The Climate Issue | Issue 7

THE CLIMATE ISSUE APRIL 2023 |

ISSUE 7

DIGITAL MAGAZINE

BUNHILL 2 ENERGY CENTRE

WORLDS FIRST SCHEME TURNING HEAT FROM LONDON UNDERGROUND INTO ENERGY

CAN URBAN REWILDING CLEAN UP LONDONER'S LUNGS ?

ECO BRANDS www.theclimateissue.com

ECO TOP TIPS

ECO SWAPS @theclimateissue @ theclimateissue

"We don’t have time to sit on our hands as our planet burns" ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ

WEBSITE THECLIMATEISSUE.COM

FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM

@THECLIMATEISSUE

"At present, we are stealing the future, selling it in the present, and calling it gross domestic product" PAUL HAWKEN

WOULD YOU LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE? Are you an eco brand, organisation or individual who has a passion for protecting the environment? You can contribute to The Climate Issue! Please email theclimateissue@gmail.com for more information.

IN THIS ISSUE EDITOR'S NOTE I proudly present Issue 7 of The Climate Issue!

Greta Thunberg once told us to panic as though our house is on fire and I really liked that analogy. Throughout our lives we are always told not to panic and stay calm in stressful situations. The truth is that there is nothing calm about climate change. I think we should respond to climate change with drive and urgency. After all, Planet Earth is in flames.

My name is Sophia-Harri and I am the founder and editor of the The Climate Issue digital magazine. This journey started 8 years ago where I started writing about the impacts of climate change on different platforms such as my own blog, a conservation NGO and the UNICEF Youth platform. As we entered a climate emergency, the desire to change our behaviours became more profound, coupled with a global pandemic where we had no choice but to embrace change. The digital magazine has created an opportunity to provide knowledge on environmental issues, but also captures how simple it is to transition to a sustainable lifestyle.

Both elements are essential to encourage change- recognising the issue and then finding solutions. This is something I want to emphasise in this magazine.

The theme of this issue is innovation, starting with the amazing front cover designed by Pixel Planet Today through pixelated design which is carbon efficient. The issue explores the innovation in London where energy is created through heat from the Underground, but also explores how innovative solutions such as urban rewilding can clean up Londons air quality. A London based eco brand, Jia De Lara is a great example of innovation in the fashion industry, highlighting the importance of circular economy through the supply chain.

There is a lot of learn from this issue and anticipate that readers endeavour to try something new as a result, with optimism and inspiration in mind. Please stay safe!

S.Niarriou

CONTENTS BUNHILL 2 ENERGY CENTRE- LONDON

03

PIXEL PLANET TODAY

04

HOW URBAN REWILDING CAN CLEAN UP LONDONERS LUNGS

07

TOP 5 INDOOR PLANTS

09

REGULARS Eco swaps eco brands 'Jia De Lara' which country?

04

05

10

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BUNHILL 2 ENERGY CENTRE LONDON This pioneering energy centre is a trailblazer for decarbonising heat for potential future schemes in London and globally, improving air quality and more importantly making cities more selfsufficient in energy supply.

So how does it work?

The new energy centre uses advanced technology located at a disused Underground station that commuters have not seen for almost 100 years. The remains of the station have been transformed to house a huge underground fan which extracts warm air from the Northern line tunnels below. The warm air is simply used to heat water that is then pumped to buildings in the neighbourhood through a new 1.5km network of underground pipes. (see image bottom right) The site adds a further 550 homes and a primary school to the existing Bunhill Heat and Power district heating network, launched in Islington in 2012.

The new energy centre gives the system the potential to supply up to 2,200 homes.

The centre’s combined heat and power technology means it also generates cheaper, greener electricity that is fed into the London Underground network. In addition, the two-metre fan, installed in an existing six-storey London Underground mid-tunnel ventilation shaft, can also be reversed to help with cooling the Tube tunnels in the summer months.

The heating bills for council tenants connected to the network will be cut by 10 per cent compared to other communal heating systems. The nearby Primary School is the first school to be connected to the network, alongside a leisure centre.

Contribution to Carbon Net Zero In order to achieve Londons Net Zero by 2030 target, the city will require more innovative projects like Bunhill to help deliver decarbonisation. In addition, the districts heating network reuses heat that would otherwise be wasted, helping to reduce emissions by around 500 tonnes each year.

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D

escribed as 'revolutionary', Bunhill 2 Energy Centre is the worlds first scheme using waste heat from the London Underground to warm homes, two leisure centres and a school in Islington.

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ISSUE 7

ECO SWAPS BAR SOAP VS LIQUID SOAP

WHO DESIGNED THE FRONT COVER? Pixel Planet Today is a climate education project that combines pixel art with facts about our planet.

Originally, Pixel Planet Today was a Design-365 project (where one post would be released everyday for a year), but has since spun into the beginnings of a green technology company named Terrabyte. By combining creativity and technology, Terrabyte projects are more than just data on a server. Current projects include the aformentioned Pixel Planet Today, as well as environmental video games and other software to assist in creating a greener future.

