment for a growing population and reestablishing our connection to nature in the process.)
The umbrella term for this type of agriculture is known as Permaculture. The name denotes an emphasis on sustainable (ie ‘permanent’) methods of cultivating the land. This can take many forms, from agroforestry to rewilding to regenerative agriculture, all united by understanding nature as a self-regenerating system of which we are a part. As a system which has been sustaining itself for 6 billion years in ever-increasing complexity and sophistication, nature already bears within it all of the intelligence needed to propagate its flourishing. Permaculture asserts that we do not need to add to or take anything away from nature, but rather to interact with it based on the principles that it outlines to us if we pay close enough attention.

A particularly interesting example of permaculture is<a href="https://agendagotsch.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Syntropic Agriculture</a>, because it aims to reduce invasive intervention in nature to a minimum. Far from requiring chemical additives to increase soil productivity for example, natural cycles are catalysed in order that soil becomes richer and richer with every passing harvest. As the fastest growing plants grow too tall and begin to deprive the others of sunlight, they are cut down or pruned, their dead leaves and branches acting as biomass which not only enriches the soil but can<a href="https://agendagotsch.com/en/water-can-be-planted-video/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> pass on genetic information</a> to the other plants which helps them to grow faster in turn.
The soil is not tilled where possible (a key principle of regenerative agriculture more broadly), which would release valuable nutrients (as well as locked in carbon) into the atmosphere. Rather the soil is left alone to become richer and richer as layers upon layers of biomass build up. Additionally, rather than introducing pesticides or farm animals to kill pests, Syntropic Agriculture aims to allow natural cycles to take place and find balance. This may mean letting a field of lettuce be destroyed by slugs for one harvest in order to allow natural predators to emerge by the next cycle who will manage the problem for you, thereby avoiding any unpredictable disruption to the natural biological hierarchies in place.
Protecting the harvest is thought of systemically, through having a diverse crop which is not vulnerable to any one pest. This contrasts with conventional farming which focuses on monocultures &#8211; innately devoid of the diversity which brings resilience &#8211; which must be protected at all costs with chemicals which are toxic not only to pests but humans as well.

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These more natural techniques (not to be confused as technological simple: often they make use of advanced but ecological-friendly machinery and tools) are often thought of as idealistic throwbacks which are too inefficient to meet glowing global demand. It is true that sustainable farming does often prove slightly less efficient than conventional farming in the short term. Firstly however, this is not always the case. For example, organic crops have been known to do better in drought conditions because<a href="https://you.stonybrook.edu/environment/sustainable-vs-conventional-agriculture/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> they retain more water,</a> which is highly relevant considering<a href="https://www.wri.org/blog/2017/08/7-reasons-were-facing-global-water-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> growing global water shortages</a>. 
But much more significantly, the concept of short-term efficiency at the expense of long-term sustainability is fundamentally flawed. A system which depletes water and energy reserves, biodiversity and soil health at a rate faster than the planet can replenish those resources is inherently unsustainable. Only a system which regenerates nature alongside and by means of producing the resources it needs can meet the competing restrictions of global food demand and planetary limitations.
 The real issue is not one of productive capacity, but what we choose to consume. One hectare of beef pasture land can feed one person for a year, whereas<a href="https://www.theworldcounts.com/challenges/consumption/foods-and-beverages/world-consumption-of-meat/story" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> one hectare of rice cropland can feed 20.</a> Permaculture will therefore tend to focus on crop production as opposed to animal rearing (though there are many examples of meat-farming in permaculture, such as mob grazing, whereby animals are introduced cyclically onto different segments of land to kill pests and provide natural fertiliser) and naturally advocates a predominantly vegetarian diet, the adoption of which by the global populace would allow us to<a href="https://www.downtoearth.org/blogs/2012-05/world-hunger-can-be-solved-vegetarian-diet" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> feed everyone easily.</a> 
There are growing signs that the status quo is changing, with DEFRA announcing the<a href="https://business.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0300b5532c917bd63846a4fa2&amp;id=bcc73a8117&amp;e=a0a03d19f1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Path to Sustainable Farming</a>, a seven year roadmap to bring agriculture in the UK in line with the UK’s target to achieve net-zero by 2050, and will involve ideas such as rewarding farmers for managing their land in such way that promotes carbon storage and improvement of soil health. It has been criticised for a lack of concrete proposals and commitment to genuine sustainability, but it is unquestionably a step in the right direction.
Regardless of the technical arguments however, the main argument for permaculture centres around the values we hold. What kind of world do we want to inhabit: one in which we respect nature and work the land in a manner consistent with and complementary to ancient intelligence? Or one where we push it to the brink of what it can produce in search of increasingly disconnected and cosseted lifestyles? The choice we make will define whether humans flourish or perish over the coming decades.

