UK Prime Minister on climate change targets - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, the UK Prime Minister announced that some climate change targets were being pushed back 5 years. With high interest rates and high cost of living costs, many are struggling. However, I think this is a backward step. It is true that some technologies are not yet there. Storage of renewable energy and cheaper (non-lithium) batteries for electric cars come to mind. As far as I know there was nothing on home insulation that would reduce costs with any fuels.

If the UK is to lead in renewable energy, this needs serious investment, not pandering to Tory backbenchers and fossil fuel companies.

Before this is likely to be a serious issue, I shall be dead. However my children and their children will suffer the consequences. Better renewable energy storage, solid state batteries and better ranges on cheaper electric cars are all likely. Carbon capture may help.

Overall, I am disappointed. There is so much more that can be done. Make no mistake, this really is an existential threat to the whole human race. We ignore this at our peril.

Hopefully, technology will help and there will be a mass transition away from fossil fuels, but this is far from certain.

Eat less meat - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday I listened, via Zoom, to a most interesting lecture by an economics professor on how to take account of climate change in accounting. This was part of my University of the Third Age in Cambridge (U3AC)  lectures.

One of the "take away" remarks was that he thought we would be able to feed the world as long as we eat less meat. In my view, we will be persuaded by adverts to enjoy alternatives, if only on certain days each week. Beef and lamb need huge amounts of land and water. If we don't change, we will all die! 

As a carnivore who enjoys steaks I shall not find this totally easy. Eating less lamb and beef and more pork and chicken are good starters.  Personally, I could be a vegetarian despite enjoying my steaks, certainly on some days a week.

My 10 year old granddaughter has been vegan for over a year and some of her food has been really tasty.

Climate change - NOT amateur radio

There is evidence all around us that the climate is changing. Winter snow in East Anglia is rare now and it is far far wetter.  At some point very soon we have to take this very very seriously. Yet in the UK, we seem to be doing very very little. What we do is usually too little and too late. We seem to be reactive rather than proactive in most things sadly.

Get real!

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-58971131 .

Climate change - NOT amateur radio

"It is much easier to set targets than take action to meet them. "

Personally, I suspect the world will "wake up" when it realises that green energy can actually be lower in cost than fossil fuels and can create jobs. 

This is especially true if investment is switched to renewable energy rather than fossil fuels. The main breakthrough needed is low cost storage of renewable energies like wind and solar. This would be an absolute game changer. 

I  hope we wake up soon enough.

Look at TVs and cameras. 20 years ago who would have envisaged TFT screens and digital cameras?  In 20 years from now we will probably look back and think, "did people really drive cars powered by petrol and diesel?".

One thing the Covid-19 pandemic has taught us all is just how well we can communicate without travelling. I suspect more of us with use things like Zoom for meetings rather than travelling for hours by plane, train or car.  I also suspect that people will work from home more, maybe Mondays and Fridays and go into offices less often. We will still have offices and shops, but fewer. More of us will shop online.

Changes are coming.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-56837927 .

Climate change - NOT amateur radio

There is little argument that our climate is changing, although people still argue about whether this a natural cycle or worsened by the actions of man. Personally, I am more than convinced that what we do has a lot to do with rising temperatures and rising sea levels.

Although recyclable sources of energy are now far less expensive, most of us still drive around in cars powered by fossil fuels. At some point when electric cars have better ranges and are less expensive we will all change and drive these; much like flat screen TVs and digital photography, we will change and quite quickly. Cathode ray tubes and photographic film seem so outdated now.

Likewise, we will eat less meat and think nothing of it. Speaking as someone who eats and enjoys bacon, sausages and beef it would not really bother me if I had to eat less, or no, meat. By the subtle power of advertising we will all think eating healthy food will be wonderful.

At some point we will change our habits. Only a few years ago, nothing was recycled. Now we all do it. We have lots of plastic packaging - this will change.

If we do nothing the Earth may be in grave danger, although I think we will change, even in those nations that do our polluting for us like China, India and the USA. Let us all hope we change sooner rather than later. I am as guilty as anyone.

Extinction Rebellion - NOT amateur radio

There is no doubt in my mind that the climate IS changing.

The overwhelming evidence points to man having a great influence, although that matters less than changing habits to minimise the impact of rising temperatures. Renewables are now far cheaper than they were.

In the UK, there was criticism over recent actions by Extinction Rebellion activists causing disruption in London. As in HK, activists risk alienating the very people they seek to influence. Certainly climate change is now being talked about. A year ago it was talked about far less.

I am not sure what I think. What is needed is a big change in transport, heating, food and other things across the world. This will involve subtle changes brought about by gradually persuading people to change habits. In my mind this will happen. I just hope this happens soon enough.

Extinction Rebellion - NOT amateur radio

I am not sure what I think about this.

It seems to me to be totally wrong if the UK government is subsidising fossil fuels when we should be doing all we can to persuade people to adopt "carbon neutral" solutions for everything. If we are even to meet carbon neutral by 2050 targets then people really have to change. This is not optional. This means eating less red meat and adopting energy saving methods in all new homes.

At the same time the Extinction Rebellion protests may turn people off. This is a hard one, but I think the duty of government is to encourage habits to change.

Electric cars will be the norm when they are less expensive and ranges better. This alone is not enough. The Prime Minister of the UK is wrong when he labels protesters as "crusties". We are seeing really concerned people of all shades protesting.

Trump: please read the facts!!! - NOT amateur radio

"The scientists are "virtually certain" that the global ocean has now warmed without pause since 1970."

