The number of domestic flights taken by ministers and civil servants last year – 293 per day! Who is hosting the summit on the climate change crisis – remind me! Why did anyone from the ONS need to fly domestically? Let alone 2055 of them. No wonder the government halved duty on domestic flights to £6.50 – a quick calculation makes that nearly £1 million saved!
HURRICANES, CYCLONES, TYPHOONS
Tropical Storm Wanda is probably the last of the season which has been one of the busiest on record, although most activity has avoided landfall, with the notable and destructive exceptions of Fred, Grace and Ida. 21 named storms were recorded this season which is the 3rd highest recorded.
COP26
COP26
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.
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.
COP26
Johnson talks a good talk, almost Churchillian in content and delivery. But then we think back to the budget just 3 days ago where levies on short haul flights were reduced and fuel duty frozen. The latter of these two makes sense at the moment but there was mention of climate change, no plug for insulation, solar panels, wind turbines, etc. Nothing in the way of positive action. Zilch. The man is all hot air and bluster.
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A government blueprint for changing public behaviour was withdrawn because Johnson did not like it because it contradicted the lies and bullshit he pronounced earlier.
CLIMATE CHANGE
I was surprised to read that there are still climate deniers around. Presumably they do not watch the news from around the world. Or are they deluded into thinking that it is a problem for other countries. Apparently the Treasury is more concerned to balance the books short term than take advantage of the long term benefits of being at the forefront of clean technology.
WEATHER
Today. 5.25am thrashing rain, high wind blowing over recycling and bins. 7.15 overcast but dry and calm with little breeze. 8.15 bright sunshine force 3 wind. 9.15 overcast again and noticeably colder. 3.10pm high hail stones with thunder and lightning – size of snowberries. And now sunny again. I just love our climate. 4pm sunshine