One day over breakfast, I listened intently with my young children to a speech by Greta Thunberg. The speech was all the more poignant as the night before, we had read a ‘Little People, Big Dreams’ book on Ms Thunberg’s fascinating journey. We smiled across our sourdough and avocado as Greta exclaimed, net-zero carbon, offsetting, and zero-emissions suffixed with’ Blah, Blah’.
Suddenly I stopped smiling as I realised that almost every phrase she had said were phases that I had spent the last 12 months stating in meetings, speeches, presentations, and even in articles. Ms Thunberg effectively said, ‘Talk is cheap’ in an effortless and sophisticated way. The more worrying question was, had I, indeed fallen in love with the on-trend climate emergency rhetoric? To be honest, I think I had. I have tried to positively affect the environment, leading the design of low carbon 147 room hotel, insulating my home to within an inch of its life and swapping my diesel car for an EV.
However, I need to do more; we all need to do more; but what, and how? There are around 27 million residencies in the UK, producing 40% of the nation’s carbon footprint. The only way we have a chance of reaching the Net Zero Carbon target is if everyday people do everyday things to improve the carbon footprint of their homes. The solution is not simply air source heat pumps and solar panels. To save the planet by reducing carbon, we need clear messaging, a clear strategy, and a clear road map. This is the only way we can reduce the negative impact that our homes have on the environment. If we all work together, I believe that we can help avoid environmental disasters, Kilo by Kilo.
The launch of Kilo by Kilo was a great success. I drove up to COP26 in an electric car (powered only by renewable electricity), stopping at my old school on the way to discuss the climate emergency with students before heading to COP26 to launch Kilo by Kilo.
Here is a short Video of my trip
My Schedule was
Kunle Barker – Confirmed Kilo by Kilo launch COP26 Schedule
Wednesday 3rd November – Bedford Modern School, Bedford
- 10:20 – Meet Y13 Students
- 11:00 – Interview with Eco Club Students
- 12:00 – Meet Junior School students
Thursday 4th November –
- 08:00 – Arrive at COP26
- 09:00 – Filming with delegates
- 10:00 – Panelist at Extreme Hang Out with OVO
- 12:00 – Meeting with Sir Tim Smit & Andrew Whally at Eden Project Pavillion
- 14:00 – General filming at event and interviews with RIBA, Architects Journal etc
- 18:30 – Glasgow School of Art/Eden Dinner – Hosted by Penny Macbeth
Friday 5th November –
- Drive back to London
My Route
