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The Carbon cost of Christmas: and how to beat it
A time of peace on earth and goodwill to all mankind, Christmas has also become a frenzy of mass consumption. And, as new calculations from the new economics foundation revealed, our obsession with high-tech energy guzzling gadgets threatens both to derail attempts to cut emissions, and erode our well-being.
 But, nef researchers say, low carbon highs hold the key to reducing emissions and creating real festive cheer. Having calculated some of the carbon cost of Christmas, researchers at nef, an award winning independent ‘think-and-do’ tank have devised a climate friendly Christmas that also increases people’s well-being.
Market analysts estimate that around 60 percent of annual turnover in UK retailing happens during the Christmas period. In its briefing – The Carbon Cost of Christmas - the think tank exposes some of the biggest seasonal ‘no no’s this Christmas, followed by some big Christmas ‘yes, yeses.’
For example, this year, Christmas sparkle comes all the way from China:
- Well over eight out of ten Christmas decorations we import this year will come from China – in all a record 66,500 tonnes. Things produced in China generally pump more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, because China’s energy mix contains much more carbon. But even that excludes the carbon cost of shipping them half the way around the world to the UK.
And just two of the gadgets topping Christmas wish lists this year reveal the increasing carbon cost of our obsession with high tech just at the point at which we should be reducing emissions:
- Energy consumed by Nintendo Wii games consols in the UK for the year up to Christmas is estimated to generate the equivalent in greenhouse gases of 180,000 single flights from the UK to New York[i] The CO2e emissions produced by each consol– just one household electrical device - using its Wiiconnect24 stand-by facility, assuming a modest 14 hours playing per week, over the course of a year is greater than, or equal to, the total annual carbon dioxide emissions per person in countries such as Burundi or Chad.
- If just one household in every 25 in the UK buys a new Digital Photo Frame it will lead to a rise in annual CO2e emissions of 11,000 tonnes – the equivalent of over 14,000 air passenger journeys from London to New York[ii]
“Everyone sets out to have a good time at Christmas, but invariably people end up broke, arguing and disappointed as they stumble towards the New Year. We wanted to find out how we could avoid our over-flowing festive generosity being expressed as the mindless consumption of energy-intensive products.” says Andrew Simms policy director at nef and head of the climate change programme, “Because this, in turn, leads to rivers and seas overflowing their banks and coastlines due to global warming – not a nice Christmas present for anyone. A better gift is greater well-being, but this means breaking bad habits and learning some good, new skills.”
Instead, nef has set out a ten point plan for low carbon highs this Christmas. The think tank’s suggestions include:
- Switch of the TV. To really feel good and save the climate, read a library book. It’s the least energy intensive (and most satisfying) activity. Considering the embodied energy, reading a library book uses around one quarter of the energy used while watching TV.
- Give the gift of time. Forget about the expression “time is money”, time is time – and that’s far more precious. Rather than ‘stuff’ they probably won’t want, present friends and family with a time pledge and add ‘time’ to your own Christmas wish list? A small certificate committing you to spending some time with them or on their behalf. You could help them learn a language, or fix their bicycle. Time is the basic currency on which relationships and communities are based. If you like the idea of using your time as a currency, check out your local Time Bank
As nef’s ten point plan shows, low carbon highs don’t have to be just for Christmas, they can last the whole year.
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