Green travel 2.0

Green travel and eco tourism is a bit like many organisations' approaches to CSR - they are 'end of pipe' solution that focus on doing the wrong things better; whilst this has its appeal, and can give a comforting illusion of progress, it's really not where we should be heading. Rather than use a CSR  or triple bottom line accounting, it is time to move and focus instead on'Triple Top Line' (TTL) design - an approach that results in products and processes that could continue for ever, and result in us having a planet to live on. Triple Tol Line takes natural limits, biomimicry, psychology, choice, humanity and business approach into account at the design phase so that we don't need to clean up the rubbish afterwards.

Offsetting carbon to fly to an eco retreat surrounded by birds of paradise may create an illusion of 'green leisure' but it's only focusses on part of the issue - a symptom of most the solutions around at the moment (finance fixing, anyone?). Whilst technology has a role to play, it's not the answer. Green travel 2.0 is travel that's fit for the future - One Planet movement within a 2 tonne personal carbon budget. Anything more than this should see you heading for your bike.

Upskilling a nation

It's been an interesting couple of days, working with a new client, the Alliance of Sector Skills Councils - a group of experienced and knowledgeable folk who manage the individual Skills Councils that cover about 85% of employers in the UK. A few types of business areas - Tattoo Parlours is one I think - have none.

The Alliance are in the process of setting in place the plans to accelerate the level of employer engagement on training provision to deliver a combination of 'strong for now' capability to stay trading in tough times, and 'fit for the future' to proof the business as far as possible for changes coming over the horizon. It was refreshing and encouraging to see an aspiration to reach the 196,000 employees in my country, Wales, to signpost them in the right direction for skills that will work in a new economy.

There's much to be done, and if every meeting I attended had the same level of ambition, change would be assured.

Cardboard to Caviar

This inspiring project was written up by colleague Michael Pawyln from Exploration Architecture for Sustain Magazine, and is a great example of what can be done with the application of biomimicry, patience and a little imagination:

The Cardboard to Caviar project (also known as the 'ABLE Project') is an inspired example of how linear wasteful systems can be transformed into closed loop systems that produce no waste and yield much greater productivity. Initiated by Graham Wiles of the Green Business Network, the scheme started as a way of way involving handicapped people in recycling cardboard. The waste material was shredded so that it could be sold to equestrian centres as horse bedding.

At every stage of the project Graham Wiles applied the biomimetic principle of seeing waste as a resource with which to feed another process. So, when the equestrian centre asked what they should do with the soiled cardboard, he offered to collect it and established a wormery composting system. A deal was also confirmed with a firm that supplied angling bait to buy surplus worms but, when this fell through, Graham Wiles decided to establish a small-scale fish farm to raise Siberian sturgeon. This part of the project involved working with former heroin users and has achieved huge successes in getting addicts off drugs and involved in more productive pursuits. Since then many other elements have been added to the system:

. The filtration system uses micro-organisms and watercress to cleanthe water while also producing a food crop.

. It was noticed that the growth rates of the fish reduced dramatically in winter due to colder water temperatures so willow has been planted (using fertiliser from the adjacent sewage works) such that a biomass boiler can be used.

. An area of land adjacent to the project is being cultivated, partlyfor the people that work on the project to learn about food but also to produce food for the fish to supplement the diet of worms.

This year the sturgeon should produce their first batch of caviar demonstrating the potential to turn a waste material into a high value product while yielding numerous social, economic and environmental benefits.

More on the Green New Deal

This document from UNEP gives more strident weight to the value of reframing our way out of the current crisis through a 'green deal' approach - the UN one sits comfortably alongside Colin Hines et al's work on the nef Green New Deal.

Despite the strength of evidence 'for', there's still a political inertia in the UK to truly adopt action in line with recommendations.

Much more understanding is needed, and a two day workshop witht the Sector Skills Alliance this week will give an opportunity to switch on some (low energy) light.

The true joy in life

Along with 'The Station' story listed below, this quote from the great George Bernard Shaw is one for quiet contemplation whilst pondering.  Read and enjoy, and then step up to the mark and help make wildly inspirational action the norm, with collaboration as the oxygen of progress,

This is the true joy in life...being used for a purpose recognised by yourself as a mighty one, being a force of nature rather than a selfish little clod of grievances and ailments complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy...I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live it is my privilege to do it for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die. For the harder I work the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle to me. Its a sort of splendid torch which I've got to hold up for the moment and want to make it burn more brightly before handing it on to future generations.

Never before have I had greater fulfilment than now, working with some of the finest people I've ever met on challenging work that's important now and for tomorrow. Not only are they great to plan, write and deliver with, but as a band of unlikley surfers, cyclists, mountain bikers and explorers, they make fine playmates too.

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