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You can find out more about permaculture and ways you can get involved <a href="https://www.permaculture.org.uk">here</a>. And if agriculture isn’t your bag, there are several other ways to make a difference, from<a href="https://ecologi.com"> planting trees</a> to pushing for<a href="https://extinctionrebellion.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> political change</a> to<a href="https://www.triodos.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> greening your finances</a>. Because sustainability isn’t just about what we eat; it’s a mindset we all must adopt in every area of our lives.

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UK Overshoot Day 2022

This year’s 2022 UK Overshoot Day falls on 19th May. Here’s a look at what<a href="https://www.overshootday.org/newsroom/country-overshoot-days/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Earth Overshoot Day</a> is, what it means for our environment and how we can help.

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Earth Overshoot Day marks the date in the calendar when the human demand for Earth’s natural resources exceeds what the planet can generate within a year. Put simply, once we’ve passed Earth Overshoot Day, it’s a clear indication that we are using the Earth’s resources at an unsustainable rate.  
A country’s overshoot day is determined by working out whether its Ecological Footprint per person is less than the global biocapacity per person, which is 1.6 global hectares. If a country exceeds its allowance, it’s using resources the Earth can’t replace quickly enough.

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Who’s responsible for Earth Overshoot Day?

Every nation on the planet is responsible for Earth Overshoot Day. Each individual country’s Overshoot Day is based on their demand and use, with some nations being bigger culprits than others. 
No two countries consume natural resources in the same way, so it stands to reason that Earth Overshoot Day will be different for many countries &#8211; some countries don’t have a determined Overshoot Day if their Ecological Footprint per person is less than the global biocapacity per person. Let’s be clear though – while an Overshoot Day later in the year may seem like a good indication, a country’s goal should be to have no determined Overshoot Day at all. Having a later Overshoot Day just means that these nations don’t take as long to exceed their allowance. 
It’s key to remember that while each country may have a determined Overshoot Day, global warming knows no borders. Regardless of the country, it’s vital to raise awareness about the unsustainable use of resources so that people from every nation are aware of what they’re consuming.

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What does Earth Overshoot Day mean for our environment?

There are many contributing factors from different industries and activities that influence Earth Overshoot Day, but some of the biggest culprits are:
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<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The amount of energy we consume, specifically non-renewables, like coal and oil. <a href="https://www.overshootday.org/solutions/energy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">We need to be investing and using renewable energy</a>, like solar and wind power and reducing our reliance on our cars.</li>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Resources required to feed the human population, and the amount of food that goes to waste. Not only does it take a lot of energy to grow the crops that feed our feed, but the cost of transporting goods from one place to another also consumes dirty energy that’s negatively impacting the environment. </li>
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Being responsible for Earth Overshoot Day doesn’t solely lie with politicians. Every day people can do their bit to reduce the demand for Earth’s natural resources. It starts with small changes to your lifestyle and spreading the word.
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<h3>Change your eating habits</h3>
Vegan and vegetarian diets are less resource intensive. Consuming less meat and animal products, particularly beef and dairy products, and switching to plant-based alternatives can go a long way to helping. 
For example, China’s government has committed to reducing half of its meat consumption by 2030, which would shrink humanity’s Ecological Footprint by 377 million global hectares, and move the date of Earth Overshoot Day back 5 days. This figure also includes methane emissions from cow flatulence. 
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<h3>Waste not, want not</h3>
Some 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted every year, which equates to about a third of all food produced to feed humans. What’s more, roughly 40% of the food goes to waste in the United States. According to the UN, cutting the world’s food waste by half would move Overshoot Day by nearly two weeks.
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<h3>Rethink your energy consumption</h3>
57% of humanity’s Ecological Footprint comes from carbon. By reducing carbon from humanity’s Ecological Footprint in half changes our consumption of 1.6 of Earth’s resources, right down to 1.1 and moves the date of Overshoot Day by nearly three months.

