December 2015: Past Beau (PB) is 12 years old, on a school trip in Paris. She is in the Jardin du Luxembourg surrounded by her friends and their litter. Their spot in the park is a stark contrast to the cleanliness around them. Amidst the new Paris Agreement with the UN, the city is stepping towards a circular economy; one that avoids over-consumption and waste by reusing, repairing and recycling. As PB goes to drop her empty Frazzles packet, Now Beau (NB) appears beside her.
NB: Watch it right there!
PB: (startled) Oh em gee! Who are you?
NB: Sorry, it’s my first time doing this. I just didn’t want you to litter, but it looks like I’m too late.
PB: It’s actually fine. Someone will pick it up innit.
PB rolls her eyes, the others don’t seem to notice NB.
NB: Or maybe they won’t. Maybe one of the cockatoos here will get trapped in that Sprite can, maybe one of the badgers will suffocate on that crisp packet. (aside) She’s already breaking goals 14 and 15 of the SDG’s to protect and restore biodiversity (back to PB) I don’t remember us being so heartless!
PB: Literally, relax. Wait! What do you mean us?
NB: I’m you from the future. You live here now, for your year abroad.
PB: You came back in time…about litter?
NB: Listen carefully. You MUST start caring about our planet more. The UN is trying to limit global warming by 2°C! You can help! Clean up and recycle what you can. Also, stop buying clothes you won’t wear! This stripey top? You never wear it again! We buy most of our clothes second-hand now and there are so many vintage stores in Paris. Buying second-hand reduces the carbon footprint of products from 30kg of CO2 to 3kg. The Good On You app even tells you which brands are ethical and eco-friendly.
PB: Oh yeah, the average person’s carbon footprint is 4 tons!
NB: Correct, we need to halve that to stay under 2°C! Start walking more, I walk everywhere! I walk through this park to my favourite café. A trip from here to the Eiffel Tower on the metro is 16g of carbon emissions! You can track your emissions with Giki Zero. Oh, and use Too Good To Go, you can buy unsold food from Parisian cafés and bakeries. Saves money and waste! Bring a reusable water bottle! You can refill it anywhere, use the Refill My Bottle app.
PB: You’re going too fast!
NB: I don’t have time! Use Ecosia to search the SDG’s when you get home. The profits they make from searches plants trees! I have to g-
NB disappears. PB blinks, looks at the rubbish on the floor and stands.
PB: Come on guys let’s clean this up.
References:
https://rb.gy/lcqhvw Metro emissions
https://rb.gy/yny83d Carbon footprint
https://rb.gy/72bt2x Shopping second-hand
https://rb.gy/6j9584 UNFCCC
https://rb.gy/bqo0nu UN Climate Action
