Climate Action in England

Hi everyone, my name is Charlotte, and I wanted to share with everyone a couple of interesting observations that I made over the summer while in England! As of 2019, by 2050, England is attempting to reach net-zero emissions. Here are some observations, regarding climate actions, that I made throughout my travels:

No plastic straws! Whilst in the UK, I noticed that every cafe and coffee shop that I visited only offered paper straws. According to Gov. UK, ​​”[shops] must no longer supply single-use plastic straws, cotton buds, and drink stirrers in England, except for exempt uses.” This is a huge step in the right direction for reducing plastic pollutants. One shop that I went to even put my iced latte in a paper cup!

Buying bags! I also noticed during my many outings that bags, such as grocery bags and shopping bags , cost customers money! Not only was this the case in the local grocery stores, but also at major-chain clothing shops. This encourages citizens to bring their own bags from home, which saves plastic and paper.

As you can see, England has made some simple changes that will, in the long run, help create a more green future!