Last Christmas!

Tell me baby, do you recognise me?
Well, it’s been a year, it doesn’t surprise me

Happy Friday friends.

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a… carbon footprint. As we get ready to gather around the flickering LED lights of our eco-friendly Christmas tree next Monday, let’s take a merry journey through the twists and turns of 2023, a year that unfolded like an unpredictable plot twist in a cheesy Crimbo rom-com.

Oh, 2023, you were a rollercoaster of a year. It started with everyone still trying to figure out if “New Year, New Me” meant switching to electric scooters or just giving up gluten. Little did we know, the universe had a grander plan, and by the time December rolled around, I was on the edge of my ergonomic office chair, holding on for dear life.

Because, to me, things really started to change. I saw the difference in people and companies activism in achieving carbon net zero by 2050. Fair enough, legislation helped but I saw mindsets really start to flip as well, what a difference a year makes since last Christmas which rather obviously, just had to be this week’s tune.

The biggest star on the 2023 stage wasn’t a celebrity or a blockbuster movie – it was the climate crisis, and boy, did it steal the spotlight. Mother Nature went full diva on Planet Earth, unleashing heatwaves that had us all questioning why we’ve waited for so long to tackle forest fires and melting ice caps. But amidst the chaos, there was a glimmer of hope.

This year as It turns out, Father Christmas had been secretly moonlighting as a climate activist, word has it from people working behind the scenes is that he’s even installed solar panels on the roofs at the North Pole. I guess he was tired of relying on flying reindeer power, (reindeer poo creates a lot of methane) and decided to go green. The elves must have got in on the action as well, because this year I notice there is freely available rolls off recyclable wrapping paper and a sustainable toy line that would make St. Greta proud.

As we celebrate and over-indulge, feasting on plant-based mince pies and sipping a Snowball made from almond milk, you will no doubt have that relative or dinner guest who will proudly tell you how they don’t bother to use their re-cycling bins and how climate change is a load of old codswallop. They will loudly reminisce about the good ol’ days when the only thing melting was the snowman in the front yard and the only crisis during the holidays was pondering if another 3 pigs in blankets would leave enough room for Christmas pud.  “Now, it’s all about saving the planet and figuring out how to compost fruitcake” they’ll say

But fear not, fellow festive revellers, for amidst the sea of reusable shopping bags and solar-powered Christmas lights, there emerges a new green superhero – Renewable Energy Man!

Picture a caped crusader harnessing the power of sustainable biofuels that reduce exhaust emissions and improve air quality and climate change,  flying across the night sky to combat carbon emissions and rescue displaced orangutan colonies. In the blink of an eye, he will be able to  transform dirty coal mines into fields of sunflowers, turning pollution into a distant memory and delighting our pollinators. Who knew that the solution to our environmental woes was a spandex-clad superhero with a passion for sustainable energy. Keep a lookout for the return of Biocabby next year!

As the clock strikes midnight on Christmas Eve, I will look to the rooftop to catch a glimpse of Santa’s new-and-improved sleigh – now equipped with solar-powered thrusters and a regenerative braking system. The man in red flashing us a grin, his beard shimmering with a touch of biodegradable glitter. “Ho, Ho, Ho! This year, we’re not just delivering presents; we’re delivering a message of hope for a greener, brighter future.

So, here’s to you, 2023 – the year we decked the halls with renewable cheer, turned climate anxiety into climate activism. As we welcome 2024 with open arms, may our resolutions be as sustainable as a bamboo toothbrush and our laughter be as contagious as our climate sceptics fruitcake jokes. Let’s collectively, jingle all the way to a greener future, because, after all, it’s the most wonderful time of the year to be environmentally conscious and downright Christmassy!

Thanks for reading, I wish you and yours a Very Merry Christmas.

Mike.