When we set out to make this podcast we wanted to provide some facts and figures for anyone navigating the complexities of trying to adopt a more climate friendly diet. We wanted to explore the changes you can make that have the biggest impact, but also to discuss why these changes aren’t always easy.

My guest today is James Hand, co-founder of Giki, an app which aims to help people understand and reduce their carbon footprint. James has made it his mission to help individuals trying to negotiate these complex choices. In this episode we discuss:

• Why what you eat matters more for the environment than where your food has come from
• How much packaging and transport contribute to the carbon footprint of your food
• Food labels and other things that could make life easier for climate friendly shoppers
• Why the choices you make, make a difference

You can find a full transcription of this episode on YouTube, expand the description box and click - show transcript.

This podcast was produced by Molly Watson, funded by the University of York, working with FixOurFood.

More on James:

James Hand co-founded Giki with his wife Jo to help people cut carbon emissions. Giki, a mission-driven B-Corp, has worked with over 100 businesses to engage their employees on sustainability and helped over 100,000 people to take action at home and at work across 100 countries​.

James has worked in sustainability for almost 20 years and was previously Co-Chief Investment Officer at Ninety One Asset Management. James specialises in the intersection between carbon footprints and behaviour change.

Useful links:

James on LinkedIn

Giki

Our World in Data: Food Choice vs Eating Local

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So far in the podcast we’ve talked about how one of the key ways you can reduce the environmental impact of your diet is to eat more plants. But encouraging those around us to eat more vegetables and pulses isn’t always easy, especially if we’re talking about children. Whether you’re a parent or not, we all have an interest in encouraging the next generation to adopt a planet friendly diet. Which is why I was really keen to talk to Kim Smith, who’s a Trustee at TastEd, a charity that uses a sensory approach to introduce children to new foods. In this episode we discuss:

• How much veg kids are actually eating and how you can get them to eat more
• Why anyone who's ever said 'you just have to try it', has been getting it wrong!
• The importance of talking about what you don't like as well as talking about what you do like

You can find a full transcription of this episode on YouTube, expand the description box and click - show transcript.

This podcast was produced by Molly Watson, funded by the University of York, working with FixOurFood.

More about Kim:

Kim has more than 20 years of experience in the food industry, and is currently studying for a PhD examining food education policy, at City University of London. Kim is also a Trustee at TastEd, a charity that helps children to love eating vegetables and fruit through using the 5 senses.

Useful links:

Kim on LinkedIn and Instagram

TastEd

TastEd videos

Veg Power

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct1rfr

https://www.bera.ac.uk/blog/my-first-conference-view-from-a-phd-student

Papers / data mentioned:

Effect of sensory education on willingness to taste novel food in children

Effect of Experiential Vegetable Education Program on Mediating Factors of Vegetable Consumption in Australian Primary School Students: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

Stats about vegetable consumption from Food Foundation

Kim’s own MSc research into primary school food education policy around the world

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At this stage in the series we wanted to take a step back to ask the questions:

• How important is food when it comes to climate change?
• How much difference can individuals actually make?
• And if we are going to change the way we eat, how can we do this in a way that’s just and fair to everyone?

In this episode I talk to Professor Dave Reay, Chair in Carbon Management at the University of Edinburgh and author of several books on exactly these topics. Dave talks to me from his farm on the Mull of Kintyre, where he’s planting trees and trying to remove his family’s carbon footprint.

A full transcription of this episode is available on YouTube,

This podcast was produced by Molly Watson, funded by the University of York, working with FixOurFood.

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More about Dave:

Professor Dave Reay is Co-Chair of the Just Transition Commission which advises the Scottish Government and has just stepped down as Director of the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute. As well as being a leading researcher, Dave is the author of several books including “Your Planet Needs You! A Kid’s Guide to Going Green' and “Climate-smart Food” which examines the contribution and resilience of popular foods to climate change.

Useful links:

Dave on LinkedIn

Climate - Smart Food

Climate change begins at home

https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/davereay/home/

Our World in Data

Useful links from Sarah Bridle

Sarah’s website

Food and Climate Change Without the Hot Air

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