The key to success is using the Earth’s resources effectively and sustainably, and the good news is that simple changes to our lifestyles can make a huge difference in eradicating the concept of  Earth Overshoot Day.
We all have a part to play in collectively ensuring a sustainable  future.
<a href="https://ecologi.com/plan">Sign up today to take climate action with Ecologi</a>.

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Beyond eco-anxiety: How climate change affects your mental health

The climate crisis is arguably the greatest threat to life on our planet. It is a threat that we have met with astonishingly inadequate action. Climate change is a perfect storm &#8211; because it is often invisible and seen as a future problem, our psychological reaction often doesn’t match the urgency of the crisis. 
 
Social scientists have termed climate change a “<a href="https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/wicked-problem/about/What-is-a-wicked-problem" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wicked issue</a>” for its tendency to result in people avoiding concrete action because it appears distant to so many of us, predominantly in nations in the Global North which have been least impacted from the most direct impacts of climate change so far. There is no denying that the climate crisis is a highly complex issue, and this is reflected in the diverse ways in which we must respond to it.
Our physical and psychological reactions to climate change are rooted in our very biological make-up: whenever we perceive a threat we exhibit a fight, flight or freeze response. These reactions developed as a survival mechanism when we still had to face predators, but have persisted because evolution moves at a much slower pace than human civilisations. Someone who is predisposed to a flight response may be a climate denier or refuse to engage with the topic, while a fight response can manifest as activism to the point of burnout. The freeze response to the climate crisis is often termed eco-paralysis, which can lead to a variety of outcomes &#8211; avoidance of the issue, but also depression and despair.
In experiencing climate-related mental health issues, the first step is to recognise that they are a healthy response to the crisis we find ourselves in. The highly dysfunctional systems of racial capitalism, oppression and <a href="https://bricksmagazine.co.uk/2021/08/10/racism-extractivism-and-capitalism/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">extractivism</a> that permeate most aspects of our lives have rendered many of us numb to the reality of human and ecological devastation. We must actively seek to regain our agency as empathetic, ecological beings. The first step towards doing this is acknowledging our very much justified emotions concerning climate change.

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Eco-anxiety can be broadly described as a form of existential dread, which results in often continuous feelings of negativity, stress, or even panic. It can be triggered in a variety of ways and relate to both experienced or observed impacts of climate change, as well as anticipated events. In extreme cases, anxiety can lead to physical illness through over-exposure to stress chemicals. 
Eco-anxiety must be taken seriously. At a climate protest a few years ago, I met someone who had tragically lost their child to suicide after grappling with debilitating eco-anxiety for months. The current state of the world can be all-consuming, and it is important to recognise when professional or even medical support is needed &#8211; with organisations such as <a href="https://www.climatepsychologyalliance.org/support/indsupport" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Climate Psychology Alliance</a> leading the way in addressing climate-related mental health issues.
Eco-anxiety is a global phenomenon affecting many people, including <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3918955" target="_blank" rel="noopener">young people</a>. Accounts of eco-anxiety that we hear about in the UK have predominantly stemmed from the Global North, with a focus on observed rather than experienced events, and anticipated rather than experienced environmental degradation and catastrophe. It is, however, anything but a phenomenon solely of the Global North; anxiety rooted in environmental damage has been experienced in Indigenous and Global South populations for many years, with academics such as Ashlee Cunsolo having established a <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340880861_Indigenous_mental_health_in_a_changing_climate_A_systematic_scoping_review_of_the_global_literature" target="_blank" rel="noopener">global perspective</a> on the topic. For Indigenous populations, both eco-anxiety and climate grief are the result of painfully real, physical losses felt by those at the frontline of climate impacts, which lead to the loss of traditional knowledge and place-based identity. It is essential, therefore, that we make our advocacy around eco-anxiety <a href="https://www.badactivistcollective.com/the-bad-book/eco-anxiety" target="_blank" rel="noopener">intersectional</a>.

