Lloyd Alter
TwitterWhy it’s important to me that we live out our common 1.5oC GHG emissions targets?
Over half of all the world’s carbon emissions come from the richest 10%; that’s us. That’s me. It really is on us to cut back our emissions, to change the way we live. The other 90% can’t do it and aren’t responsible for it.
What’s one of the things I enjoy the most & one of the things I find the hardest about living within the 1.5o targets?
I actually have been trying to do it and it’s an interesting challenge. The tool developed for this project will make it more accurate and possibly more fun.
Who am I?
I am a writer for the environmental website treehugger and just completed a book “Living the 1.5 Degree Lifestyle” where I documented my attempt to live within a carbon diet of 2.5 tonnes per year. Previously I was an architect and then a real estate developer. I am a baby boomer in Canada and probably had a 30 tonne footprint a few years ago, and I am part of the generational cohort probably responsible of more carbon per capita than any other; we have to change our ways.
Why I’m excited to contribute to this project?
Because I want everyone to share the experience.
Kate Power
LinkedInWhy it’s important to me that we live out our common 1.5oC GHG emissions targets?
We often talk about the importance of the 1.5-degree goal and about social justice or equality - but what do those words mean in practice? I want to find out - what changes does it necessitate in my own life? And what would it take to transform whole societies to live in socially just and sustainable ways? We need to explore what it means to live within our fair shares, otherwise "equity" and "sustainability" will stay as just words, instead of becoming the actions that we so urgently need.
What I’m curious and a little anxious about as I embark on trying to live out 1.5oC targets?
I am curious about the "carbon freebies"! How many different ways are there to have fun and create a wonderful way of life in low-carbon, no-carbon or regenerative ways? I am anxious because I have already taken some of the bigger steps towards reducing my emissions, such as stopping flying, not eating meat, living in a small apartment - but I have never added up all the rest!
Who am I?
I’m Kate Power, a consultant on sustainable consumption, behaviour change and sustainable lifestyles. I'm from the UK but now live in Germany with my husband and two daughters. I am the Development Director at Hot or Cool Institute as well as freelance consultant.
Why I’m excited to contribute to this project?
I am excited to be part of a citizen science initiative that shows the different ways of living that are possible with a 1.5-degree lifestyle - and also makes it clear where systemic change led by governments, businesses, local authorities and institutions can make it easier for us to live sustainably. I am also excited to learn from the other participants and pick up new ideas on how to create a sustainable way of living while having the maximum fun!
Jean-Christophe Mortreux
LinkedInWhy it’s important to me that we live out our common 1.5oC GHG emissions targets?
Having an engineering background, I firmly believe that innovation occurs when you set constraints. Forcing myself to live this way pushes me to think differently and uncover opportunities and challenges with achieving this target. In my opinion, it’s essential to designing a successful way forward.
What’s one of the things I enjoy the most & one of the things I find the hardest about living within the 1.5oC targets?
I love how it’s helped me reconnect with the simple things, like spending time with my children. Some parts of my life evolved because of accessible flying, I therefore have some family on the other side of the Atlantic. To meet the targets I'm planning to visit them less often, but for longer.
Who am I?
I’m passionate about being personally and professionally invested in projects that benefit society. Overtime, that has evolved, from setting up high school associations, to being part of the Green Party, to working in the wind & solar industry, to developing an app which helps people transition to low carbon food habits, to being part of this 1.5oC life project.
Why I’m excited to contribute to this project?
I’m really curious to see how it’s going to evolve. I think it could become a very popular experiment that has the potential to provide incredible insights to change the system for the better.
João Wemans
LinkedInWhy it’s important to me that we live out our common 1.5oC GHG emissions targets?
Its mainly about the next generations. Not just for their quality of life but to show them that we cared about their future and prepared them to be adaptable and have fun while doing it.
What’s one of the things I enjoy the most & one of the things I find the hardest about living within the 1.5oC targets?
I like the challenge to change, to have the time to reinvent myself. The hardest part is to pass from a will to a habit and create the system around me that makes the transition easy.
Who am I?
I am a father of two daughters living in Lisbon - Portugal. I am a Physics PhD in Lasers that followed the entrepreneur route for 10 years. I opened a series of Startups and am currently Director for Data Services in EVISO Spa (Italy). What drives me currently is to deliver actionable insights out of highly complex challenges... like global warming!
Why I’m excited to contribute to this project?
