Softly, Softly Change the Diet?

Gaby Hinsliff has written a useful opinion piece on how to get people to eat less red meat and dairy products (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/apr/30/climate-battle-cutting-down-on-meat-animal-products-dairy-carbon). The primary motivation for making such a change, is to reduce carbon emissions (15% come from red meat and dairy) and to enable individuals to make a modest contribution to countering climate change. Hinsliff implies that the best strategy is not to make a big song and dance about it. In the UK, 1 in 5 people already describe themselves as 'flexitarians' (people who have not given up meat but are happy to periodically have meat-free alternatives). Hinsliff appears to have engineered a gradual change in her family's diet, without telling them. There were no complaints as nobody seemed to notice. Although meat sales have increased in the UK, there has been a marked reduction in beef and lamb consumption. People are eating more chicken. Hinsliff gives an interesting account of the American recipe website Epicurious. The website have just announced that, for environmental reasons, they will not be publishing any new beef recipes! Cue, outrage from Americans, already suspicious about the fate of their hamburger! Epicurious apparently, however, stopped publishing beef recipes a year ago, also without telling anyone. The website's traffic numbers climbed, as people 'gobbled up' vegetarian alternatives! I agree with Hinsliff, that people don't like to feel they are being told what to eat. Gradual, unnoticed change probably works better?

Seeing the Changes 1549

In Bynea, Charlock (Sinapsis arvensis) and Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) were both flowering.

Melting Point For Thwaites?

We might have less time than we thought! The Thwaites glacier has an area larger than the UK. It sits on the equally enormous West Antarctic ice sheet. This 'doomsday' glacier is the biggest unknown factor in future global sea level rise. The International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration (ITGC), formed to study it, have recently published some disturbing data (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/30/antarctic-doomsday-glacier-may-be-melting-faster-than-was-thought). Anna Wahlin (University of Gothenburg), who led the ITGC study, notes an apparent increase in the amount of relatively warm water reaching Thwaites glacier. This suggests that melting is accelerating. Wahlen opines that, what happens in the next 2 to 5 years, will 'seal the fate of the West Antarctic ice sheet'. If the ice sheet collapses, the impact on global sea level rise will be catastrophic.

Your New House Is Printing Now, Sir?

The Saint-Gobain Weber Beamix company claim a retired Dutch couple have just moved into the first fully 3-D printed house (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/apr/30/dutch-couple-move-into-europe-first-fully-3d-printed-house-eindhoven). The house is a boulder-shaped bungalow with 94 square metres of living space. It is one of 5 properties, scheduled for a location near the Beatrix canal in Eindhoven. There have been lots of other contenders for the title of 'first' (notably in France and the US). The company clain, however, their building is the first to be 100% permitted by the local authorities and to be inhabited by people, who have paid for the privilage of living there. The couple seem to appreciate their new home but I'm not sure a 'bunker' is for me! Many people are predicting that 3-D printing will become an increasingly important way of providing housing. It can produce shapes that are impossible, when using traditional building methods.

The Robots are Coming (To a Field Near You)?

The Small Robot Company, in the UK, are working on replacing herbicides with robots (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/29/killer-farm-robot-dispatches-weeds-with-electric-bolts). A scout robot, 'Tom', scans arable farm fields for offending weeds. Tom's information is then fed to an Artificial Intelligence Engine ('Wilma'). 'Wilma' uses the information to instruct, 'Dick', the killer robot. 'Dick', powered by a Tesla battery, locks on to each target 'weed'. 'Dick's' electrode descends and the weed is exterminated (with extreme prejudice) using an 8000 volt shock! The robot weeding team can also work at night, by employing LEDs. Science fiction arrives on the farm?

Bags of Promise?

Supermarket 'Bags for Life' have become a bigger problem than single use carriers they were intended to replace. Far from being used repeatedly, these bags are often discarded after one use. 'Bags for Life' also contain more plastic than their single use counterparts. An extraordinary 1.5 billion 'Bags for Life' are sold each year. Good news then, that the Cooperative Group are going to stop selling them (after they have disposed of their current stock), in their 2600 stores (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/apr/30/co-op-to-ditch-plastic-bags-for-life-over-pollution-concerns). The COOP will be following the Morrison's Group, who now sell paper bags, in place of plastic alternatives. Weirdly, the 'inventor' of the plastic bag, saw them as a means of reducing the cutting of trees to make paper. The COOP decision will remove the sale of 29.5 million 'Bags for Life' per year. That will reduce plastic use by almost 900 tonnes per annum. In their place, the COOP will offer their bagless customers a 10p compostable bag, useable for food waste. Alternatively, customers can buy woven or foldable bags (between 50p and £1).

