20/07/2022 - Luton family demonstrate that it is easy being green – and become Climate Change Champions

Supporting the community to reduce their carbon footprint is a key pillar of the council’s pledge to achieve net zero town by 2040. To that end, it launched a Climate Change Champions competition, with the aim of showcasing actions that the town’s residents are taking to tackle climate change and the ease at which the actions can be adopted.

Residents were encouraged to submit details of actions they take, along with images and short videos. After carefully considering a range of inspiring entries, the Pokharel family emerged as the competition winners, receiving a set of high street vouchers as their prize.

In their day-to-day lives, the family has adopted a range of small, simple changes to reduce their carbon footprint, such as placing food waste in compost bins, donating old clothes to charity and avoiding single-use plastics from toiletries in their weekly shop.

The family also grow their own vegetables, fix household appliances to extend their lifespan and conserve energy when drying clothes, highlighting that environmentally friendly actions can save money.

The Pokharel family said “We think it is important to prevent carbon emissions and reduce our footprint, which ultimately helps tackle climate change. This is a family approach because we really feel that it is vital to teach the future generation about recycling, composting, and the correct segregation of waste. We believe if started teaching them when they are young, good habits can be persistent.” 

“We enjoy saving money by taking bags to the supermarket, growing our own food or anything that we feel we can do to contribute to the planet’s health.” 

Nicola Monk, Corporate Director for Inclusive Economy at Luton Council, said “Becoming a net zero town is a priority for Luton. If we are to achieve this ambition we will need everyone taking action so it is energising to see how many of our residents are tackling the climate crisis in their own lives.”

“The winners are a phenomenal example of how action on climate change can be easy, affordable and accessible to everyone.  Not only are they setting an example of how to help create a cleaner, greener, healthier and more sustainable Luton, but they are also demonstrating how such actions can help save them money”.

The family’s measures to tackle climate change will be shared across the council’s social media platforms and its E-Luton newsletter until December 2022. Their regular updates will form part of the ‘Easy Being Green’ campaign, which aims to support the town’s residents in adopting environmentally friendly lifestyle changes.