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Losing home, one day at a time: Solastalgia

Another phenomenon growing in significance globally is solastalgia &#8211; the distress of seeing our home environment degraded or destroyed, or anticipating further damage. It is a homesickness that is felt without leaving one’s doorstep, an amalgamation of complicated place-based grief and nostalgia. The growing school of Ecopsychology, which recognises the interconnectedness of people and their surrounding ecosystems, is a much-needed criticism of Western psychology’s inability to explain mental health phenomena outside the context of our urban-industrial society. Environmental change affects us, on a very visceral level. The causal relationships between access to nature and mental and physical health are well-established and should not be ignored.
My experience with solastalgia is a very personal one. I grew up in a bleak tower block in a largely undeveloped area, surrounded by wetlands. Those natural habitats were a lifeline for me &#8211; for many hours each day, I would roam the fields, collecting nature memorabilia, identifying species, and playing with my friends. We were economically poor, but as long as we were outside, we were happy. Over the years, more and more of the wetland was drained and built up to create housing for the emerging middle class &#8211; most of them employed in the local chemical industry. My friends and I found ourselves more and more confined to indoor spaces, watching our beloved playing fields being chipped away at, bit by bit. My sister, who is ten years younger, never experienced those wetlands. There are times when I wonder how many generations we have left before natural spaces completely disappear from our childhoods.

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Between loss and acceptance: Climate grief

A lot of my academic work focuses on the relationship between people and nature, and their inextricable interdependence. Climate grief is a stark example of this connection. Similar to the loss of a loved one, people can grieve for the loss of natural habitats, whether they are present in their own lives or not. In my own research on the topic, I interviewed climate activists from around the world experiencing climate grief (also called ecological or environmental grief). The results were surprising. People could be immensely affected by witnessing destruction with their own eyes, but also by watching a news piece on bushfires in Australia for example, or the destruction of the Amazon rainforest &#8211; a phenomenon called vicarious trauma. After an initial period of shock and outrage following the realisation of the extent of the climate crisis, many would fall into a state of depression, with little to no capacity for action. This is followed by acceptance, from which constructive action could follow. 
Rather than denying our feelings, climate grief can be tackled by embracing difficult emotions. As Leslie Davenport writes in Emotional Resiliency in the Era of Climate Change, “as we begin to express our thoughts, feelings and behaviour in alignment with our deepest values, we build tremendous strength and resiliency.” Observing our ‘emotional visitors’ without judgement is an essential part of that, she stresses and is the first step towards conscious adaptation to our lived realities. Rather than letting our grief become despair, we can use it as a tool to push for change.

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Cultivating resilience in the age of climate chaos

While the above serves as a brief introduction to different (environ)mental health phenomena, I want to stress that it is impossible to put these into strict categories. Many experiences of eco-anxiety, solastalgia, climate grief and eco-paralysis overlap, and the lines between them are often blurred. Insisting on strict definitions and categorisations would not do justice to the diversity of human experience with regard to the climate crisis, and would make a cross-cultural, intersectional approach to the topic impossible. The boon and bane of eco-anxiety and Co are that they do not fit into our institutionalised models of mental health &#8211; which on the one hand complicates access to professional services, but on the other hand, transcends the binary lens through which Western academia views mental health.

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So, how do we cultivate resilience in the face of perpetual crisis? 

