Be More Frog: Environmental Optimism with Isabel Losada and Sumit Paul-Choudhury

 “My-single minded focus is solutions for our planet that also enhance our lives,” said Isabel Losada, author of The Joyful Environmentalist. “Solutions that are good for the planet and good for us.

Losada was speaking on ‘Environmental Optimism’, a panel discussion at Hay Festival that we were honoured to sponsor. She was in conversation with Sumit Paul-Choudhury, who wrote The Bright Side: Why Optimists Have the Power to Change the World and host, Martin Wright from Positive News.

HOW TO BE AN ENVIRONMENTAL OPTIMIST

Just how can we be more optimistic about the environment when we’re constantly hearing about climate change, pollution and loss of biodiversity? And what even is an optimist?

“I became an optimist the day my wife died,” shared astrophysicist-turned-writer Paul-Choudhury. “You don’t have to be happy all the time. You just have to believe things can be better than they are now.”

Paul-Choudhury illustrated his point with a Russian folk tale: Two frogs are trapped in a milk churn. One sees no way out, gives up and sinks. The other keeps swimming, kicking its legs so hard that it eventually churns the milk into butter, from which it leaps out of the churn. 

"So," said Paul-Choudhury, ending the parable, "be more frog."

 “If we all kick enough, things shift,” added Losada. “I just keep on with the practical solutions.”

So, Wright wondered, what are Losada’s favourite environmental – and joyful – solutions?

CONSIDER YOUR BANK

 “Bank with a bank that publishes its investments in the public domain,” Losada advised.

Many banks don’t share details of their investments, which can be in industries that negatively impact the planet. Losada suggests switching to a bank that’s open about its investments, choosing one that invests in areas like renewable energy and sustainable housing.

 “People don’t change banks because they think it’ll be difficult, but it’s not.”

When Wright questioned whether there was any joy in banking, Losada described the reward of finding (and cancelling) old standing orders that she didn’t need during the process of switching.

BECOME AN ENERGY EXPERT

“We should all become energy experts,” was Losada’s rallying cry.

“I didn’t understand how energy worked, I just paid my bills,” she explained.

Since then, Losada has educated herself about energy and where it comes from. She acknowledges not everyone can afford things like solar panels and heat pumps, but with a little research, people can at least choose renewable energy providers and those that are doing good things for the planet.

DELETE YOUR EMAILS (AND YOUR CAT VIDEOS)

“Delete all your unwanted emails,” advised Losada. “Hit the unsubscribe button with dedication. Delete cat videos, delete photos. Delete, delete, delete.”

Losada recommends this ruthless digital decluttering because “The cloud now has a greater carbon footprint than the airline industry.”

Data is stored on massive servers that run on huge amounts of electricity. Deleting unwanted files and emails cuts demand for storage – and helps you reduce your carbon footprint. 

 DON’T BUY ANY NEW CLOTHES

“Stop buying new clothes!” 

 Thanks to apps like Depop and Vinted, it’s never been easier to buy (and sell!) used clothes, helping to reduce the waste created by fast fashion.

 Losada, who also advised against buying “unnecessary plastic things”, issued a challenge to the audience: “Don’t buy any new clothes until the next Hay Festival,” she said. “Have fun with clothes that never get worn.”

 MAKE MAGIC (OR COMPOST)

“If you’ve got a garden and you’re not making compost, you’re not living,” announced Losada, applauding the audience member who told her he gets great joy from his wormery.

Making your own compost keeps organic household waste out of landfill, reducing methane emissions. It also improves the health of soil and its carbon storage abilities, helps promote biodiversity and reduces the need for chemical fertiliser.

 “It’s magic,” said Losada, describing her own experience of making compost, “the source of life.”

PLANT TREES 

“I spent an amazing week volunteering with the charity Trees for Life in Scotland, helping to replant the Caledonian Forest,” said Losada.

Everyone knows that trees are vital to life, so planting them can be hugely rewarding – for you and the planet. But you don’t have to travel far or take a week off work to make a difference. If you have a garden, plant trees there – or look for volunteering opportunities in nearby parks.

“Think about what you can do in your local area,” Losada suggested, “not the whole world.”

KEEP KICKING

Losada’s suggestion of finding ways to help Nature in your local area is what environmental optimism is all about. You might not be able to fix the entire planet, but you can make small, everyday changes. Things like planting bee-friendly flowers, refilling and litter-picking can bring great joy – and when more people do them, make a big difference.

“Be open to possibility,” said Paul-Choudhury, as the enlightening talk came to an end. “Nothing about the world today is the way it has to be.”

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