News / Carla Denyer
Bristol Greens launch plan for Earth Overshoot Day
August 2 2023 marks this year’s Earth Overshoot Day.
It’s the point at which humanity’s use of ecological resources meets the planet’s regeneration limits for the year.
Effectively, this means humanity is living beyond the earth’s capacity to support us.
is needed now More than ever
The UK’s overshoot day actually fell on May 19, indicating the nation’s significant overconsumption.
Green Party co-leader, Clifton Down councillor and Bristol Central MP candidate Carla Denyer has taken the opportunity to launch the party’s Earth Overshoot Day Action Plan, a project to reduce societal consumption and lighten environmental impact.
She said: “Earth Overshoot Day is an important reminder that as a globe and as a nation we are currently living beyond the environmental limits of our one precious planet.
“It is important we recognise the hugely unequal way in which the world’s resources are consumed, with multi-billion pound corporations and a small number of individuals bearing the largest responsibility for overshoot.
This is why Greens would increase taxes on fossil fuel polluters and the super-rich to address inequality and fund the green transition.”
The Action Plan focuses on three key areas of energy, housing and transport.
On energy, the party have pledged to revoke all licences for North Sea oil and gas drilling and invest in renewable energy.
On housing, the plan includes a largescale home insulation programme, and for all new homes to be energy efficient with solar panels and heat pumps.
On transport, goals are affordable reliable buses, implementing a frequent flyer levy and making streets safer for walking and wheeling.
Campaigner Rob Bryher on Chelsea Road with his vision for a greener neighbourhood – photo: Mia Vines Booth
Rob Bryher, a campaigner for sustainable transport in Bristol and aviation campaigner with climate charity Possible, said: “The fact is human demand for ecological resources exceeds what the planet can handle.
“In Bristol in particular much more needs to be done across the city to move towards living within our environmental limits – and yet Bristol Airport is ploughing ahead with an expansion that will see an additional ten million passengers flying in and out of Bristol, ignoring how out of control our carbon emissions are and beyond the limits of what the world can afford.
“We need to row back on emissions, not create more.”
Building a circular economy is key to reducing society’s environmental impact.
It involves extending the life of goods as far as possible and focusing on reuse, repair and recycling in order to avoid landfill.
Independent thinktank, the Green Alliance, report that central UK government policies are among the factors preventing innovative UK companies from transitioning to a more circular economy.
There are many ways to support a local circular economy in Bristol, including donating old tech for refurbishment through Bristol Waste’s Digital Inclusion Scheme; visiting the weekly Repair Café on Sundays or family e-waste workshop on Wednesdays at the Sparks climate-focused department store; and learning bike maintenance at Bristol Bike Project on Stapleton Road.
This piece of independent journalism is supported by The Extra Mile and the Bristol24/7 public and business membership.
Main photo: Bristol Green Party
Read more:
- Streets for walking is an equalities issue for pedestrians
- ‘Library of Things’ hopes to open new site in South Bristol
- 10 Questions: Carla Denyer – ‘We need to make sure the majority of our trees are protected’
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