The BBC reports on the latest news from climate scientists at the UN. Oh, sorry, this is all rubbish and just a Chinese hoax, says Trump allegedly. The world needs the USA and China fully engaged for the good of our children and grandchildren. For some nations, rising sea levels are a threat to their very existence.

Reading means you stop watching soaps on TV, tweet less, forget lobbyists from the gun and oil people and actually read reports. A true statesman does this and listens to knowledgeable and wise advisers.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-49817804 .

Climate change facts - NOT amateur radio

Unlike President Trump of the USA who allegedly thinks climate change is a Chinese hoax, I prefer to believe in evidence as presented by people that have studied the real data. Sorry that means reading, which President Trump allegedly does not do that often.  A true statesman looks at the facts.

People of the USA, when you vote next year look at the evidence, please. This is a global emergency which requires us to think beyond the votes and lobby groups active in the next few years. The whole future of our planet is at stake, not who is US president in 2020 November.

Just look at the fiercer hurricanes and the Bahamas. It is happening now!!

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-49773869

Climate strikes - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday's climate strikes around the world were supported by millions. They were largely organised by young people, but supported by many older folk.

It is my view that climate change is real, but in the end there will be a tipping point when things will change: we will mostly be driving electric cars powered by batteries that don't depend on slave labour, with ranges that match petrol cars, with plentiful fast charging points. As with digital cameras and flat screen TVs, other technologies will suddenly seem "past it". We will eat less meat and we will find ways to counteract harmful emissions. OK, I may be wrong, but the momentum is certainly there.

The question is how soon will all this come?

Carbon capture? - NOT amateur radio

There is no doubt that our burning of fossil fuels will change in the next 30 years. I expect the use of fossil fuels in vehicles will go down as electric cars get better and cheaper. However, we are still likely to burn fossil fuels, so carbon capture technology is important to reduce nett carbon emissions. There may be some progress.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-47638586 .

Climate change - NOT amateur radio

Whatever your views on recent protests by Extinction Rebellion around the world, there is little doubt, unless you are Canute or Trump, that the world is getting warmer. Most experts agree and you only have to look with your own eyes.

People may argue whether this is mankind's influence or a natural variation. The evidence points to the former. In time, we will all move away from fossil fuels (like we did with flat screen TVs and digital cameras), but it is arguably not soon enough. In the meantime, we may be doing irreparable damage.

See https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/articles/zm63xyc

Warming UK (and USA) - NOT amateur radio

The latest range of expected temperatures in the UK have just been published. In the USA, there were warnings on Saturday about the impact on the economy of climate change. President Trump seems wrong.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-46343103  .

USA and Climate Change - NOT amateur radio

It appears that the US House Committee on Appropriations may have re-instated NASA funding for climate change research that the US president quietly withdrew.

See https://thinkprogress.org/nasa-vote-house-climate-science-97ad7bc62c01/

Made in China - NOT amateur radio

In the west we have become addicted to low cost goods. It seems almost everything is made in China these days. Try it: look on the label of almost anything and the chances are it says, "made in China". I just don't understand how they make things at such low prices and still make profits.

All this come at a price and that is we are exporting our CO2 emissions! China has a high reliance still on coal and is the greatest contributor to the recent rise in global CO2 emissions. They are moving to renewables, but not fast enough it seems. The USA government policy on coal seems flawed too.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-41941265 .

Why did you vote for him? - NOT amateur radio

So President Trump in the USA is proving his credentials on the world stage leading with vision (NOT). Sorry, but my view is he is a menace.  He seems more interested in short-term votes than the future of the world, including the USA.  Dust bowl? I see no dust.

Others are free to disagree, but surely with all those recent strong hurricanes he must realise climate change is real and not a Chinese hoax? Sadly, many voted for him.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-41556342 .

Before "Mr Anonymous" (name withheld) starts a rant, this is my view.  Others are free to agree or disagree, but please give us your name.

Rethink over climate deal? - NOT amateur radio

Is Donald having second thoughts over climate change? I certainly hope so. On this the USA is at odds with the entire world and that can't be good for one's ego. He sounds and behaves stupidly in the eyes of the rest of the world. Come on Donald! You'll look better (more presidential) if you come into line.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-40597244 .

Climate Change and Mr Trump - NOT amateur radio

Please someone, tell Donald that climate change is not a hoax. Most on this planet are convinced that concerted global action is needed. The Paris climate agreement was a step on the way. Together we have some, albeit slim, chance of leaving a better world for our children and grandchildren.

See http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/professor-hawking-warns-trumps-actions-could-push-earths-climate-over-the-brink_uk_595a1f7de4b05c37bb7f666d?+UK+070317

See also http://unfccc.int/paris_agreement/items/9485.php

Climate Change - NOT amateur radio

At the moment, the jury is still out, but most seem to be saying the Earth is getting warmer and that this is largely down to Man in recent times. Some argue this is just natural variation and we should ignore it. A recent Guardian article makes you wonder.

See https://www.msn.com/en-gb/weather/other/arctic-ice-melt-could-trigger-uncontrollable-climate-change-at-global-level/ar-AAkJqic?ocid=spartandhp

In the USA, there seems to be a "Canute" attitude: it is all a Chinese conspiracy and it will just go away. I am far from convinced! We ignore these worldwide risks at our peril. Some cities and island states could be inundated and we should get all the facts and act accordingly.

Thwaites Glacier, Antarctica - NOT amateur radio

See http://motherboard.vice.com/read/scientists-warn-the-collapse-of-this-glacier-could-be-globally-catastrophic-thwaites

It looks as if this glacier is melting fast and could result in a huge sea level rise.

I know the skeptics will say this is just scientists after funding, but we ignore these risks at our peril.