A 'Gift' From Previous Generations?

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) is a now-banned insecticide. It was banned after causing untold amounts of environmental damage. It has long been suspected that a massive underwater toxic waste site is located near Catalina Island, off the Southern California coast (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/27/up-to-25000-barrels-found-at-suspected-ddt-dump-off-california-say-scientists ). It seems bizarre that the site is shrouded in secrecy. It may date back to the Second World War. Recent images of over 27,000 barrel-like objects have been recorded on the seabed. At least some of these barrels, may contain DDT. There could even be more toxic compounds. This is not a nice legacy to leave behind. It seems yet another case of people applying the old adage 'out of sight:out of mind'! Disposing of the material in the barrels safely could be a difficult process. Barrels would have to be safely brought ashore and the contents identified and treated. Leaving the barrels may not be an option, as the casks will not remain intact forever. The contents could have severe effects on ocean life. One can only hope the current generation will think more carefully about how they would like to be remembered by folks in the future.

One Thing That Isn't Slow: Glacial Melt!

Ben Marzeian (University of Bremen) has considered the various models looking at world glacial loss for the 2021 and 2050 time period (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/29/world-lose-glacier-ice-climate-targets). The average mass loss for the world's glaciers predicted by the models over this period is, according to Marzeian, 13000 gigatonnes of ice. Strikingly, the best and worst case scenarios, produced figures for glacial melt that differed by less than 20%. This is because 80% of the glacial mass loss is already 'locked in' by emissions produced 2-3 decades ago. Glaciers are described as having 'long memories'! Some people make optimistic noises about the benefits of hitting the Paris Accord target and limiting the average world temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Centigrade. Even if this is achieved (and it seems unlikely?), the world will still lose 10% of its glacier ice. That melt will generate more than 13,000 cubic kilometres of water (more than a drop in the ocean!). The world losses will not, however, be uniform but will vary from location to location. More than 50% of glacial mass will be lost in Europe and North America. Indeed, the European Alps and the Pyranees mountains could completely lose their glaciers. In other parts of the world, glaciers currently regulate the supply of water to important river systems throughout the year. Changes in glacial mass in these areas will result in winter floods, followed by complete drying in the summer. This will put almost 2 billion people (mainly in China and India) permanently at risk of mountain water shortages. There are few happy scenarios here.

Wasting Wasps?

A frequently asked question is 'What's the point of wasps?' They sting, they irritate, they land on our picnic food! A paper in Biological Reviews has examined 500 publications on these insects, in an attempt to provide answers (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/29/stinging-wasps-are-precious-not-pointless-say-scientists). The review notes the world has around 100,000 wasp species. 70,000 of these are parasitic, largely on other arthropods (an important role). The 33,000 species of hunting wasps are the top predators of the insect world (arthropod 'sharks'?). They are important predators of insect pests, that would otherwise decimate crops and natural vegetation. Wasps are also valued pollinators. These hymenopterans are also of medical importance. Their venom stings contain powerful antibiotics. Yellow jacket venom is even being investigated for a potential role in cancer treatment. Bees are close relatives of the wasps. They also sting. They seem, however, to employ a better Public Relations company than do the wasps! Or, perhaps it's the honey bribe (only really substantially provided by one species)?

An 'Aspirin' For Depression and PTSD?

The psychedelic drugs, used to treat conditions like Depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disease (PTSD), are hallucinogenic. This means that they have to be given by doctors and the patient observed for several hours. People have suggested that a non-hallucinogenic psychedelic drug could be self-administered 'just like aspirin'. Olsen and Tian (University of California, Davis) are looking into this possibility (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/apr/28/non-hallucinogenic-psychedelics-scientists-close-in-on-compound). They developed a sensor, that glows in the presence of an hallucinogen, when it interacts with a neural serotonin (a neurotransmitter chemical) receptor. They can use it to screen for psychedelics without hallucinogenic properties. One such compound (AAZ-A-154) has produced encouraging results in animal studies and is now being assessed for patient safety. The hope is that this drug (or something like it) could be prescribed. It could then promote neural plasticity, allowing the brain to 'rewire' (a property of psydelics), without causing hallucinations.

