Almost as unexpectedly as the snowdrops opening and as unseasonally as the daffodils appearing the weather has suddenly got warmer.

Clear blue skies at lunchtime and warm sun at this time of year is amazing (and slightly worrying).

I spent lunchtime listening to a podcast by Sir David King talking about his new book “The Hot Topic”.

Here’s his practical advice on how to fight climate change :

The war on hot air | Environment | The Guardian

Count food miles

A good rule of thumb is that if something is in season and grown locally, it’s likely to have made fewer emissions than something from far away. But tomatoes grown in the UK can have a larger carbon footprint than those grown in sunny Spain.

Calculate your carbon footprint

Calculators on the internet enable you to work out the volume of emissions you are responsible for.

Switch off at the wall

Don’t leave appliances on standby.

Buy energy-efficient appliances

Digital radios draw much more energy than analogue ones, and plasma TVs are monster power-users. Choose an LCD screen.

Stay warm, stay cool

Seal off draughts and turn down the thermostat.

Change your lightbulbs

Low-energy lightbulbs cost more, but pay off over time.