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Will you take the pledge?
(188 Posts)Academics at Leeds University have come up with six pledges that they say would make a big difference to the environment if we all signed up to them.
They are asking us to sign up for one, three, or six months, but clearly if people changed their lifestyles and kept to as many as possible for life it would be even better.
Would you be willing and/or able to take the pledge? These are their suggestions:
Eat a largely plant-based diet, with healthy portions and no waste
I only eat meat when out, as my husband is vegetarian, so it's easier for us both to eat a plant-based diet at home. I am trying not to throw away food by using up leftovers wherever possible. I don't always succeed, but I do my best.
Buy no more than three new items of clothing per year
I haven't bought many clothes since Covid hit. If buying knitting yarn and things like socks and underwear don't count, I could stick to three items a year, I think.
Keep electrical products for at least seven years
I keep electrical products until they break, but sometimes that is before seven years are up. My TV is over seven years old, and my hairdryer is more like 30 years! I'm not sure that that pledge makes enough allowance for built-in obsolescence, though.
Take no more than one short haul flight every three years and one long haul flight every eight years
I haven't flown since Covid struck, and am happy to take holidays in the UK these days. I've never been one for domestic flights, and only flew long-haul on business anyway, so that one's easy enough.
Get rid of personal motor vehicles if you can – and if not keep hold of your existing vehicle for longer
I don't drive, although my husband runs a car. I wouldn't want to give that up, but he's not interested in 'status cars', and will keep this one until it's on its last legs.
Make at least one life shift to nudge the system, like moving to a green energy, insulating your home or changing pension supplier
I'm less sure about this one. It's too late to change my pension, and I'm not sure how to 'move to a green energy'. Things like solar panels don't appeal, but if something new comes along that can be done without too much expense or disruption I'd definitely consider it.
Eat a largely plant-based diet, with healthy portions and no waste
I was vegetarian till a doctor told me to change my diet. As I was very keen to get well at the time I did, and I have to say she was right, it did help. I do still eat several veggie meals a week though.
Buy no more than three new items of clothing per year
I do that, if you don’t count underwear.
Keep electrical products for at least seven years
Yes, unless they break.
Take no more than one short haul flight every three years and one long haul flight every eight years
I haven’t flown since 1993.
Get rid of personal motor vehicles if you can – and if not keep hold of your existing vehicle for longer
Hard to do without ATM, but it is 14 years old.
Make at least one life shift to nudge the system, like moving to a green energy, insulating your home or changing pension supplier
I do have a green energy supplier, and the house is pretty well insulated. I can’t do anything about the pension.
I eat less meat, only chicken!
Don’t use the car much, walk to work and the shops.
I’m still waiting for my 10 year old fridge to die before replacing it!
I do like new clothes but also re wear the old ones.
On a down side I had three holidays abroad last year and I’m sorry but not giving them up for any one!
Except for the meat part I sort of do most of them anyway. Nothing to do with environmental reasons as such just I do. I don't actually mind not eating meat but I like it so I will continue to eat it when I want to. I'd be happy to swap to fish but thats not allowed either.
Doodledog
You can never have too many knickers?
???
No problem- I wasn’t being confrontational.
And thanks, GSM.
Sorry Doodledog, I missed it. My fault.
I linked to the study upthread, volver.
My post referred to callustemon/knittyintrovert post
Agree 100% a very negative post
Well said Doodledog.
Sawsage2
Do these 'academics' think they're above us and treat everyone like brainless idiots. They're very overpaid!
No.
The academics (why the quote marks?) will have reported to whoever it was that commissioned the study, and the Guardian journalist wrote the article I linked to.
As for being overpaid, it is 'academics', as you call them whose research finds cures for disease and made it possible for you to sneer at them on the Internet, as well as too many other inventions and innovations to mention.
Perhaps these academics would like to adhere to their ideas .
Sounds like my ex son in law-who gave non stop lectures on saving the planet. He drove everyone mad with boredom .
I bet that these are his recommendations !