Ice, Ice, Baby!

A study, using historical NASA satellite data and new statistical methods, accurately assessed melting of the world's glaciers over the last 20 years (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/28/speed-at-which-worlds-glaciers-are-melting-has-doubled-in-20-years). The study found that, between 2000 and 2019, the Earth's glaciers lost a combined 267 gigatonnes of ice per year. The volume of water thus generated, accounted for 21% of the subsequent rise in sea level. This rise was almost 50% higher than the contribution made by the melting of the Greenland icesheet. It was double that added by the Antarctic icesheet. In fact, only thermal expansion of water, produced a bigger rise in sea level. If you heat water up, it expands. The speed at which the glaciers melted almost doubled over the 20 years of the study. Rates of melting, however, varied between different geographical locations (the most extreme changes were seen in Alaska). Glacial melt is, of course, a direct consequence of human-driven global heating. Losses of the glaciers, will have powerful impacts on human (and other) populations in many parts of the planet.

Bacterial Biofilm to the Rescue?

Researchers, at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, have found an elegant way of removing microplastics from polluted fluids (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/apr/28/scientists-find-way-to-remove-polluting-microplastics-with-bacteria). The researcher's study used cultures of the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa which naturally creates a biofilm. These microbe 'nets' capture microplastics in polluted water. The biofilm can then form an easily disposable and recyclable 'blob'. This might work quite well on water in sewage farms or small lakes. Care would have to be taken, as Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause infections in humans. There are salt-water resistant bacteria.It is difficult, however, to imagine filtering all the microplastics out of the oceans with biofilm nets. That's a rather big volume of water to deal with and it doesn't stay in one place.

It Won't Wash!

A leaked (you might 'get it' later) memo from the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has suggested ways of deflecting criticism. Their worry is that the decision to slash funding for overseas water and sanitation projects by 80% might look bad (https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/apr/28/uk-slash-aid-budget-funding-overseas-water-sanitation-projects). The memo pointed out that, people might be taken aback that this is happening, at a time when people are encouraged to wash their hands, to avoid a Covid-19 infection. Hygiene in relation to Covid is important but it's small beer. Poor water quality encourages many other long-established human diseases such as Cholera and Bilharzia. This particular bit of slashing seems very ill-advised. It's almost as if they don't mind pockets of infection being set up?

Narcissists and Micawbers

It is now generally accepted that we have a climate crisis. It is even generally accepted we have very limited time to fix things. I suppose I should be pleased that many politicians and industrialists are now making positive noises about their commitments to deliver on the needed changes. Am I the only old pessimist, who sees their ranks filled with narcissists and micawbers? Narcissists love themselves. Many such folk want the rest of the world to join in their self-appreciation. I suspect that many narcissists will talk of their committment to carbon zero, largely to please the crowds. Many have little intention of delivering. 'It's way in the future (unfortunately, it's not!) in another financial or political cycle'. Micawbers (based on Charles Dickens' mega-optimistic character), always believe that 'something will turn up'! They don't know how we are going to escape but they are sure we will. As you can guess, I am not happy that we are essentially in the hands of many such people. Rant over!

Seeing the Changes 1548

Flowerings in Bynea. Lesser hawksbit (Leontodon taraxacoides); Cut-leaved cranesbill (Geranium dissectum) and Sycamore (Acer pseudoplantanus) all in bloom.

City Bees Bounce Back in Breda?

