The Department of Environment and Geography University of York, The York Environment Sustainability Institute, the Stockholm Environment Institute and St. Nicks present:
Sustainability Question Time
Episode 3: 17 February 2021
13:30 – 15:00 GMT
One Planet Week: Spring into the Outdoors
![People caring about the world and the environment | free image by rawpixel.com / busbus]](/media/environment/images/People caring about the world and environment.png "People caring about the world and the environment | free image by rawpixel.com / busbus]")
With spring just around the corner, join our panel of sustainability experts from The Department of Environment and Geography at the University of York, The York Environment Sustainability Institute, Stockholm Environment Institute and St. Nicks to explore the benefits of getting outside in our parks and gardens, and offer tips on outdoor environmental activities that both help the planet and help keep us healthy and happy. This event is part of One Planet Week at the University of York. This year's theme is Culture and Community, which you can read more about on the UoY Sustainability blog. #OPW21
And post your questions ahead of the event using this form
Our panel of experts will answer the best questions at the event, and will post answers to all questions on the Sustainability Question Time webpage. We will also post pictures of your green ideas and tips, awarding Green Stars for the best photos and ideas in our three categories of:
Squirrels (for the young in age or young at heart)
Owls (for the more serious questions)
Rosy Maple Moths (for the fun and random questions)
Did you know?
- Spending just 10 minutes in a natural space can have positive benefits on your wellbeing by improving your mood and reducing heart rate, anxiety and blood pressure (Source: The Conservation- Wood, 2020)
- Within a five mile radius of York you could see over 140 species of birds
https://www.landscapebritain.co.uk/british-wildlife/north-yorkshire/york/birds/
- Avoid outdoor physical activity or reduce the intensity and duration of your outdoor exercise when an air quality alert has been issued. Air pollution levels tend to be highest near midday or in the afternoon, so try to avoid outdoor exercise during these times of the day. Also during rush hour and near roadways where there is heavy traffic as this can expose you to higher amounts of pollution (Source: Edward R. Laskowski, M.D, 2020)
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/expert-answers/air-pollution-and-exercise/faq-20058563#:~:text=Timing%20your%20workouts%20carefully.&text=Air%20pollution%20levels%20tend%20to,where%20there%20is%20heavy%20traffic
Ask us anything you like, for example:
- What community activities can we still do during lockdown?
- How can buying food locally benefit the environment?
- What is the optimal “nature dose”?
- How can schools incorporate outdoor learning?
Panel Members
Steve Cinderby - Senior Researcher, Stockholm Environment Institute
Samarthia Thankappan -Senior Lecturer in the Environment and Geography Department
James Stockdale - Associate Lecturer in the Department of Biology
Kathy Sturgess - Ecotherapy Project Manager at St Nicks
Freya Lovett - Young people's Green Mentor at St Nicks
Smriti Safayan - PhD student, on citizen science and environmental behaviour in school students
See the results of the Q & A here
Episode 1 - “I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas”
“I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas”
To discover more and to learn simple tips to make your Christmas greener, why not join our panel of sustainability experts for a live online event?
Share your experiences and tips on Twitter using #YorkGreenChristmas or email yesi@york.ac.uk with subject line ‘York Green Christmas’.
Our panel of experts will answer the best questions at the event, and will post answers to all questions on the Sustainability Question Time webpage, where we will also post your pictures of your green Christmas ideas and tips, awarding Christmas Stars for the best photos and ideas in our three categories of:
Christmas Elves (for the young in age or young at heart)
Reindeers (for those too old or too naughty to expect a stocking from Santa)
Christmas Tree Worms (for the fun and random questions)
Did you know?
According to a 2010 study by the charity WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) in the UK we throw away 87km2 of wrapping paper at Christmas?....or that WRAP found this out by looking in people’s bins in January?
Or that a 2007 study by the Stockholm Environment Institute York found that the average person consumes the equivalent of 1000 Christmas puddings worth of CO2 over the festive season, but that simple measures could reduce this by over half to 400 Christmas puddings.
Ask us anything you like, for example:
- What is the most sustainable Christmas dinner?
- Should we have a real tree or plastic one?
- What's a green alternative to wrapping paper?
- Do our individual actions really make a difference?
- How should Santa feed his reindeer to reduce methane emissions and help combat climate change?
Panel Members
Bryce Stewart – is a marine ecologist and fisheries biologist
Jo Cook – is a PhD student in Environment and Geography at York and is interested in the impacts of food and food waste on greenhouse gas emissions
Esther Smith - Charity Support Manager at St Nicks and is passionate about making change happen through people power, for example through the new exciting Precious Plastic Project
Sarah West – is Director of SEI York and is a specialist in citizen science and engaging people in science and nature
Episode 2 "Ta(l)king Action: New Year's green resolutions"
"Ta(l)king Action: New Year's green resolutions"
Join us at the kick-off to St Nicks' event series on taking action, as citizens, to achieve zero carbon living.
Join our panel of sustainability experts from The Department of Environment and Geography at the University of York, The York Environment Sustainability Institute, Stockholm Environment Institute and others to discuss the New Year’s Green Resolutions we all make (and sometimes break) and to hear tips on reducing our winter fuel bills as well as carbon footprints.
Our panel of experts will answer the best questions at the event, and will post answers to all questions on the Sustainability Question Time webpage. We will also post pictures of your green ideas and tips, awarding Green Stars for the best photos and ideas in our three categories of:
- Squirrels (for the young in age or young at heart)
- Owls (for the more serious questions)
- Rosy Maple Moths (for the fun and random questions)
Did you know?
- Only 5% of the power drawn by a phone charger is used to charge the phone, so remember to turn it off when you are done!
- A typical microwave uses more electricity to keep its digital clock on standby than it does heating food!
- In the average home, 75% of the electricity used to power electronics is consumed while the products are on standby!
- If everyone boiled only the water they needed every time they used the kettle, we could save enough electricity in a year to power the UK’s street lights for 7 months!
Source: 15 Surprising Energy Facts
Ask us anything you like, for example:
- What is one thing we can do in our household that makes the biggest contribution to carbon zero living?
- What is the greenest way to keep warm while working from home?
- What can I do to achieve more sustainable shopping habits?
- What steps can I take to become zero waste?
Panel Members
Joanne Morris (Discussion Chair) - Researcher, Stockholm Environment Institute, University of York
Karen Parkhill - Senior Lecturer in the Department of Environment and Geography, University of York
Jo Cook, PhD student in Environment and Geography at York
Alison Dyke, Researcher at the Stockholm Environment Institute and the Department of Environment and Geography, University of York
Richard Lane, York Community Energy
Ivana Jakubkova, St Nicks, York