Despite the horrible events of the past few years Climate Change is the one which will make Covid and Ukraine have the relevance of teenage zits to a pensioner. The normal tory unintelligent are liming up to thwart moves for onshore wind claiming ‘it is unsightly’ – death from climate events is fucking unsightly. I think they look rather nice and would love to see one from my bedroom window – and they are not noisy – can we move the likes of Sleaze-Dogg, petty patel, Nadine dimwit, Heating-haggis, Zahalfwit, et al to live under the Heathrow flight path, or maybe a terraced house near a trunk road.
WEATHER – APRIL
Forecast for the month is typically British in the south west – rain, possible sleet, gales, sunny, a bit warmer than average but no prolonged period of settled weather.
ENERGY
National Grid Live Status shows that we are still very dependant on fossil fuels, especially at this time of year. We have become reliant on wind for renewable energy and not done enough to develop solar. As ever I am the worst sort of commentator as I have limited knowledge which may be worse than no knowledge!
Cutting demand is an obvious partial solution. Solar panels on all possible sites of offices and educational establishments that operate mainly in daylight is a no brainer. Governments and investors of all persuasions seem fixated on the large scale projects. Would lots of small scale projects undermine the privatised National Grid? I am surprised at the lack of HEP – water powered this country for centuries. Re-instated mill ponds would surely bring environmental benefits.
The stats show the continuing importance of nuclear power. I am cautious with Windscale, Three Mile Island, Fukushima, Chernobyl all in my memory, and we do not seem to have solved the nuclear waste problem. However, needs must. At this time of year we need an alternative that does not exacerbate climate change. The £13 billion pound cost of increasing the nuclear component from 16% to 25% it to passed onto the public. I am not sure the free market economy is working too well in this market. We have seen the privatised energy companies make huge profits (and the huge fossil fuel companies), whilst little has been done to help the poorest in our society. (I was fortunate to have been born with the benefits derived from a socialist government. The gap between rich and poor was still too large, but has grown exponentially recently). The current capitalist model is broke.
Apparently Tory MP’s with rural constituencies are opposed to relaxing planning rules for onshore wind farms. I suspect that 90% of people living in villages do not give a shit, it is the wealthy landowners they are talking about. I am sure the Daily Mail or Telegraph can run a spurious story linking wind turbines to cancer!
WEATHER
April looks like getting off to a chilly start with frost possible at the weekend. It certainly feels colder than the stated temperature. Heater on in the greenhouse last night and I think I may leave it on this evening and for the next few days.
WEATHER
I was wondering what impact a cold spell would have on wildlife? It is not predicted to be frosty which is something, but early nesting birds/broods could suffer? Butterflies? Blossom is out on many trees but they will need the bees to fertilise, yesterday there were lots of insects around. My bird feeders have gone strangely quiet in the last 3 days or so. Have they found a better source?
Plenty of Brimstone Butterflies in last week
GARDEN AND WEATHER
Lovely days, but cold at night with a slight frost on neighbours freshly mown lawn – my grassland ecosystem seemed frost free which makes me wonder about the moderating impact of rewinding lawns vis-a-vie the opposite impact of ‘the lawn’. I am sure that Iread that the average temperature in Atlanta, USA went up by 5C in summer when street trees were removed.
READY OR NOT?
We have the luxury of the warmest March for a century. What plans do the government have in place for a heat wave this summer? Not just a tabloid dream with bikini’s but a Western North America 2021 event. Temperatures in the 40C range? The EU has made plans – I have not heard of any here?
Is it likely? I would guess a 1 in 3 chances enough for the government to put plans in place – rather than plead ‘unprecedented’, unpredictable’ before paying out millions to mates for water sprays!
GLOBAL WARMING
IOWA – TORNADOES
7 die as tornadoes hit area near Des Moines.
CLIMATE CHANGE SYDNEY
Exceptionally high rainfall has led to concerns regarding the overspill from Sydney’s main reservoir. The worst case scenario would involve the evacuation of hundreds of thousands, NSW Deputy Prime Minister Paul Toole said. Australian Govt Bureau of Meteorology
More from Sydney Morning Herald as Sydney avoids the worst of the storm