The ambition, complexity and possible impact of the challenge of this project is what excites me more. I am also looking forward to keep sharing a common purpose with a motivated and good spirited team.
Beatrice Meo
LinedInWhy it’s important to me that we live out our common 1.5oC GHG emissions targets?
There is no doubt anymore that human activities are the major cause of global warming and that we have little time to reverse what science has been predicting as a future with irreversible consequences. Living out our 1.5oC emission targets is important for us, our planet and the next generation to come. It is important in order to ensure a fair, equitable and healthy future for everyone.
What’s one of the things I enjoy the most & one of the things I find the hardest about living within the 1.5oC targets?
For a while I have been trying to change my habits, step by step, to reduce my carbon footprint. Every week trying out something different, but many times I found it difficult to implement such changes for good. Now, living out of the 1.5oC targets will definitely pose quite big constraints, but it will be an insightful journey with a hopefully big learning curve. What I am the most curious about is to see how much of the way can I get to through individual decisions, before the systems limitation come in.
Who am I?
I am a project manager with a background in Business and Climate Change studies. After a few years of international experience in a big Berlin-based company, I decided to steer my career path and started a master in Environmental, Social and Economic Sustainability. I have been working on different climate change adaptation and mitigation projects, and I am currently supporting Hot or Cool in project management and coordination.
Why I’m excited to contribute to this project?
After embarking on a sustainability journey with a community of international change-makers in Berlin, I now have the opportunity to contribute to a project that fosters knowledge and experience exchange with citizens from multiple countries, to achieve common targets that I consider critical for our future.
Simone Re
Why it’s important to me that we live out our common 1.5oC GHG emissions targets?
Because we only have one planet and we have to safeguard it for the next generations. We are overexploiting our planet, our resources and we are emitting a huge quantity of GHG. This could lead to catastrophic scenarios. I think living the 1.5oC target could help avoid that.
What I’m curious and a little anxious about as I embark on trying to live out 1.5oC targets?
I am really curious to know how much my lifestyle will change by reducing emissions to live out 1.5oC targets. Sincerely, I am also a bit nervous because there could be limits that are not depending on ourselves which would make it difficult for us to respect those targets.
Who am I?
I am a student in “Ecotoxicology and Environmental Sustainability” at University of Siena. I will soon complete a master’s degree and I am doing an internship in a NGO in Berlin with the aim to write my dissertation. I am really passionate by nature and sustainability. For that reason, I am writing my thesis on how scientific paper (mostly concerning LCA methods) can be used to influence governance and policy maker in order to achieve the 1.5oC targets.
Why I’m excited to contribute to this project?
Because this project is a concrete attempt to try to live the 1.5oC lifestyle. I’m really excited to be part of this great project with a community of people coming from all over the world with a common purpose.
Pedro Almeida
Why it’s important to me that we live out our common 1.5oC GHG emissions targets?
The planetary ecosystems are in great danger! But we must join the famous movement: “Keep calm” and find courage to revert this danger. Of course, we must save at least, and so importantly, the climate conditions to maintain the ecosystems, if we live out the 1.5ºC GHG emissions targets. This can avoid mass population displacements, climatic extreme tendencies, and global planetary health crises.
What’s one of the things I enjoy the most & one of the things I find the hardest about living within the 1.5oC targets?
Imagining a world where we can move around without fossil fuels seems great to me! Taking the train for long distances is so cool, and at the end of that trip, I imagine I could bring an electric bike to go to the office, and then walk around the neighbourhood for the shorter distances. It’s healthy, clean energy commuting, within the 1.5 C targets! One really hard thing is that, if it’s a special day such as a party, I must be careful! What gifts will I buy, what food and drink will I have, will it be sustainable enough?
Who am I?
I am an Environmental Engineer and an Entrepreneurship Network Specialist. I currently own a retail business to promote Conscious Consumption around Healthy Eating and Health frameworks. I’m also a consultant in Sustainable Agriculture for dry climates, focusing on ecosystem restoration, conducting experimentation in various terrains. In addition, I animate a group to debate the Role of Forests in the Water Cycle and the acceleration of climate change mitigation https://www.facebook.com/groups/florestasquefazemchuva/.
Why I’m excited to contribute to this project?
I rely on everyone’s growing participation to revert the Climate Change situation. Lifestyle change has a hugely significant impact on that. Moreover, through household lifestyle change we can influence the government and capital investment, for example with regards to fossil fuels, food, nutrition, and sustainable agricultural.