Apr 7, 2021
Plastic. It’s like an addiction we can’t seem to give up. And, like most addictive substances, it is wreaking havoc everywhere we look. Little over a hundred years ago our beaches were clean, home only to driftwood and the occasional glass bottle; our seabeds were uncharted territory except for the lonely wreck of a ship; and Bakelite had just set foot on our shelves. Created in 1909, by Belgian Chemist Leo Baekeland, it was the first synthetic plastic to be produced and it revolutionised the consumer world.
Now, plastic is taking over our planet. It’s in our homes, our gardens; it’s drifting aimlessly through our seas and it’s suffocating our beaches. But this is only half the problem. From the moment we begin extracting oil from the seabed right through to the transportation of the final plastic product, greenhouse gases are released. These gases trap heat within the atmosphere, warming our planet to unnatural temperatures. We need to stop.
Feb 4, 2021
Plastic. It’s like an addiction we can’t seem to give up. And, like most addictive substances, it is wreaking havoc everywhere we look. Little over a hundred years ago our beaches were clean, home only to driftwood and the occasional glass bottle; our seabeds were uncharted territory except for the lonely wreck of a ship; and Bakelite had just set foot on our shelves. Created in 1909, by Belgian Chemist Leo Baekeland, it was the first synthetic plastic to be produced and it revolutionised the consumer world.
Now, plastic is taking over our planet. It’s in our homes, our gardens; it’s drifting aimlessly through our seas and it’s suffocating our beaches. But this is only half the problem. From the moment we begin extracting oil from the seabed right through to the transportation of the final plastic product, greenhouse gases are released. These gases trap heat within the atmosphere, warming our planet to unnatural temperatures. We need to stop.
Feb 4, 2021
The new year has arrived and with it the promise of fresh starts. For many, New Year’s Resolutions will be in full swing, some may have slipped already and others may still be routing around for ideas. People will be aiming to eat a healthier diet, do more exercise or lead a more sustainable lifestyle, but sometimes it can be hard to stay motivated. So have you thought about starting something where you can see and reap the rewards year round? Something that combines all three of these goals? Something like growing your own fruit and vegetables?
Dec 4, 2020
The countdown has begun. Eleven months from now Glasgow will be hosting the most vital climate event since the Paris agreement in 2015: the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26). Politicians, world leaders and climate change activists will be coming together from across the globe to review their progress on reducing carbon emissions and to share essential strategies in tackling the climate change emergency.
Living on the west coast of Scotland, it might be easy for us to imagine our carbon footprint is low, but it’s not. Oil central heating, coal fires, fuel guzzling vehicles, plastic silage wrappers, plastic bin bags, not to mention the hundreds of hire cars cruising around the island every summer. Our carbon footprint is just as big a problem as everywhere else. However, across Skye there are individuals and communities finding new ways to live and work more sustainably through Skye Climate Action.