By the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR), Sheffield Hallam University, UK
As the dust settles on COP26 and the climate crisis deepens, it’s a good time to explore a topic that arises whenever such events trigger a concentration wealthy people traveling via private jets.
Plotted vertically and horizontally, data tracking income and CO2 emissions […]
By John C. H. Lindberg FRSA
Imagine that I told you that scientists had recently developed a virtually endless energy source, available around-the-clock and irrespective of weather or season, that also had a small footprint. In fact, just a few kilograms of this fuel would be enough to power your entire lifespan, all while being affordable and not emitting climate-altering greenhouse gases (GHG) or life-threatening air pollution.
Arnie* and Astrid,* Sweden ● “It was very cold. The house was in bad shape — but that’s just how it was.”
Arnie and Astrid refer to being ‘statare‘, which refers to contract-workers in Swedish agriculture who, contrary to other farmhands, were expected to be married, and were provided with a simple dwelling for their family. Instead of eating at the servants’ table, they were often paid in kind with foodstuff.
John, UK : “I’ve never again been in that situation where I’ve had a piece of kit that cantankerous.”
Q: Do you remember your house being cold or warm as a child?
A: We could get by without the central heating as we lived in a fairly warm part of Northern Ireland. There was virtually no frost … a very mild climate in which you can lift spuds in February and March.
Also, with our […]
Elaine, UK : “Even at 8 years old, my job was to shovel coal dumped in the yard into the basement; usually, the delivery was 1 metric tonne.”
Q: Were you directly involved in ‘managing’ household energy?
A: When I was about 8 years old, If I got home from school when the coal had been dropped, I had to get it into the coalhouse before mum and dad got home from work. […]
David, UK: “Every single morning, the curtains would be dripping with condensation and puddles would form on the windowsill.”
Q: Did your family keep the house warm?
A: I’m not sure that they tried to keep it is warm as possible; actually, I don’t think they did.
Q: Was it a question of not being able to afford to?
A: You don’t really know the family finances are when you’re that age, but I doubt it […]
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