On an individual level, the first step is to actively cherish what we still have. Time in nature is a powerful antidote to negative emotions. Research has found that spending just <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-44097-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">120 minutes a week</a> in nature can seriously improve our mental health. 
However, to truly fight the intersecting crises of climate and mental health, we need other people. My own research showed that people drew the most strength from being in the community and realising that they’re not alone with their feelings. Community is where the spark of resistance is born, where movements are built. As someone who has experienced depression and anxiety from the state of the world, activism has often been a lifeline for me &#8211; given that it is <a href="https://shesapiens.com/mental-health-as-an-activist/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">balanced</a> with periods of rest, regeneration and active <a href="https://repeller.com/what-is-pleasure-activism/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">joy</a>. 
The intimate relationship between climate and mental health highlights the interdependence of all things, where one action influences all others. To quote <a href="https://sarahjaquetteray.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sarah Jaquette Ray</a> in A field guide to climate anxiety, “in our Western culture, which prioritises reason over feeling, emotional intelligence is a radical concept.” It is time to reclaim that awareness and take action rooted in radical acceptance of our hurt, anger, fear and fierce love for the planet. And we must reclaim it collectively. Because politics won’t save us &#8211; only our communities can.

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Jessica Kleczka is a climate activist, social scientist and writer. With a background in Psychology and Environmental Science, she currently works in climate policy and as a freelance journalist, with a focus on amplifying grassroots movements around the world. She is passionate about mental health awareness and advocates for a just transition away from fossil fuels. Learn more about Jessica’s work <a href="https://www.jessicakleczka.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">on her website</a>.

A note from Ecologi 
 
In facing the climate crisis, we need all of us to be resilient. Resilience doesn’t mean never feeling sad or angry about climate change – it means taking steps to securing long term wellbeing and agency in the face of the challenges we face.
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If you are feeling burned out, overwhelmed, or in despair, we’ve collected some resources from organisations doing amazing work on eco-anxiety, which we hope might help.
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<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The <a href="https://www.allwecansave.earth/project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">All We Can Save Project</a> is an amazing resource for community building and sharing deeper dialogue about the climate crisis. There’s a book, All We Can Save, to read – or you could <a href="https://www.allwecansave.earth/circles" target="_blank" rel="noopener">start an All We Can Save Circle</a> which you could start with your friends or in your workplace. The Project also lists resources for <a href="https://www.allwecansave.earth/emotions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">working with climate emotions</a>.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Force of Nature runs <a href="https://www.forceofnature.xyz/podcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a thought-provoking podcast</a> centred around eco-anxiety and how to turn eco-anxiety into agency, as well as <a href="https://www.forceofnature.xyz/the-bloom" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a media platform called The Bloom</a> for young voices to express their feelings, thoughts and actions in the face of the climate crisis.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.theresilienceproject.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Resilience Project</a> trains young people to run peer-to-peer support circles based on the latest insights from psychology and neuroscience to <a href="https://www.theresilienceproject.org.uk/our-work" target="_blank" rel="noopener">build a resilient generation of youth</a>.</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.climatepsychologyalliance.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Climate Psychology Alliance</a> holds regular online ‘<a href="https://www.climatepsychologyalliance.org/events/500-climate-cafe-jan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Climate Cafes’</a> which you can attend to discuss fears &amp; uncertainties about our climate &amp; ecological crisis, all while in a safe and empathetic space with others who feel the same.

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The Impact of the Internet: risks of the digital era

The last Blockbuster store remains in Oregon as of 2022, symbolising how we have truly shifted into a new era of digital transformation. And as many opt for alternatives in this hyper-digital world, we must also acknowledge the somewhat surprising effect that the internet has on the environment and whether the risks outweigh the positives.

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How much is the internet contributing to carbon emissions?

