I’m seeing London through new eyes since I’ve been back. The thing that has struck me the most is the omnipresent environmental awareness: it almost makes me feel a little out-hippied at times.

Carbon footprints and organics are not topics left for soap-dodging Marxist vegetarians to rant about – environmental affairs are so mainstream that huge companies like Marks and Spencers or Sky Television advertise their commitment to ecological principles. Seeing the packaging-heavy programme for the recent Diana tribute concert, a genuinely concerned Prince Harry leaned over to an aide and asked: “What happened to saving the planet?”

The United Kingdom has taken on board climate change. It’s a reality that almost everyone here has simply accepted. Freak weather is no longer just freak weather: it’s a symptom of climate change. Of course, this is not new. I remember being surprised last year that suddenly here global warming is not treated as some wacky leftie plot to destroy capitalism - and indeed the Conservative Party has laid out a commitment to environmental protection. It was a far cry from the prevailing attitude when I left New Zealand - even now could anyone really imagine National Party leader John Key riding a bike to work like Conservative leader David Cameron does on daily basis?

But the contrast is even greater in comparison to Spain where the environment is barely on the agenda, where fruit in supermarkets often comes wrapped in polystyrene and cling film, where organic food is found only in incense-flavoured health food shops, and where only the nutty greenies would be able to tell you anything about food miles or carbon footprints.

It’s nice to be back in the UK just for this reason, but it’s interesting that while the country seems ahead in some planet-happy respects, in other ways it’s way behind Spain.

The concept of take-away has been taken to whole new levels here: sandwiches and ready meals – not to mention lattes – are available everywhere, packaged up ready to go, and relatively cheap. It’s extremely handy, but the packaging is excessive: I cringe at the amount of waste I create when I (regularly) take advantage of such a convenience. You just don’t see that kind of thing in Spain. There coffees and snacks are also cheap and available everywhere – but you generally eat in, with crockery and stainless steel cutlery.

The other thing is water use. Spaniards have know their whole lives that water is scarce in their country, people keep their showers short and the idea of conserving water is just not questioned. Yes, there is a fair bit more water to go around in this part of the world, but it is taken much more for granted as well.

Other posts by Katie Llanos-Small