STAFF at City Science in Exeter are being encouraged to take part in a Low Carbon Lent Challenge.

It’s a campaign designed to encourage people to make a change in their life that reduces their carbon footprint for the period of Lent (starting March, 2 in 2022), and then nominate at least three of their friends to take part as well. Examples of what people are committing to include:

• Not driving to work but walking or taking public transport

• Not eating any red meat (or reducing your consumption)

• Choosing organic and locally-sourced produce

• Not buying any new clothes (or using a swap shop instead)

• Shopping locally rather than out-of-town

• Arranging a party to swap children’s toys

• Having family days out that don’t need a car

• Halving the length of showers

• Taking a reusable water bottle instead of buying single-use plastic ones

• Turning down the central heating and wearing an extra layer at home

• Car-sharing or cutting out all non-essential car journeys 

• Booking a staycation instead of a foreign holiday 

• Planting your own veggies 

Laurence Oakes-Ash, City Science Founder and CEO, comments: “While our employees are regularly advising clients about decarbonisation, we wanted to find ways to help them take individual action to address climate change themselves. 

“Low Carbon Lent was one of the results of our brainstorming.

“The goal with Low Carbon Lent is to get people to do something to help solve the climate crisis right away, but also engage with and understand all the things they can do to make a difference. 

“Change is hard, and the thought of it can be scary.

“By limiting the commitment to 40 days, we hope more people will start. “Hopefully, some people will find it easier than they thought and may even keep their change going.”

For those who want to get involved, it’s easy.

Decide what change/s you will make to reduce your emissions for the period of lent.

Then post your commitment on social media tagging at least three people you know to nominate them to take part too.

Use the hashtags #lowcarbonlent and #lclchallenge. 

Find out more at: lowcarbonlent.org .