With streaming services, innovative technology and even a global pandemic, the demand for digital technology continues to be on the rise. According to the <a href="https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Pages/stat/default.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ITU</a> (International Telecommunication Union), <a href="https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200305-why-your-internet-habits-are-not-as-clean-as-you-think" target="_blank" rel="noopener">4.1 billion people or 56.6%</a> of the world now uses the internet. The entire internet infrastructure (including the systems that enable it to exist and operate and the gadgets we use to connect to it) is responsible for approximately <a href="https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200305-why-your-internet-habits-are-not-as-clean-as-you-think" target="_blank" rel="noopener">3.7%</a> of global greenhouse gas emissions. Data centres in the US alone are responsible for <a href="https://www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/data-centers-and-servers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2% of the country’s electricity use</a>.
Around a decade ago, Alex Wissner-Gross, an environmental fellow at Harvard University claimed that<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ethicallivingblog/2009/jan/12/carbon-emissions-google" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> two Google searches produces as much carbon dioxide as boiling the kettle for a cup of tea</a>. Wissner-Gross highlighted that by Google fulfilling its primary aim to provide <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ethicallivingblog/2009/jan/12/carbon-emissions-google" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fast internet searches</a>, it ultimately placed a burden on the amount of energy that is required. The Guardian interpreted this claim by Wissner-Gross to say that it would mean <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ethicallivingblog/2009/jan/12/carbon-emissions-google" target="_blank" rel="noopener">3,500 tonnes of CO2 is released daily (or 1.28 million tonnes per year)</a> just by using the infamous search engine. To allow more of a visual representation, they compared this to the carbon emissions produced by Laos, a country home to over <a href="https://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/laos-population#:~:text=The%20current%20population%20of%20Laos,1%2C%202022%20population%20at%207%2C481%2C023." target="_blank" rel="noopener">7 million citizens</a>. Therefore, claiming that the digital era is ‘less energy-hungry’ may be a pretence as it could actually consume as much as it did <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/aug/12/carbon-footprint-internet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">around 20 years ago</a>. However, in the past 10 years or so, some companies operating in this space have realised the need to meet their huge energy demands by using <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jan/28/google-tech-giants-spark-record-rise-in-sales-of-renewable-energy">energy from renewable source</a>s rather than fossil fuels, reducing the greenhouse gas emissions they are responsible for. Carbon offsetting has also been funded by some of these corporations in order to reduce the impact on the planet of the emissions they are responsible for. What hasn&#8217;t changed though, and is in fact still increasing, is the huge amount of energy consumed by their activities, and consequently by our usage of the internet.

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Web hosting can be described as a <a href="https://medium.com/wedonthavetime/guest-blog-post-the-alarming-environmental-impact-of-the-internet-and-how-you-can-help-6ff892b8730d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">‘rented home that a website lives in’</a>, and being a carbon-neutral web host means making sustainable choices to safeguard the environment.   Thus, for activity on the website to be seen as sustainable, the ‘house’ the search is conducted in, the files are accessed from, and the data is stored in, must also follow sustainable practices. 
Data centres can be interpreted as one of the core issues of how the internet is contributing to the current climate crisis, as they account for <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/aug/12/carbon-footprint-internet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">around half a percent of global CO2 emissions</a>. According to The Shift Project, data centres contribute up to <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/c719f655-149c-4ce0-a7a5-18527c7776cf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">15% of the IT sector’s digital footprint</a>. Furthermore, statistics show that Google has emitted <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/c719f655-149c-4ce0-a7a5-18527c7776cf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1.5 million tonnes</a> of greenhouse gases in 2020, Microsoft emitted around <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/c719f655-149c-4ce0-a7a5-18527c7776cf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">16 million tonnes</a>, and Amazon emitted a whopping <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/c719f655-149c-4ce0-a7a5-18527c7776cf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">44 million tonnes</a>. With more than <a href="https://www.bigcommerce.com/blog/amazon-statistics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">197 million</a> people searching products on Amazon everyday (which is about 98.5 million cups of tea, I might add), carbon-neutral web hosting may be a solution to this rising issue.
Krystal hosting has responsibly planted over 1 million trees with Ecologi and were recently presented with a sustainable award to celebrate this special milestone. Krystal uses <a href="https://krystal.uk/green" target="_blank" rel="noopener">100% renewable electricity</a> from sources like the sun, wind and sea, as opposed to non-renewable sources like coal, oil, and natural gas. In 2017, Krystal became one of the first hosts to be run wholly on renewable energy and each and every one of their data centres has also achieved a PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) <a href="https://krystal.uk/green" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rating of at least 1.2</a>, which is regarded as ‘very efficient’. Krystal will also be offsetting lifetime carbon emissions of their employees, which is approximately around 20,420 tonnes of CO2e.  
Simon Blackler, Krystal CEO and Founder, said that “Last year we co-founded <a href="https://www.milliontreepledge.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MillionTreePledge.org</a> and after planting 1.2 million trees via Ecologi in 9 months, we completed the first part of the pledge. We’ve now set our sights on protecting or planting 1 billion trees by 2030.” 
Simon went further to explain the impact of <a href="https://ecologi.com/collective-action" target="_blank" rel="noopener">collective action</a> and how “combined efforts of many businesses of all sizes, can and will, make the impact our planet so desperately needs.” 
 
