The pen is mightier than the sword

 Writers have long, known that words are very important. Poets and novelists can transform us to another dimension, or to an altered state of emotion. A book can make me feel joyous or a poem might make me feel inspired. The application of science and engineering makes me feel satisfied.

Unfortunately, the important aspects of the climate crisis have been named not by writers but by scientists.

The terms Global warming and climate change have failed to depict the true nature of the threat we face. carbon fails to communicate an understanding of the underlying cause of global warming. Carbon footprint fails to illustrate not just the range of greenhouse gases considered, but also the multi faceted considerations of the undertaking that is an assessment of carbon sources and carbon sinks that together make up a carbon footprint . 

The term Carbon sources does not conjure up the component parts that are considered which incorporate energy use, use of natural materials, capital purchases, investments, how sold goods are used and disposed of, waste production or the fate of waste materials. Yet all of these are included in a carbon footprint. That is before you have taken into account the carbon sinks, the removers and permanent stores of carbon that are also part of a carbon footprint. Carbon sinks include soil, trees and blue carbon including marine plankton. Carbon sinks are often already part of a business footprints, and can also form part of carbon insetting with nature positive strategies as part of carbon reduction plans.

With 18 different elements, in even the simplest of carbon footprints There is really no need for the lament ‘only carbon’, but there is a need to communicate the enormous scale of consideration that carbon is. That ‘carbon’, as with other terminology can give the impression that the many aspects of sustainability are not being considered. And yet they very much are.

carbon reduction plans require measurement of a carbon footprint. The plan relates to the carbon footprint. The footprint has measured the sum of all of the carbon sources and sinks, which can amount to thousands of lines of data. Each line of data is one of the things included in carbon. The plan focuses on reducing all of the sources of carbon. It focuses on the largest source of carbon so that the plan is efficient. Once a plan to reduce carbon has been devised to the set of actions that can be implemented to cut carbon every aspect. There has been measured in the carbon footprint is understood. I have known carbon emissions known quantified effects of implementing carbon reduction, so a carbon intensity and carbon reduction intensity. Can be calculated. Then a schedule of implementing the actions can be devised. Together into a roadmap to carbon reduction can be a roadmap to a carbon reduction target such as one that aligns with SBTI. For example, these targets are designed to cut carbon missions such that we keep global warming to know more than 1 1/2° C . 1 1/2° C is the amount of global warming above the preindustrial late that is considered crucial to keep under to avoid the worst consequences of climate change. 

Actions to be implemented, first of those which are within the reach of the business or organisation or individual, and will make the largest reduction in carbon. Another word, the optimal or most efficient actions are scheduled first. Those actions that can be implemented. Where is the least investment of time. Money effort, planning regulation, human resource, available technology, which have the largest carbon effect. Can we schedule at the beginning of a roadmap. the largest sources of carbon first. The components of a carbon reduction plan will consider all of the components of the carbon footprint they are solutions are the alternatives there’s a letter in carbon from the current practice. The solutions can include all manner of process efficiency, asset efficiency, reduction of energy demand, reduction of noise, vibration, heat, friction, or considerations of energy inefficiency and dissipation. Reduction in demand of energy is followed by sources of alternative energy, such as solar panels or wind, turbines, biodiesel. Carbon reduction plan can include design considerations. so, for example to make use of gravity and reduce pumping necessity, review of Pump curves  for efficient pump use. Consideration of chemical use, dosing techniques, chemical efficacy,. Carbon reduction plan is necessary, includes supply chain integration reviews are fire, chain, processes, procedures addition, sustainability requirements on suppliers can include actually of auditing that for years of being allowed in the framework contract that I’ve never once been enforced. It can include land and land use. carbon reduction plan can include considerations of lean to make processes, more efficient, or make the way in which to match up with ongoing processes such as logistic, transport, storage, and sales more efficient, .reducing wasted energy, usage reducing waste in material usage. aspects of lean manufacturing can be applied well beyond manufacturing and into any activity of a business. Carbon reduction plans can include logistics, scheduling, . You can incorporate predictive maintenance to reduce my activities and schedule targeted mountains activities. The carbon reduction plan can includes landscaping. It can be incorporation of carbon absorbing material into your landscape, such as sand, Olivene inCorporation of carbon sequestration into your planting such a biochar, make a choice of planting whereby the plants chosen a higher density carbon stores. Such as ‘hazel’ instead of oak. Can you give me wildflowers instead of lawns. Coastal and marine organisations, which could include ports, marinas, sailing clubs and coastal authorities can equally incorporate blue carbon features such as seaweed and marine plankton into their roadmaps to net zero - or nature positive targets.

A carbon footprint allows a carbon reduction plan. A carbon reduction plan allowed a roadmap, to net zero carbon or carbon reduction targets. Carbon footprint are enablers. They Are empowerment.  A carbon footprint gives every ordinary business, every ordinary person, every ordinary organisation, every ordinary city, council, Village, Village Hall, pub, School, and community an opportunity to introduce nature, biodiversity, water and resource security, flood resilience, and a  climate buffer.. by introducing vegetation, protecting marine ecosystems, and encouraging a variety of species and supporting the larvae of pollinators, giving homes to hedgehogs and resisting monoculture. Streets are kept cooler, carbon is absorbed, noise is lessened, pollution is kept in check. 

The poets and the novelists already knew that we are fundamentally affected by the quality of our surroundings. That joy is found in outdoor spaces and with colour and green just wanna colour have a limited variety of grasses and hedges and concrete. Even the concrete that remains and is required, and is necessary and cannot practically be changed. As it gives us an opportunity for carbon removal. We can use concrete that sequester carbon dioxide into it and hardens it. We can paint buildings and structures with carbon sequestering paint. Murals, local artists can all be encouraged and given opportunity for expression. 

Because of the need for united collaboration to work together to address the universal threat to us. scientists and artists of all kinds of each must find a way to both understand one another and to communicate complex science, technical engineering and a call to  arms. 

Scientists can provide the understanding necessary to design a solution. Engineers can provide the technical solutions for implementation processes to do the work. writers, artists, and poets, can evoke a sense of urgency, loss, and the need for collective action. The poet uses vivid imagery, metaphors, and emotional language to convey the impact of climate change on the natural world, emphasizing the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the responsibility we hold as custodians of the planet and protectors of our own home

The world needs scientists and engineers. we need sustainability professionals. Marine and terrestrial. We need poets and artists. And we must not work separately. We must work together. a collaboration of hearts and minds. Communication through technical discussion, mathematics, illustration, prose, songs, painting, science, engineering, planning, documenters, designers, and through the throng of community and unison.

Dr BIGG is a sailor and a scientist, an engineer and an environmentalist. Her passions are for aquatic environments and application of science to provide practical solutions. A brush with root cause analysis to resolve underlying causes that will stem the crises at the root cause instead of fire fighting with surface solutions. EVs are not the answer copepods may be.