Roger Carthew’s Blog

The Climate Change debate has moved from one of denial to acceptance and now…. “What the hell do we do?” and “what is the fastest way for us to act?”

Being left behind in responding to this challenge could have dire consequences for each and everyone of us and for the planet at large.

Here’s what a few prominent global citizens have to say….and I look forward to you sharing those problems in this blog.

We are playing Russian roulette with features of the planet’s atmosphere that will profoundly impact generations to come. How long are we willing to gamble?

David Suzuki

I want to testify today about what I believe is a planetary emergency - a crisis that threatens the survival of our civilization and the habitability of the Earth.

Al Gore

Testifying on impact of global warming before US congress.

The Greenland ice sheet is likely to be eliminated [within 50 years] unless much more substantial reductions in emissions are made than those envisaged [and will] probably be irreversible, this side of a new ice age.

Jonathan Gregory, climatologist at the University of Reading, April 2004, commenting on the fact that upon melting, the world’s second largest ice cap could raise sea levels by 7 metres, flooding most coastal regions.

Some of our businesses use more energy than others, but our strategy everywhere is the same.. first, reduce our use of energy as much as possible. Then, switch to renewable sources of power where it makes economic sense. And, over time, as a last resort, offset the emissions we can’t avoid.

Rupert Murdoch, Chairman, News Corporation

Blog posts to come up here.

Our forest of trees…..

We’ve created this space for you to fill with our “CO2 Kick the Habit” forest of trees. With each blog entry you’ll see the forest grow – we plant trees daily.

In this, my second life I am…

And in my previous life I was an old car tyre and a drink bottle…. Just imagine my days travelling the roads of India or New York, or on the lips of Paris Hilton or Angelina Jolie.

My makeover has now brought me a new and happy life…. as a part of the Camelion Collection.

My rubber backing is made of reprocessed car tyres while the top coating is made up of a mixture of recycled plastic PET drink bottles and virgin polyester.

Solar panels are used to power the printing process, the first in the Southern Hemisphere to do so. Trees are also planted to help offset the CO2 emissions associated with manufacturing this product!

This new Camelion Collection, by recycling the earth’s resources, is in fact…

changing the colour of living.

Thanks for logging into our blog.

It’s now some 5 or 6 years since I began the quest of transforming the way of doing business in my business - stepping toward being more sustainable. At the start I did an awful lot of research… in the end I just deciding to begin to do stuff.

Our enviro report is evidence of our achievements so far. Eco mapping has been instrumental in creating a framework within which to formally structure our work.

Sustainability is a journey, we all begin at a different origin, we advance at different speeds, and always hopefully heading always toward what Ray Anderson calls that “Mount Sustainability“.

I look forward to your comments, criticism and perhaps the odd compliment - at the end of the day, the stuff we’re doing end up just being nothing more than good business sense!

Roger Carthew

The comments below were taken from our Environmental Issues Survey.

These are responses for the question: “Can you write a few lines on what you would, or are doing personally, in relation to your working life to reduce your work related impacts?”

I would sack the Business Manager and replace him with someone who is proactive in reducing environmental impacts or is at least supportive of employers who put forward suggestions for reducing impacts!

S.D

These are responses for the question: “What are your two major environmental problems? Do you have any idea on how to solve them?”

Putting up with nonsense dressed up as green environmental management. Ignore most green ideology. Getting business and government to do this that actually makes a difference, by properly understanding the problem.

W.M

The range of options for the consumer. When I go shopping I want to have more choice/information about what I buy and how it is or is not packaged. I would like more choice and support to not be reliant on aging infrastructure. I don’t like being at the mercy of Government, what and how they chose to supply me.

J.D

Lack of concern/action by major retailers - creating a ‘throw away’ society with cheap imported products. A feeling of hopelessness with massive growth of developing countries (eg. China, India) and huge increase in number of coal fired power stations.

P.M

James Lovelock says its rather too late for the “no plastic bags brigade”. We’re on the path to dramatic changes in the way the earth can react to the ever accelerating changes, and we need “visionary” solutions, which are out of my control. Nevertheless like Tim Flannery I am not so pessimistic that I won’t do my bit. I have been growing native plants, recycling water, using public transport much more, saving electricity and gas (30% reduction since 2002), and things like that.

H.J

These are responses for the question: “If you have any other comments or suggestions I invite you to share them with me now.”

Very interesting, a lot of things can be done: in the school first everywhere in the world: children are the owners of tomorrow’s planet! Lessons with easy things: light off at home, when leave a room, water use: to reduce a little at home Put rubbish in bins! Should have a list of 5 or 10 small things to do or not do for kids: on TV and at school. For adults: same, try to reduce heating or air con ASAP Companies: help for people who want to develop natural energy for houses, schools, firms… I feel very involve with these problems, we should talk! And I am available!

C.C

We all as individuals need to have a personal plan to change our lives and give thought to how we can help the environment, from little acorns oak trees grow, we should not expect government to produce a solution out of a hat it is up to us to make the world a better place for the future little by little. We should not need councils to police our rubbish it is our responsibility. Don’t buy over packaged goods, always remember to take yours bags to the supermarket, it is up to us we can make laws and rules and arrange publicity but in the end we each have to want to do our bit instead of leaving it to others or thinking she’ll be right.

C.B