No I'm not taking the pledge - I've tried being a vegetarian .
I got bored with it .
I do limit my meat ,but sometimes I long for a steak or a burger
Three items of clothing a year -no .Not realistic . I buy from charity shops .
Appliances are used until they can't be repaired .
I try to water my many plants with recycled water .
I recycle avidly.
I walk if I can and use public transport .
Doing my best !
I tried being a vegetarian for some years but gave it up again, and although I am happy to eat vegetable dishes regularly, there is no way I will give up pork, chicken and rabbit again.
I can exist well without beef, though.
We don't have a car, keep electrical equipment for seven years, unless it breaks or uses too much electricity.
On average I imagine I do only buy three items of clothing a year, and often second-hand, not new.
Until it becomes much easier to see how utility companies are generating electricity or heat, there is little point in moving to a new "greener" company.
I have only flown twice in the last twelve years.
So know, I shall not be signing any pledges, just keeping on as I am, I think.
No. It’s very worthy but no.
OK, I googled and googled 
and no evidence of this "pledge" online anywhere.
What's the origin Doodledog?
PS DH was an academic for a while. They're definitely not overpaid
Well I only eat white meat couple of times a week. I only use public transport and I’ve not flew anywhere since pre covid. I don’t replace electric things until I need to and clothes I’m fine on that one. Just took few bags to British heart shop. I would like to see if they don’t change their mobile phones in 3yrs after they contact have ran out in 2yrs. lol
We’ve cut down a bit on meat but having had a third of my bowel removed, I was advised to eat steak for iron! Our cars are old - we are unable to go to the shops without a car - or anywhere else for that matter. Appliances stay with us until they break down - they are repaired if possible. Didn’t buy any clothes in lockdown but recently have bought a few things - just to update myself. House has 9 inch solid walls - we have some original windows and some double glazed. Attic is so full - it is insulated enough. We have had a letter from the water company, thanking us for our careful use of water!! ?? this was a surprise. I have Swedish relatives so we will still fly to Stockholm to see them . We’ll do our best to be careful.
That was to sawsage.
I doubt this kind of thing is effective. People vary. My petrol car is 18 years old and still going well and meets MOT criteria: I have no intention of wasting money on an electric car, for example. I prefer low fat meat like venison. As a rural dweller I could not get by without a car. We can't afford lots of air travel. When Prime Minister Johnson stops wasting money on his expensive flat refurbishment, Liz Truss stops wasting public money on a private jet to Australia and our overpaid MPs stop wasting resources on a massive refurbishment of Parliament then I'll think about this again.
How do you know what they’re paid?
Callistemon21
Knittyintrovert
Wow this makes for grim reading for most replies! There are a lot of selfish people on here!
You know nothing about the posters except what they choose to tell you. Maybe they have already cut back, as some have said, but prefer to keep their virtues private.
I’ll go with what Callistemon21 says below.
If you could list what you are doing, it would be helpful and positive as your post is rather negative and doesn't give us any helpful pointers of how to change our lifestyles in meaningful ways.
Looking at some of the children and how they live I think our carbon footprint is smaller.
However, any helpful tips would be good
Do these 'academics' think they're above us and treat everyone like brainless idiots. They're very overpaid!
No I won't be signing. We don't eat as much meat as we used to & we grow our own vegetables but I can't see us going veggie or vegan any time soon. We have virtually zero food waste & vegetable peelings are composted. Electrical gadgets go on til they die, with the possible exception of the washer which is about 2 years old & I hate it it's rubbish & I want a new one but that's another story. We live in the middle of the countryside, 15 minutes drive from shops & other services so we have a newish car & DH has an elderly van. We won't be giving these up. We like going abroad & have really missed it so we're hoping to fly to Italy in June. We live in a 500 year old house with very thick walls but lots of drafts. We have oil fired heating which we thought of changing when the 30 year old boiler died last year. However, the much lauded heat recovery system is a non starter for houses like ours, according to the research we've done so we'll use oil til we can't afford it or it runs out.
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