The evenings are beginning to get lighter, the birds are singing again and green shoots are beginning to appear on the trees and shrubs, sounds more like spring than winter? But then this is a changing world in which we are now living, winters are the mildest on record and the summers the hottest on record, the current models are now suggesting that within 50 years we could be living in a Mediterranean climate and within 100 years temperatures could rise up to 10 o C.

Some maybe thinking that it is great and are quite looking forward to the summers we always dreamt of, but the wider impacts on areas such as sub-Saharan Africa and the threat to us all from sea level rise could be devastating. So what can we do? Well scientists currently believe that we can still halt the impending threat although we only have 25 years in which to do so, after that the changes will be irreversible. This is still speculation and the models are not 100% accurate, there are even still a minority who believe that global warming is a natural phenomenon and nothing to do with the human impact on the planet. Even so, if the mildest (sorry) predictions are right then we still need to make changes to the way we manage our lives. So here are some recommendations from Green Island for 2005:

• Walk and cycle more - try to reduce your car use by up 50%, this also includes car sharing for work and/or using more public transport.

• Go on a greener holiday - whether that is on our little Island or somewhere else try to choose accommodation that supports a local or national sustainable tourism initiative. There are over 40 eco-labels throughout Europe and many more worldwide, when booking checkout the local websites and brochures for details. See www.visit.org for details of European destinations.

• Support your local environment - find out about your local conservation organisation and how you can get involved with a local project. If there is nothing happening locally then start something up, contact your local council ranger service or nearest British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) for further advice.

• Sign-up to your local produce 'box scheme' and support your local farmers market - most areas in the UK now have local farmers markets and farm shops offering local produce and/or delivery. For those on the Island Horringford Gardens do local produce delivery every week, this includes all types of veg as well as eggs, pork, lamb and beef and preserves. This service is open to visitors, just simply order through the website before you leave; www.horringford.com

• Switch all your lighting to low-energy equivalents ­- low-energy lighting is now dirt cheap and available in sort of funky shapes and sizes, you can now even get low-energy recessed spot lamps the same as the popular halogen GU10's. Checkout www.lowenergyworld.com or www.commercial-lamps.co.uk for the best prices.

• Investigate new technologies for your home - Solar PV, solar thermal, heat pumps, condensing boilers, underfloor heating, heating optimisers and foil-based insulations, are a few of the technologies available to improve the performance of your home. See www.actionenergy.org for further details.

• Buy Fairtrade - you can now buy fairtrade alternatives of many common products, these include fruit, tea, coffee, clothing, wine, chocolate and even footballs! Checkout www.fairtrade.org.uk for further details.

• Recycle your rubbish - whether you are on holiday or staying at home recycling is now becoming a prerequisite for 21 st century living. Ask at your holiday destination or your local authority what services are currently available. On the Island the majority of Green Island members provide some form of recycling service although there are still some limitations due to the lack of commitment from Biffa, this Island main waste contractor. Failing that all the main towns and villages provide recycling centres within the central car parks. IOW information: www.islandwaste.co.uk

• Buy organic - the supermarkets are now stocked full of organic alternatives so there is no excuse to be still buying those chemical ridden products. If you're on the Island then why not try Godshill Organics, there is a farm shop on site and they also provide a local organic box scheme. Checkout www.soilassociation.org for further details or www.godshillorganics.com direct.

• Buy Recycled - the market is currently being flooded with recycled alternatives for all types of products, to the extent that sub markets are even emerging, so there are no excuses for not choosing the more environmentally sensitive alternative. Checkout www.recyclenow.com for a selection of some quirky alternatives.

Finally set yourself targets for the year, aim to make very journey less than 3 miles by bike, buy a new organic product each week, recycle your rubbish once a week or buy a low-energy lightbulb every week, there are many ways through which you can slowly begin to alter the way you live and secure a more sustainable future.

February / March 2005