COP15, Xmas and Boxing Day

Another month has passed with a blink of an eye.

Work has been good, but not spectacular. We are embarking on a exciting journey with this project. But still, something is missing. Maybe it's a combination of the lack of government push and also consumer demand.

I've read nearly all media reports and expert opinions of the outcomes of COP15. It reminded me of the XXXXX project I worked on when I was at XXXXX. The project was so difficult, the tasks required by the deadline were impossible. I had no idea what to write for my advice, 5 hours before the deadline. The boss caned me for it and demanded that I come up with something within an hour, and I wrote and wrote like mad. We met exactly an hour later and it was damage control. He agreed with mostly what I had written and we sent off the advice. But deep down we all knew we would never have been able to solve the underlying issues. It was beyond our control and domain. Same with COP15. The countries there were faced with an impossible task and the solutions were beyond their control. The rushed 3 page Accord looked and sounded a lot like my advice in that case.

A lot of China bashing has happened but in the end, it didn't matter whether a good deal was signed or not. An ambitious deal would just lead to default anyway.

The one big beef developing countries have with the West is that they started this endless desire for consumption and growth. They created and started it. And now they want to say "hey, of course you can have everything we have, just have it cleanly! It's possible! let's all work together and get there together!" In reality they still live twice as dirty and are not really serious with fitting the bill of cleaning up. This argument is almost like an innocent kid living in fantasy land, detached from reality. The ugly truth is there is no other way to live but dirtily. And Christmas is no better example. For big corporations, the Christmas period can amount to nearly 40% of their annual sales. It's a period of do or die.

I checked it out today, walking around on Boxing Day in Oxford Street and seeing the sea of people. This is the type of consumption that is NEEDED for the companies to stay profitable, to compete, to grow and to continue employing the growing number of people that are born in to this world.

I know it's probably impossible for all of this to be clean, by that all the energy and products to be co2 free. Therefore since climate change will continue, we will probably all die together. But I don't really care anymore about the human race. I think the Earth would probably be better off without us. Even those that purport to care about fate their grandchildren and great grandchildren can be argued as selfish for trying to preserve the rights of their future generations to continue polluting and destroying the world.

I myself am a hypocrit. I consume products, I travel, I produce waste, I live. I claim to be greener because I bought nothing for xmas and boxing day, and I refrain from meat. But the end how different am I to those that live normally, and enjoy themselves to the max before the end comes? Probably not too much.

My Masters Thesis now online!

My Masters thesis can now be viewed online at http://carboncdm.wordpress.com/

Content will be updated regularly, along with all graphs, tables, figures. Enjoy!

Graduation in Rainy Edinburgh!

Woke up, enjoyed some bread and coffee, and headed out to a Kiltmaker to hire a kilt for my graduation ceremony. Got it done, just.

I was happy during the entire graduation process. It was so different from my undergrad ceremony because I knew and liked everyone from my course. Whenever I chat with our classmates, I feel like we're on the same mission, with the same goals, same values for life. There isn't a single element of competition, animosity.

I also thought I looked like a stud in the kilt. I walked up on the stage confidently, back straight and smiling. How different from my undergrad days!! I've really found myself, I thought.

The rest of the day was spent at a wine reception in the majestic Playfair Library at Edinburgh University Old College. It was panicky as I had problems locating my belongings (kilt has no pockets for cameras, stuff, etc.). But even so, I was always at ease. Too much pity if these things can bother me.

Then over at Kushal's flat. Suddenly, in spurts, the culmination of everything hit me. I felt an urge to get my "stuff" out. I want people to know I love my chosen field, I want people to know my work on it, I want people to debate and criticise me, I want to know more and more people in the carbon world.

I knew once Kushal got the ball rolling through Linkedin, everything snowballed from there. He was now talking to everyone. I want the same.

From now on I will put my dissertation for public viewing and comment on wordpress - first thing when I go back to London.

But now, I've to collect my luggage from Stanley, visit my beloved Edinburgh uni kendo club and then graduation dinner.

Back to Edinburgh for Graduation!

Caught the train up to Edinburgh yesty, made a presention on my dissertion topic "Development of a CDM Strategy using PROMETHEE: a Case Study of Mongolia" at Edinburgh Business school. I really enjoyed talking about my work, and content after content just rolled off my tongue. I felt like a hotshot young professor from Stanford uni, and the way I answered questions was so confident even I found it hard to believe it was me.

