JUR-I / Law
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I am a professor of environmental and urban planning law at UCLouvain and a lawyer. I am concerned about the decline in biodiversity and the ongoing global warming and its impact on human well-being and ecosystems. To contribute to the transition, I have been trying for a few years to reduce and make my own consumption more sustainable. I avoid buying new, I repair what is worn, I prefer dematerialized gifts, I buy first in second hand and, if I have to buy new, I prefer sustainable products. I try to reduce my waste production by refusing packaging and disposable products, etc., by bringing in my containers, by buying some food in bulk, etc. As for food, I have strongly reduced my meat consumption. I buy 60-70% of organic and/or local products, with the exception of certain foods (chips, cereals, Asian cuisine, etc.). I buy seasonal, organic and/or local fruits and vegetables, with exceptions (bananas, citrus fruits,…). As for mobility, living in Les Bons Villers, I go to work by bus and folding bicycle 3 times a week and I work home for 1 day a week. I drive when I have no choice (activities early or late in the evening). I travel professionally by train-bus/tram-folding bike if possible. With my family, (4 people) we travel by car or by plane (winter sport once a year, one annual city trip in Europe, one trip in summer). I compensate for air travel and intend to compensate for the km travelled by car over the past 10 years. In our house, we insulated our roof and installed a condensing gas boiler. We have photovoltaic panels and we have a green electricity supplier.
These efforts require compromises and my family is not yet ready to give up some consumer goods, having two cars or air travel. As I do not want to impose or judge, I make compromises while trying to raise awareness of the consequences of our lifestyle or to show the savings that can be made.
In general, I think that education, awareness and training are a key element of the transition. As long as the current economic system remains dominant, consumers have the responsability to transform the economy by demanding sustainable goods and services in a circular, low-carbon economy. For biodiversity, agriculture, forestry and land use planning are priority policies to be targeted.
Originally posted 2018-05-28 13:54:21.