Some people know very early on what their calling in life is. They have a dream from a young age of what they want to be when they grow up and they’re eager to fulfil it. Others have that lightbulb moment, suddenly everything makes sense, and it all falls into place. On the contrary, there are some people, like me, that have only just found their direction after years of it sitting right under their nose. Although my career aspirations fluctuated greatly over the years, the one thing I was certain about was doing something I was interested in.

I chose to study a geography degree because of its versatility and the sheer breadth of topics and skills covered. It gave me the opportunity to develop both written and technical skills and the flexibility to explore my interests of fashion, health and the historical origins of issues through a geographical lense. All without limiting my future career options.

Whilst studying a module titled ‘Just Futures’, I became intrigued about the current and future impacts of climate change on society and the planet. In a nutshell the module examined the idea of justice, highlighting and addressing social, environmental, economic and digital injustices some in society currently face. It explored how concepts such as climate change, biodiversity, gender and human rights intersect and the need to ensure their representation in decision and policy making whilst striving for a just and sustainable future. This is what sparked my interest in sustainability.

Concepts which stood out to me were climate justice and a just transition. The words climate and sustainability typically make us think of the environment however that is only half of the story. Climate justice shines a light on the unequal impacts of climate change within countries and communities. It demonstrates how social and economic inequalities influences a person’s vulnerability to the effects of climate change and their ability to recover.

An example of this is Hurricane Katrina, where areas with the highest percentage of poor people experienced the most damage. With 75% of the damage concentrated within African American communities and suffering the highest death toll, the event further entrenched the already existing social and racial disparities.

It therefore is no secret that the biggest contributors to climate change are those who are the least effected whilst the most deprived experience the worst. This age-old debate around whether certain countries are pulling their weight when it comes to reducing emissions is the very basis of climate justice and where the just transition stems from. Designed with the aim of reaching net-zero, a just transition focuses on achieving it in a fair and equitable way so ‘no one is left behind’.

From studying a just transition, the general take home message is that we need to act immediately. With the horrors of climate change permanently plastered over our TV screens, tabloids and social media platforms, I can see exactly why. Whilst I am not denying the severity of the situation, the repeated message for drastic change can make action seem more daunting than it needs to be. Reading ‘The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide’ by Jen Gale showcased the simplicity of transitioning to a more sustainable way of life. She explains how making small changes in our everyday lives such as being a responsible consumer as well as reducing waste and plastic, is the ultimate cheat code.

The section on waste particularly stood out to me as it described recycling as a ‘last resort’ due to the amount of energy (fossil fuels) the process requires. And as silly as it sounds, recycling is not as easy as it seems. Surprisingly, according to WRAP, 84% of the UK are doing it wrong and are instead, contaminating their recycling. This is because many are ‘wish cycling’, recycling non-recyclable items in hopes they will be processed.

It is clear the well-loved ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ slogan is hindering effective waste disposal. We must welcome in new concepts such like ‘refusing’, mentioned by Gale, in the drive towards zero waste. Arguably, ‘refusing’ is much easier than recycling, all you have to do is say no. Saying no to freebees and unsubscribing from junk leaflets takes away their demand, resulting in a reduction of miscellaneous items that would probably end up in landfill.

I hope the one thing you take away from this blog is to read the book. Whether you are passionate about sustainability or not, I guarantee that by the end of it, you will be. It’s virtually impossible to hear that ‘household consumption is responsible for 60% of global greenhouse gas emissions’ and not want to do something about it. I encourage you all to make one change and, I believe ‘refusing’ is a perfect way to start the journey to becoming more sustainable!