After that met up with Kushal to have dinner at his place. Kushal is now a freelance consultant with Envirotrade on forestry carbon projects, and is in talks with South Pole Carbon on other forestry collaboration opportunities. But behind these industry leading organizations and companies, in reality life is unglamourous, I thought as we munched our way through some Indian-spiced leftover pasta.

After dinner we went to watch some Champions League football, which was bland as the main event - Barcelona v Inter Milan, was not being shown in favour of knocked out UK teams. But it was a blessing in disguise as we headed to a local pub "Royal Oak" famous for attracting Scotland's best folk singers.

It was one of the best moments I've spent in Scotland. A group of folk song/ poem loving ppl were there, each getting up in turns singing songs they wrote or reading poems that had wrote, often based on random whims of inspiration from ordinary incidents in their ordinary lives. But it felt soo...liberating. I closed my eyes as one of the girls sang, and thought for the first time I was really litening to a song. The most special part was that it was living proof that people don't need high tech gadgets, or even electricity, to entertain themselves thoroughly.

Upstairs, local folk singers sang and played the guitar unconscientiously, without a care in the world. They didn't give a crap who was there, what they thought of the music, or why they even came. The artists were simply in their natural habitat, and nothing was forced. Somehow this really appealed to me.

We then went to the Library bar to socialise with course mates, and ppl from other courses. I managed to squeeze in my favourite kebab from the only kebab shop I trust in UK, then went home to Kushal's place, chatted a bit, and slept.

Snapshots of my recent days

So easy to forget to update my blog....guess that's why Facebook is so popular, simply uploading a nice picture to tell a thousand words.

But...!! Some things do need recording so...

1. PROHIBITION ON STAYING FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHTS IN THE HOUSE

Yah, it's a house rule to specifically apply to me...by Nakai. "no es posible estar en la casa, esatamos en London! Come se peude voya con chicas si estas en la casa!" Flatmate Cici is also a party animal herself...we rarely see her, except for the odd days I'm off work and eating lunch...at home of course. She's usually cooking her healthy diet friendly dishes, but woks and woks of it....so seems like they are canceling each other out lol.

But going out has never been so pain-free because Nakai does all the research. I simply just go, or invite ppl to go....until he's able to makes new friends.

So far my favourite is definitely Cargo, located near Old Street tube.

http://www.cargo-london.com/

It's just a really really cool place to hang out with a big group of friends. Entry is free, there are indoor bar areas, a disco area, live band area, quite restaurant area for easy conversations or a coffee, sociable outdoor area, all in the one place!!! It's really a night out all in one, and free entry makes it the best...and the waiting lines long.







2. BREAKFAST AT WORK

Unbelievable as it sounds, I look forward to work. Because if I wake early and beat the traffic, I can enjoy a peaceful breakfast at the office, however I like it. Company has a kitchen and large storage area where I keep my breakfast...cereals, breads etc, and a cafe area to relax. The views overlooking the office are amazing too. It feels so good to be early...like you are in control of your day, and whatever happens you're already prepared for. I remember one time I came in right on time and already ppl were seated and working. I hated that feeling...





3. WEEKLY VISITS TO BOROUGH MARKETS

Yes I know I've never been a conosseur of quality food. I can't really taste the difference between a great wine and a good one, don't really know about cheese types and differences in how they're made, and don't really eat bread that's non-toast (although I heart polish and nan bread). I usually eat 'sophiticated' breads at special dinner outings or hotels in travels, and must say the differences in taste are huge.

This is not to say I hadn't cared about food. My limited food variety intake has mainly been for economic reasons - i.e. I was a poor student. But I have read Omnivore Dilemma and In Defence of Food by Michael Pollan so I'm well-versed in the evil agribusiness sector and 'factory churned' meats that have turned Americans into the most obese and cancer prone people on Earth. I do know the importance of quality food and the need to support organic, traditional, sustainable and small-scale agriculture.

So....since I'm in London, I've made it a habit to visit Borough every Saturday morning and buy some 'real' food. Every week has a theme, last week was bread and this week is cheese. I don't buy much, just a treat that I allow myself for a hard week's savings. I do learn a lot about different varieties, how different foods are made, and better understand the lives of people who devote their lives to promoting quality food. It's a good deal, for both my soul and wallet.





