Darn your socks to help save planet, says minister

Published on Sunday 8 March 2009 20:47

SCOTS should be darning their socks and looking to their grandparents for advice in order to lead greener lifestyles, according to the new environment minister.

Roseanna Cunningham's advice came as a survey revealed that people in Scotland saw the environment as a global issue rather than a local one.

The results of the Ipsos Mori survey of more than 3,000 Scots showed an equal number of people – 35 per cent – believed the economy and the environment were among the most important issues facing the world today.

However, just 12 per cent thought the environment was one of the most important issues facing Scotland.

In her first interview since she took office last month, Ms Cunningham said: "One of the challenges is for more people to understand that the Scottish environment is part and parcel of the global environment, and what happens elsewhere in the world is not unrelated to what happens in Scotland."

The new environment minister, who has never owned a car, tumble drier or dishwasher, said our grandparents could teach us how to lead greener lifestyles.

"Our grandparents would have done things automatically that we have long since stopped doing," she said. "They would have had the string bag, and they never would have dreamed of wasting food.

"Our grandparents didn't waste things because they couldn't afford to. In a sense, we have to relearn some of the behaviours that once upon a time would have been second nature."

She believes it is time we become less materialistic.

"In the 1960s, 70s and 80s, you became defined by the possessions you had, and older things were considered shabby and linked to poverty.

"However, in actual fact, this shiny new, buy-everything-chuck-it-away society is the anomaly in history. It's going to have turned out to be a very expensive anomaly in every way – for our climate, and for our pockets.

"So maybe we should be showing off the darned holes in our socks."

Ms Cunningham added that the problem was that some people would make fun of that idea.

"However, it's actually making an important point – that we have got to a situation where a darned sock is seen as a failure, when in actual fact we've got to see a darned sock now as an indicator of people who are taking some care not to be part of a throwaway society," she said.

The survey revealed just 9 per cent of people were not convinced that climate change was happening.

However, people were more likely to think recycling would help solve the problem rather than actions that were more difficult, such as taking fewer foreign holidays.

More than 40 per cent drove to work even though they lived less than a mile away and only 20 per cent had heard of the idea of eating fish from sustainable sources, although 60 per cent bought free-range eggs.

Over half agreed with charging up to 10p for a carrier bag, whereas only 40 per cent supported congestion charging.

BACKGROUND

THE Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall began their ten-day tour of South America yesterday with the issue of climate change at the top of their agenda.

Prince Charles and Camilla arrived in Chile, but they will also visit Brazil, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Highlighting the issue of global warming is a major theme, and this week the prince will give a dire warning on climate change to the world.

Their chartered Airbus arrived at Comodoro Arturo Merino Benitez airport close to Santiago. They were driven away in a limousine, followed by a motorcade of six cars.

Scots take a world view on the environment, but get personal on recycling

• The most important issues facing the world today?

Terrorism/ the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan: 43%

Environment: 35%

Economy: 35%

&#149 The most important issues facing Scotland today?

Economy: 38%

Crime: 32%

Scottish constitution: 17%

Environment: 12%

&#149 What actions would be most likely to help tackle climate change?

Recycling: 45%

Avoiding creating waste: 36%

Using more fuel efficient car: 32%

Making fewer car journeys: 28%

Taking fewer foreign holidays: 12%

Buying fewer products: 6%

Having fewer children: 4%

&#149 In favour of:

Charging up to 10p for carrier bags: 61%

Introducing water meters so people pay for the amount they use: 49%

Congestion charging: 40%

Use energy saving light bulbs most of the time: 63%

Hang up washing to dry most of the time: 79%

Rarely leave lights on when not in a room: 67%

Turn off heating before going out most of the time: 50%

Turn off tap when brushing teeth most of the time: 50%

&#149 Choice of transport

Drive to work: 56%

Get a lift to work: 6%

Walk to work: 16%

Bus to work: 12%

Train to work: 5%

Live up to a mile from work and still drive there: 44%

Drive to do food shopping: 54%

Walk to do food shopping: 21%

Bus to do food shopping: 11%

Live up to a mile away but still drive: 41%

&#149 Flying habits

At least one flight in the past year: 46%

Flown at least once for work purposes in the past year: 17%

&#149 Who do you trust most to give information on climate change?

Independent scientists: 45%

Environmental groups: 23%

Scottish Government: 12%