Ecologi readers wishing to use Krystal Hosting will be offered a 50% discount with code EcologiEarthDay22 during checkout, until the end of May. (T&amp;C’s apply).

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Blog_InternetImpact_Banner_03

With <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/may/03/internet-carbon-footprint" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1.5 billion people </a>using the net, it is no surprise that experts have estimated an annual <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/may/03/internet-carbon-footprint" target="_blank" rel="noopener">growth of 10%</a> in total energy footprints. 
A researcher at <a href="https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200305-why-your-internet-habits-are-not-as-clean-as-you-think" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lancaster university</a> compared the use of the internet to the airline industry, stating that they both emitted ‘similar levels’ of carbon emissions. To put that in context, the aviation industry is responsible for <a href="https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200218-climate-change-how-to-cut-your-carbon-emissions-when-flying" target="_blank" rel="noopener">5% of global warming</a>, accumulating around <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/guest-post-calculating-the-true-climate-impact-of-aviation-emissions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">32.6 billion tonnes of CO2e since 1940</a>. To make matters worse, it is predicted that these emissions will <a href="https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200305-why-your-internet-habits-are-not-as-clean-as-you-think" target="_blank" rel="noopener">double by 2025</a>. Some predictions are indicative of the fact that the internet will actually contribute to <a href="https://royalsociety.org/blog/2020/05/internet-emissions-whats-the-issue/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">23% of global carbon emissions by 2030</a>. 
<a href="https://www.clientearth.org/latest/latest-updates/stories/fossil-fuels-and-climate-change-the-facts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">80% of energy</a> used worldwide is dependent on non-renewable energy sources, and so are the most searched websites. A study conducted at Yale identified how internet usage increased by up to <a href="https://news.yale.edu/2021/01/27/surge-digital-activity-has-hidden-environmental-costs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">40% since lockdown occurred</a> in 2020, and that the environmental implications from this may have been overlooked. The study mentions how a <a href="https://news.yale.edu/2021/01/27/surge-digital-activity-has-hidden-environmental-costs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">forest twice the size of Portugal</a> would be required just to offset the emissions that occurred from 2020 to 2021, as a result of staying at home. In some way, the pandemic acted as a control variable, allowing experts to measure the impact that excess use of the internet has on the climate. 
<a href="https://www.websitecarbon.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Website Carbon</a> can help you identify and measure how much carbon a website emits each time its <a href="https://medium.com/wedonthavetime/guest-blog-post-the-alarming-environmental-impact-of-the-internet-and-how-you-can-help-6ff892b8730d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">homepage is visited.</a> 
Changes made now are crucial to moving away from high levels of risk that the internet poses for the environment and prospective climate initiatives. Simple actions can help, such as carbon-neutral web hosting, avoiding the urge to send unnecessary emails or limiting the number of files we save but don&#8217;t necessarily need. Of course, these feel rather insignificant, but collectively they lead to large-scale impact. It’s mind-boggling to think that if everyone in the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200305-why-your-internet-habits-are-not-as-clean-as-you-think" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UK sent one less ‘thank you’ email, 16,433 tonnes of carbon</a> could be saved in just one year. On top of that, did you know that the quality of streaming videos also affects the level of carbon emissions emitted? This means that if <a href="https://news.yale.edu/2021/01/27/surge-digital-activity-has-hidden-environmental-costs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">70 million streaming subscribers </a>reduced the quality of their video, <a href="https://news.yale.edu/2021/01/27/surge-digital-activity-has-hidden-environmental-costs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">3.5 million tonnes of emissions</a> could be avoided from entering our atmosphere.

