Extracted/ English Version - December 2023 : Time for the (Carbon) Assessment
As the year draws to a close, many reflect and set resolutions. In this last 2023 edition, we present a testimonial on the personal quest to minimize carbon footprints, along with (eco) gourmet New Year's Eve meal recipes.
Gratitude to our new subscribers! We invite you to savor this issue and share your comments, remarks, and suggestions with us.
What to expect this issue
From Knowledge to Action : Committing to Reduce your Carbon Footprint: Green Struggle or Verdant El Dorado?
Read of the Month : Green cooking
FROM KNOWLEDGE. TO ACTION 🙋♂️- Committing to Reduce your Carbon Footprint: Green Struggle or Verdant El Dorado?
By Carole
A year ago, following a year-end move from the capital to the mountains, I committed to harmonizing my beliefs with my daily choices. The goal: to curtail my carbon footprint by a minimum of 10% in 2023, aligning myself with broader objectives crucial for mitigating the most severe consequences of the climate crisis.
Through meticulous tracking of my daily travel, dietary habits, and purchases, what insights have I gained? How burdensome was the constant calculation and pursuit of this objective? In the end, was the effort truly meaningful?
2023 Recap: -18% Individual Emissions 🙆
My starting point, although below the French average1, was far from the 2-tons target. According to the Ademe calculator, my carbon footprint for the year 2022 was 6.5 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, distributed as follows:
The actions recommended by the calculator were primarily to change the heating system (switching from oil to wood would have allowed a reduction of 2.1 tonnes), then to become vegan (650 kg less), and to stop flying (500 kg). A potential one-third reduction in emissions.
In 2023, I changed residence, did not take a flight, but did not become vegan. Annual result: 5.4 tonnes, a 18% decrease.
The most significant savings—nearly three-quarters of the total— resulted from a choice that was only partially intentional : moving from a 1950s apartment with an outdated collective oil heating system to a similarly sized apartment with gas heating and improved insulation yielded a reduction of 800 kg.
Regrettably, the savings from abstaining from air travel in 2022 were nearly negated by a significant uptick in car journeys, including a picturesque 10-day van excursion in the Massif Central. Despite this, I maintained commitment to 'soft' modes of transportation, with over 10,000 km travelled by train, including a somewhat more carbon-intensive Paris-Berlin trip, and 2,000 km on an electric bike, substituting the metro for my daily commutes.
Diet has been quite a sensitive topic for me. Due to a health issue, I had to significantly increase my consumption of animal proteins, whereas in recent years, the majority of my meals were vegan. However, thanks to the almost total exclusion of beef and other ruminants in the early months of the year, I managed to slightly lower the overall carbon footprint of my meals, which were still 40% vegetarian and 20% vegan.
To further reduce my carbon footprint in the years to come, I would need to move to a more energy-efficient residence—equipped with a heat pump (-1250 kg)—or even a passive house2. It's challenging to make a firm commitment for 2024, as who knows what life has in store?
How would I rate this experience? 🧘
I am one of those individuals for whom self-control, especially through the monitoring of lifestyle habits and daily routines, is an essential mechanism for stress management. At the end of this year, the flip side of the coin has become apparent: even though it was relatively easy for me to impose these calculations and restrictions on myself, it also led to more self-flagellation and a certain form of withdrawal.
So, my resolution for 2024 will be to learn to 'cut myself some slack,' as advised by French philosopher Fabrice Midal. The idea is not to throw everything away and go enjoy Wagyu beef in Tokyo for the weekend. Instead, the goal is to redirect my energy towards actions that are more impactful and fulfilling.
For example, my activities as a climate “fresker” and facilitator of '2 Tonnes' workshops, have enabled me to raise awareness among a total of seventy individuals in recent months. Likewise, the newsletter, which now boasts several hundreds subscribers, has provided a gratifying platform for interaction. I have also relished engaging in discussions within my professional network.
What lessons do I draw from all this? 🧑🎓
This experience has allowed me to better understand the effort/result ratio concerning daily choices, particularly in terms of transportation and diet—and especially beef. Despite significant efforts, the result remains anecdotal with just over a tonne of savings, and I am mostly convinced that going even further means submitting to the law of diminishing returns.
The more we try to reduce our individual footprint, the more we bump into the wall of collective choices (urbanization modes, carbon footprint of public services) on which we can only act…collectively! By being less focused on my individual footprint, I could free up more energy for communal change, starting, for example, by getting involved in the 'Shifters' network that raises awareness among businesses and public authorities about transition challenges.
I've come to realize that overly radical changes can create distance with loved ones, forming a gap that hinders empathy and the ability to extend a helping hand.
To bring others along, it's essential to retain the capacity to empathize with the mindset we had before understanding the issues, allowing for a gradual shift in habits. Striving for exemplarity is a double-edged sword: convictions lose their meaning if they isolate us, dampen our enthusiasm, and cannot be shared.
2024 will be the year of collective action, exchanges, and encounters in a renewed energy!
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💚 READ OF THE MONTH : Green cooking
It's time for the festive season! For a yummy (and eco-friendly) New Year's Eve, we've selected two recipe books that combine gastronomy and ecology.
Nos recettes écogourmandes (Our eco-gourmet recipes): Presented by two skilled Breton chefs, Nathalie Beauvais and Marion Le Rousic, this compilation provides insights and recipes for "eco-responsible" cooking. Learn to minimize energy consumption, reduce waste, and transform leftovers into delectable dishes.
Fork Ranger: Solving climate change with food. Despite this somewhat messianic title, this book (and the corresponding blog) offers valuable tools and recipes for a healthier, more sustainable diet.
Ready to embark on a culinary journey? Share snapshots of your creations with us 📸by clicking here 😊.
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The French average stood at 8 tonnes per person in 2022 according to ADEME.
Purchasing a new home or new construction can have a negative environmental impact both on emissions and biodiversity, due to the significant pressure on soil artificialization. As a reminder, every hour, 11 hectares per hour are artificialized in France.