4. COOKING AT HOME

On the subject of food, I really really like the food culture in our flat. First thing to notice is that there are very few meats. For whatever reason non of us are big meat eaters. Cici prefers fish, Nakai doesn't eat any meats other than Italian hams/salamis, and Steven usually just eats out. So the fridge is basically full of fresh vegetables and fruit.

Me and Nakai simply don't eat out at all so we're always in the kitchen in the evenings. We don't cook anything spectacular but it's always something I look forward to in the day. Usually on the menu is a simple pasta (tomato, carbonara or pesto) or toasted breads with some olives, tomatoes, cheese and olive oil. I sometimes do a curry, or experiement with chilli con carne (vege) or Mexican. It's amazing to see the Meditterean culture so entrenched in him. He's 25, you'd think he'd love to eat the junk stuff but he's perfectly content to make the most healthy sandwiches that most Chinese or Americans would regard as not 'filling' or 'satisfying' enough. But he absolutely loves it...and to be honest so do I.

London London London!

What is my life like in London?

It is more than I could ever hope for. I work in a fulfilling job, finishing on time everyday working efficiently, have lovely flatmates to laugh with and eat dinner together, and also able to find balance playing kendo 3-4 times a week. It's almost too good to be true. All the boxes are ticked. I am at a point where I'm expecting there must be a catch to all this.

But that's not to say I'm complacent. I want to prove that I'm manager quality and able to lead others, as well as being an undisputed expert in my field of work.

But I'm really thankful to be flat-sharing. London is such a lonely place if you don't know anyone...I knew this already, and purposely chose to do roomsharing. After all these years living abroad by myself, I don't really need privacy anymore. In fact, having another person there can make you more disciplined and considerate, and that can't be a bad thing.

What's more, my flatmates are real characters : )

First is my Italian neighbour ---- Nakai Macri!!! AAAAAAAAAA!! A self-proclaimed 'typical Napoli boy' - loves women, futbol, cars, music and eating, in that order. Nakai is here in London to work and learn English (starting from hello, literally). Oh and did I mention he is a DJ!!

Downstairs is Murtaazaa, from Tanzania!! Of Indian descent, he is a nurse at a local hospital....and rarely see him at home. However he's got the biggest room in the house, with a combined living and bedroom. He is absolutely amazing because whenever the rubbish bin fills up, the next day it's gone!!! He is a real Gandhi in the house.

My roommate is Steven, who is a typical "Shanghai" Chinese...they say. Quiet, but helpful and nice. Seems like he's got a side-business going, there are shoes and bags all over the house and Nakai bought a pair of Pradas from him for 4 pounds....

Final member of the house is Cici, pint-sized girl from China. I am forbidden to speak Mandarin to her cuz she's practising English...

World of Product Carbon Footprinting

So here I find myself, after my Masters course and by some miracle or fluke, have a job!! I definitely think my investment into this blog has been worth it, and I owe it to it to continue writing : ).

From now on, I will live and breathe product carbon footprinting. I know it doesn't sound sexy, but yes, I've been convinced and now believe in the mission of consumption end carbon reduction. I'd like to even believe that I'm helping saving the world!! haha.

In a nutshell, the world of carbon is semi-regulated and from the production end. This means that carbon emissions 'leaks' to those countries where carbon is not regulated at point of production. In essence, emissions from regulated countries may decline but in fact rise overall because emissions are outsourced elsewhere, and imported back in through products.

Hence the need to reduce carbon from point of consumption. Because this will trace the emissions all the way to the unregulated countries. If companies see it in their interest to decarbonise their supply chains, then carbon reduction can be made in non-regulated countries.

It's such a huge, mind-blowing project. In order to make this all happen, we first have to measure the embedded carbon in all products that we consume, and then make a business (or marketing) case for reducing them. Just the measurement part requires a definitive encyclopaedia of all production processes, inputs, raw materials and emission factors that are universally applicable by all companies so that the end numbers are meaningful and can be compared.

Yep, this is what I will be doing. Mapping out the carbon flows of the entire world, from the engine of a Boeing 747-400 to dried manure kept indoors for 3 months.

But yes, with me, it will be done!