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How can the internet help raise awareness?

It&#8217;s not all sombre clouds and weeping willows when it comes to the internet! In fact, in many ways the internet has helped introduce the concept of sustainability to the wider population. Be it by blogs, websites, digital news outlets or social media platforms, the world today provides endless means to accessing information relating to climate change. In other words, the internet has <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/social-media-and-saving-t_b_9100362" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reshaped our communication</a> and the way that we connect environmental challenges with feasible solutions. 
The director of Yale’s climate change communications program, said that the percentage of Americans who now viewed global warming as important was a <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/climate-change-awareness-polls-show-rising-concern-for-global-warming" target="_blank" rel="noopener">record-high 72% since 2018</a>. Meanwhile, in 2020, it was reported that around <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/articles/threequartersofadultsingreatbritainworryaboutclimatechange/2021-11-05" target="_blank" rel="noopener">three-quarters (76%) of adults living in the UK</a> were worried about climate change. 
The concept of ‘<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesellsmoor/2019/08/25/environmental-education-will-shape-a-new-generation-of-decision-makers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">conservation starts with education</a>’ relays the importance of acknowledging the role that the internet plays in building environmental awareness. In fact, a study conducted by Southern Cross University revealed that <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesellsmoor/2019/07/23/77-of-people-want-to-learn-how-to-live-more-sustainably/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">77%</a> of individuals were eager to learn about living a sustainable lifestyle. Whilst, an incredible <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesellsmoor/2019/07/23/77-of-people-want-to-learn-how-to-live-more-sustainably/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">93%</a> voiced concerns about the future of the planet.

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We can visibly measure the impact that digital communication has on the environment from turnouts for World Cleanup days, protests, and demonstrations continuing to increase exponentially. This influx of support has been thought to be generated predominantly by Gen Z, who appear to have a huge impact on leading brands due to their <a href="https://medium.com/@percevalroger_16306/how-social-media-helps-increasing-environmental-awareness-22daa21cbf8d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">high purchasing power</a>. 
Not just that, the surge of young climate activists who appear on social media has captivated the attention of millions around the world. According to the UNFCCC, ‘<a href="https://www.un.org/youthenvoy/environment-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Young people are key actors in raising awareness</a>’. These individuals make appearances at major climate events, such as <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/09/meet-the-youth-activists-fighting-for-climate-action-at-cop26.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">COP26</a> and are involved in discussions with world leaders to make a real change to their future. By gaining momentum on their following, these young activists have been able to pressure governments and businesses into meeting their environmental targets and agreements. 
Recently, two sisters were able to convince Kellogs, a multinational company dominating <a href="https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/analysis-change-kelloggs-top-table-kellogg-quick-answer-departure-its-marketing-chief-new-appointment-tania-mason-asks-changes-top-will-impact-cereals/149661#:~:text=Kellogg%20is%20unrivalled%20in%20terms,of%20the%20top%2015%20brands." target="_blank" rel="noopener">over 30%</a> of the market share for breakfast cereals, to halt their use of <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-51551431" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unsustainable palm oil</a>. This occurred as a result of a petition they started online, which was inspired by a documentary the girls had previously watched. Therefore, the internet has not only played a massive role in educating younger generations about the dangers of unsustainable practices, but has also provided them with a platform to voice their concerns.

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There is no doubt that the internet has helped connect us to the bigger picture and offered opportunities to make a real change. However, there’s also no denying the negative impact that the internet continues to have on the climate. Technology is only expanding, individuals are looking for newer and better digital designs and businesses are seeking ways in which they can increase their efficiency. All this places a huge amount of pressure on our planet and moving forward, this must be accounted for. 
We cannot stop anyone from using the internet, that is a given, but we can all be more responsible in how we send emails, save files, or watch videos. In the same way we replaced plastic straws and bags with reusable materials, let’s do our best to make our use of the internet a sustainable one.
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