Climate special - review of news, views, and events

Mike Childs

07 November 2012

This month's review of news, views and action at Friends of the Earth is a climate special. Not least because we've had the mad, bad and dangerous happen in just a few short weeks. But, amid this there are also glimmers of hope. Next month will be just as frenetic - more on this below.

Mad

When you or I apply for a job we have to demonstrate that we have the skills and knowledge to do it. Apparently this doesn't apply in the Dept. of Energy and Climate Change where Minister John Hayes said we don't need any more wind farms. Madness, does the man know nothing about climate change? Friends of the Earth's response was, of course, very polite. In fact, one might argue, what the man most needs is a kick up the backside.

On top of this, Friends of the Earth revealed that the Government's dash for gas - championed by George Osborne - could wreck the chance of the UK delivering on its legally binding climate targets. Osborne has been giving even more hand-outs to fossil fuel companies as Dave Powell demonstrates.

Fortunately unlikely allies gathered together to point out the obvious to the Government. We need to decarbonise our electricity by 2030. Well done to the Nuclear Industry Association, Renewables UK and Carbon Capture & Storage Association. They might fight like cats and dogs over which technology is greener, safer, cheaper or more desirable -all have their pros and cons - but this month they came together for the greater good.

And special mention for the No Dash For Gas crew who scaled the chimney of West Burton Gas-fired power station and stayed there for seven days.

Bad

Last month, in a blog defending good science, I urged readers to protest against the very bad idea of getting rid of the British Antarctic Survey. Fortunately the widespread protests, and possibly the legal letter sent by Friends of the Earth and others, has made the Government and their side-kick NERC do an abrupt u-turn (again). For this we should big-up Tony Juniper, former Friends of the Earth Director and eco-hero, who led the charge.

Another bad idea is allowing political parties to hide their donors. No longer possible in mainland UK but as our colleagues in Northern Ireland will tell you it's still possible there and could be behind decisions that hamper the fight against climate change.

The European Commission told the Government it was a bad idea to give the go-ahead to a gas-fired power station in Pembrokeshire that not only produces large amounts of greenhouse gases but also dumps waste heat into a pristine marine habitat rather than using it.

This novice government needs to think and listen a bit more.

A good start would be listening to scientific warnings, such as the potential effects of the pesticide cocktails our bees are exposed to. Or the warnings that without clear policy huge green investments could be lost, as reported by The Daily Telegraph. Or to businesses who joined campaign groups in the Stop Climate Chaos coalition to tell the Government that Green is Working.

Of course, George Osborne may simply reject this advice as so much dogma from the 'environmental Taliban' but he'll find that whilst name-calling is easy, closing your back on expert advice is a risky business. As the sad plight of our ash trees may well demonstrate.

Dangerous

I used to associate the name Sandy with the lovely Olivia Newton-John in Grease - which probably gives away my age, perhaps much more. Now I will associate it with the storm-cum-hurricane-cum-Frakenstorm that caused chaos across a trail of countries. As the New Scientist reports, storms of this kind are more likely with climate change.

The accountants PwC warned that we are well on course for a 6 degree global temperature rise by 2100. This view was also aired by Professor Kevin Anderson from the Tyndall Centre at a recent Royal Society Policy Lab on 'negative emissions'. There was a strong agreement with Friends of the Earth's view that we not only need to drastically cut emissions but also rapidly deploy negative emissions technologies if we have any hope of avoid even a 2 degree rise.

It is also dangerous to ignore the threats to our food production from climate change and other causes, as my colleague Vicki Hird blogged about.

Glimmers of hope

Among the mad, bad and dangerous we can see glimmers of hope - unlikely allies gathering, green businesses champing at the bit, government u-turns and a democratic US president. There is much to be done - but humans can be ingenious, empathetic and collaborative. If the right people get together we can change the world - and we can give decision makers a timely kick up the arse to literally kick start a new green revolution.

Next month

Look out for a new report on wood burning. We will publish a report on feed-in tariffs ahead of the publication of the Government's new Energy Bill. We have a new briefing on marine biodiversity and marine renewables, authored by Martin Attrill at Plymouth University's Marine Institute. More on bees and chemicals. A briefing on water, drought and floods. Plus, drum roll, launch of a new major campaign called Make it Better.