This is exercising my mind ! The UK has done a good job so far in reducing CO2 emissions from energy production with natural gas replacing coal and wind and solar beginning to make a difference. However over 50% is still fossil fuel dependant so a lot more needs to be done. Transport has improved by 0.2% and buildings by 1.6%. Car transport should improve with more electric cars, but only if power production is sustainable. The governments policy on air and train transport is lamentable whilst the emissions caused by importing from abroad are (like most other countries) ignored. Farming has not been properly assessed.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Martin as ever is sort of correct, but so am I! His assertion that no social change happens without government legislation is sort of correct. I think we both ignored revolution. However people’s actions can make government action either inevitable or prudent. Students in Michigan mobilised a door to door campaign to ensure can recycling was introduced in (I think Michigan), this was despite a multi million dollar campaign by CocaCola. The students won and legislation was introduced. A similar situation led to the banning of white fur seal coats in the 70’s. This time it was a post card campaign which made government aware that it would be a popular move. maybe the reaction to MP’s voting down an amendment to the water bill presently before parliament may lead to another volte face.
My exemplar of recycling is still valid, albeit not the best. People collectively put a lot of time into an activity which they know is not the best way to help the environment, but do so in the absence of an alternative.
So yes Martin you are technically correct, but actions by individuals have a place too. And this is where the absence of leadership in the Labour Party comes in. Or any alternative leadership. We know that signing petitions has little impact as the numbers are actually very small – a petition with 5 million names would make politicians realise that their majorities could be toppled. Meat consumption per head in the UK has dropped considerably (17% in last decade) – but not enough (30% is a target), the number of anti-electric car voters is falling and we can expect numbers to rise rapidly soon. I am not sure the clothing industry has changed much, but is under increased scrutiny. Johnson says recycling plastic does not work, so basically ban it.
On flying I guess not many travel more than once a year – so make that a limit before imposing a surcharge at the same time as renationalising the railways (a popular move), as would renationalising the water companies.
WEATHER
Wet or what! Although warm for time of year it has been wet. Not in the usual autumn way of showers but intense storms on top of it. This area has had more thunder and lightning this year than I can remember for the last 5 or 6 years together. And we have another yellow rain warning for tonight/early tomorrow morning. Flood warnings across the south west and worse in Scotland. Perhaps storms for the next 2 weeks of COP26 would be good with the lack of investment by water companies resulting in sewage down the streets – it might make the so called ‘world leaders’ realise that shit happens, especially when economics becomes more important than environment.
CROWDFARMING
A box of mangoes and lemons arrived today from Maria Marinez in Malaga. Fresh organic produce straight from the farmer. They get a decent price and it cuts out the middlemen and supermarkets – and makes me feel good too!
THINK GLOBAL, ACT LOCAL
POLLUTE THE AIR AND COVER THE RIVERS AND SEAS IN SHIT
JAMJAM
CLIMATE CHANGE
A government blueprint for changing public behaviour was withdrawn because Johnson did not like it because it contradicted the lies and bullshit he pronounced earlier.
ECONOMICS
The Government is to provide £5000 grants to 90000 households to install heat pumps. It hopes the cost of the pumps will come down with increased sales. Firstly there should be a subsidy to reflect the energy produced and thus reducing the need for massive public investment in new power stations. Secondly what is to stop the manufacturers of heat pumps to increase their wages and bonus’ in line with increased sales. Surely it would be better for government to take a share in these companies and use the investment to increase production and efficiency? The tax payer would get a return and ultimately the company could be sold. I am sure the Government could also offset the investment so it was not listed as an expenditure, thus appeasing the Treasury.
EARTHSHOT – £1million each
The winners
Protect and Restore Nature:
- The Republic of Costa Rica: Costa Rica was a country that once cleared most of its forests, but it has now doubled the number of trees and is seen as a role model for others to follow. The winning project is a scheme paying local citizens to restore natural ecosystems that has led to a revival of the rainforest
Clean our Air:
- Takachar, India: A portable machine created to turn agricultural waste into fertiliser so that farmers do not burn their fields and cause air pollution
Revive our Oceans:
- Coral Vita, Bahamas: A project run by two best friends who are growing coral in the Bahamas, designed to restore the world’s dying coral reefs. Using special tanks, they have developed a way to grow coral up to 50 times faster than they normally take in nature
Build a Waste-Free World:
- The City of Milan Food Waste Hubs, Italy: Another challenge is waste – and the city of Milan in Italy wins a prize for collecting unused food and giving it to people who need it most. The initiative has dramatically cut waste while tackling hunger
Fix our Climate:
- AEM Electrolyser, Thailand/Germany/Italy: A clever design in Thailand using renewable energy to make hydrogen by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen is a clean gas but it is usually produced by burning fossil fuels