When it comes to soap bars, the most important benefit is the plastic free packaging. Organic, chemical-free bar soaps have a lower environmental impact than liquid soaps in many important categories including carbon footprint.

However, a study has shown that people use about 30% less water when they wash their hands with liquid soap than with bar soap. Unfortunately, liquid soaps are packaged in plastic and often not recycled. They often contain fragrances, parabens and sodium sulphates even when labelled as 'natural! An example of 'greenwashing'.

CLOTH NAPKINS VS PAPER TOWELS Cloth napkins and Handkerchiefs are multipurpose compared to paper towels and Kleenex tissues which you use once and throw away. It’s pretty clear now that single use options are not a great solution as they create a greater waste problem.

Paper towels often account for a quarter (or more) of the total waste produced by public buildings like schools and office buildings.

Why not create your own napkins from old clothes or cloths!

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SUSTAINABLE BRAND

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ISSUE 7

NEW SUSTAINABLE LUXURY FOOTWEAR

"The pursuit of new materials that are equal parts sustainable, ethical and beautiful is at the core of our design process. We work closely with suppliers to push forward innovation around what we can make and how, meaning that the design of each shoe is an exercise in challenging the limits of what is possible.

We are always raising our own bar”.

Larissa, Founder of Jia De Lara

About Jia De Lara Jia De Lara is a London based luxury footwear design studio launched to connect beautiful design and the circular economy for a new, uncompromising era for luxury. Founded in 2021 by Larissa Hoehl, it places the exploration and creation of new sustainable materials into the heart of its design process, bringing together traditional craftsmanship and innovative materials and processes into every piece for the increasingly conscious consumer.

Collections are designed between London and Paris, and created in Le Marche, Italy, the famous home of artisanal shoemakers.

Jia De Lara is on a journey towards being carbon-positive, offsetting all carbon produced through planting trees with Ecologi. It also provides financial support to environmental causes, donating 1% of proceeds to Sheldrick Wildlife Fund and the Blue Marine Foundation.

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Contribution to sustainability Each individual shoe is made of iridescent fish skins recycled from the Icelandic food industry, as well as butter-soft and chromefree Italian leather from traceable sources which contributes to amazing innovation of this brand. Each product is ICEA, Global Gap, MSC and ASC-certified, with each material sourced from suppliers that ensure high animal welfare standards and employ a variety of leading edge, sustainable manufacturing processes.

Production recycles water, eliminating waste and renewable energy sources are helping push Jia De Lara faster towards a carbon-positive status.

The Oceanic Collection Every piece in the collection is made from over 90% recycled materials and represents a commitment to moving the industry further towards a sustainable and circular economy.

The collection of seven styles comprises the studios’ take on classic stilettos (see image to right). The signature Nancy and Agnes styles are designed to transform, with detachable fastenings that can be worn in multiple ways, providing a variety of looks with the same shoe.

The Oceanic collection launched in November 2022.

COLLECTIONS CAN BE PURCHASED GLOBALLY FROM

WWW.JIADELARA.COM @JIADELARA 06 | THE CLIMATE ISSUE

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ISSUE 7

HOW URBAN REWILDING CAN CLEAN UP LONDONERS LUNGS why we need cleaner air It’s a Wednesday morning as I cram myself onto the Northern line and breathe in the same amount of particulate matter pollution as smoking a cigarette.

With the highest number of weekly passengers, the Northern Line exposes commuters to particle pollution levels six times above the World Health Organisation’s limit. Particle pollution, also known as particulate matter, consists of tiny particles linked to numerous health problems.

Yet concerns of polluted air shouldn’t be reserved for London commuters, polluted air is ubiquitously breathed in by 99% of the global population. It’s coming from our cooking stoves, cars, power stations, waste incinerators and more. Health-wise, air pollution is closely linked to physical conditions such as lung and heart disease, cancer and asthma. However, it can also affect dementia, depression, brain development and infertility.

Cleaner air is vital for social equity and climate action as access to a healthy environment is a fundamental human right. Meanwhile, the negative health repercussions strain healthcare systems and weaken the population’s wellbeing. Fortunately, there is light at the end of this Northern line tunnel, and it lies in the innovative ways urban rewilding can breathe fresh air into London’s smoggy streets.

URBAN REWILDING- WHAT IS IT? Rewilding often conjures up images of expansive plains, grazing bison or reintroduced wolves. Urban rewilding aims to similarly restore natural processes by reintroducing nature on a city scale. By balancing the needs of humans and wildlife, a more harmonious landscape can be created for all to enjoy.

It takes shape in many forms, from planting wildflowers to designing greener urban spaces and forging new ideas of what cities could look like. It’s time to forgo our congested cities and visualise a brighter, cleaner future.

How it works Admittedly, urban rewilding is not a panacea for climate change in its entirety, but it can contribute towards the cooling of cities during heatwaves and changing water flows to assist with flood mitigation. In terms of air pollution, more plants help capture carbon dioxide and harmful pollutants like particulate matter.

As a bonus, it’s well documented that just looking at more green spaces improves one’s mood and reduces stress.

URBAN REWILDING IN LONDON WILDLIFE London is embracing some innovative approaches to rewild the city and tackle the city’s problem with air pollution. In 2021, London City Hall committed £600,000 to a ‘Rewild London’ fund that aims to restore 20 to 30 sites across London. One of these projects involves reintroducing water voles to a local river, where the voles are tracked with cameras and monitored via bioacoustic devices.

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By emma Tegg

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ISSUE 7

Water voles can help ecosystem restoration and in turn, bring in more birds, bees and butterflies. Along this vein of species reintroductions, two beavers, Justin and Sigourney, were recently released to a six-hectare enclosure in Enfield, North London. The pair are the first beavers to return since the species was hunted to extinction 400 years ago.

Pocket Parks Somewhere between Hyde Park and a private garden lies a ‘pocket park’, created in 2013 to provide more natural spaces in London. Pocket parks are small green spots up to 0.4 hectares in size and range from community orchards to edible bus stops.

As refreshing as these beacons of nature are, the benefits and risks of urban rewilding schemes should be carefully considered. For example, poorly managed wild verges or corridors can trap road-side air pollution by reducing air flow and dually provide a source of pollen.

For the best-case scenario, the positioning and plants used should be evaluated by urban planners, botanists, atmospheric scientists, public health officials and local councils.

Recreation of the Thames Flood Plain There is more innovation occurring through the recreation of the Thames flood plain, where the ‘Rewilding Arcadia’ project in Richmond restores the natural habitat for various species; serving as a carbon sink and crucially protecting parts of London from high flood risks[1]. According to Thames 21, 27km of the Thames has been improved since 2000.

Living Walls and Super Trees Living walls may not be a text-book rewilding approach but they nonetheless boast architectural and green innovation. At the London School of Economics, the first green wall was constructed on site which regulates temperature, ameliorates aesthetics, provides an ideal habitat for wildlife and improves local air quality by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.

More living walls can be found at the Elephant and Castle tube station, Regal House in Covent Garden and Paddington Central to name a few. There is also an interior living wall in Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 3, composed of 1680 plants including the English native ivy and peace lily.

In the future, perhaps London could take a leaf out of Singapore’s book and implement the infamous ‘Super Tree’ groves that are made from reinforced concrete and wrapped in a steel frame. The ‘trees’ create a living sheath of flora as planting panels are installed along trunks. (You can see how amazing they are in the background!)

Both man-made and more naturalistic rewilding innovations are welcome in cleaning up London’s air and providing more green spaces for all to enjoy.

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Nature Corridors Imagine walking under railway arches and spotting bridges of greenery and blooming flowers overhead.

Conservationists are working to make this vision a reality by creating ‘nature corridors’ across canals and train lines. The corridors will provide wildlife with a much-needed means to bridge the barriers put in place by human activity.

TOP 5 INDOOR PLANTS

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SNAKE PLANT (Dracaena trifasciata) Indirect sunlight

Air purifying

Monthly- when soil is dry

It is one of the most popular houseplants. They will thrive in either very bright light or almost dark corners of the house. They generally grow slowly in indoor light but a few hours of direct morning sun will boost their growth. They are known to boost your health and well-being. Believe it or not, NASA identified this plant as air purifying, while many studies have demonstrated it's ability to remove formaldehyde and benzene from the air.

Low maintenance

(Chlorophytum comosumt)

Bright/indirect sunlight

Warm temperatures

These plants need bright light, but no direct sun, so they're perfect to put in a room with big windows. Just keep it away from the windowsill. Spider plants are perfect for hanging from the ceiling! They need watering once the soil gets dry- presumably every 2 weeks (but dependent on soil moisture). like snake plants, they are air purifying!

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SPIDER PLANT

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ALOE VERA

Bright/indirect sunlight

WHICH COUNTRY AM I? Below are five facts about a country in the world. Can you guess which country it is?

13 and 27°C

Every 2-3 weeks

ISSUE 7

The aloe vera plant is an easy, attractive succulent that makes for a great indoor companion. Aloe vera plants are useful, too, as the gel from their leaves can be used to relieve pain and inflammation from scrapes and burns when applied topically, as well as treat acne and other skin conditions.

JADE PLANT

I am an island in Europe

I have a population of 1.2 million

The only divided capital city in the world

(Crassula ovata)

Bright/sunlight

I am home to Halloumi

10-18°C

GOOD LUCK! Many people enjoy growing jade plants in their homes and offices as they are considered to be symbols of good luck. Never let a jade plant dry out completely. But also, do not water a jade plant too often, as this can cause root rot. Don’t water your jade plant on a schedule, instead, water when the top of soil is just dry to the touch. If your jade plant is losing leaves or has leaf spots, this is most commonly caused by too little water.

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when topsoil is dry

ANSWERS WILL BE REVEALED IN THE NEXT ISSUE