There had been a worrying progressive decline in the numbers of insect pollinators (mainly bees and hoverflies) in Dutch cities. Results from a Netherlands-wide bee counting exercise, suggests the situation may have steadied (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/27/bee-population-steady-dutch-cities-thanks-to-pollinator-strategy). 11,000 people were involved in the National Bee Census, which finished on the 18th of April. Each volunteer, spent 30 minutes counting bees and hoverflies in their gardens. So this is 'citizen science', with all its pluses and minuses. An average of 18-20 insects were seen, in each session, by each counter. Rather predictably, Honey bees (Apis mellifera) were the most common (55,000 from a total of 200,000 sightings). There were markedly fewer of the insects who achieved 2nd and 3rd slots [namely, Red mason bees (Osmia bicornis) and Bumblebees (Bombus terrestris)]. The organisers of the census suggest the stabilisation of insect populations, is down to adopting a National Pollinator Strategy. The strategy involved creating 'bee hotels', 'bee stops' and 'honey highways' in urban locations. One must comment, however, that the pollinator insects of this study have very different life-styles and requirements. Honey bees are largely domesticated and operate from large colonies in hives. Red mason bees are solitary, wild insects. Bumblebees are also wild but live in much smaller groups in burrows. Hoverflies are dipterans and all these species are completely non-social. The 'bee hotels' are unlikely to attract Honey bees or Bumblebees but could be popular with a range of other insects (including Red mason bees?). It's good to see people in the Netherlands taking an interest in their pollinators! What they (the bees and hoverflies) really need are more flowers and less insecticide!

The 'Citizen's Juries' Are Out?

The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) set up four thinktanks. These 'citizen's juries' were cross-sections of the public who were given information on climate breakdown by experts. They were asked to assess how to effectively bring about the needed changes (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/26/citizens-juries-deliver-climate-crisis-verdict-to-westminster). The IPPR citizen's juries were set up in geographically and politically diverse locations. They were, respectively, in Aberdeen (Scotland), South Wales, Tees Valley (North of England) and Thurrock, Essex (South of England). The participants were all volunteers (so, they were likely to have been interested/concerned about climate breakdown). Participants seemed impressed that the experts generally stayed to answer their questions (I would have thought this was essential if the juries were to function). Not all the groups have currently finalised their reports. It is evident, however, that many participants were concerned that attempts to limit climate change would be entirely 'top down'. They would be devised at Westminster (the London Parliament) and ignore local concerns. Participants felt that fairness must be at the heart of policymaking to bring down emissions. Concern was expressed that the costs might disproportionately fall on ordinary (poor and middle income) households. A number of participants also noted that there was likely to be resistance to changes, by some groups in their local areas. It's all very well governments promising online, net zero (carbon emissions) by a particular year. Carrying a diverse and fractious population with them is, however, likely to be a difficult task.

Missing the Point?

Environmentalists have produced a report 'Aquatic Pollutants in Oceans and Fisheries' (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/27/regulators-missing-pollutions-effect-on-marine-life-study-finds). This report, brings together data, illustrating that increasing chemical and plastics pollution makes significant contributions to the declines of fish and other aquatic organisms. The report's authors note that pollutants have impacts on many organisms, at different levels, in marine food webs. They feel that regulators are often too quick to blame all declines in fish stocks on 'overfishing' (although it can be a cause of concern). This is because those regulators focus only on fisheries quota catch and fishing effort. They rarely even consider the possible impact of pollution. This is even when levels of chemicals and plastics are increasing in our oceans and the organisms that live there.

The Air We Breathe

Air quality concerns medics across the world. 'The Fight for Clean Air' (a recent article in the National Geographic magazine) claims that air pollution annually causes 7 million premature deaths. It is also, of course, a cause of ill-health. Jocelyn Cockburn and Guy Mitchell deal with a local, but instructive, UK case (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/apr/26/human-cost-air-pollution-ella-adoo-kissi-debrah-coroner-environment-bill). Cockburn and Mitchell reiterate that air pollution (mainly from road traffic) causes 10,000s of premature deaths in the UK every year. They clearly hoped the death of 9-year old Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah (and her mother's campaign), might force changes. Ella lived near busy roads in Central London and died of severe asthma. She was the first fatality, however, to have air pollution listed as a cause on her death certificate by the coroner (Phillip Barlow). The coroner has now issued a report, firstly emphasising his concern about the lack of public awareness of the risks associated with air pollution. He was also struck by the fact that the UK national target for particulates (PM2.5), is 2.5 times higher than that recommended by the World Health Organisation. An Environment Bill is currently being considered by the UK Parliament. It was assumed the discrepancy for particulates would be urgently rectified in this bill. In fact, there will be no changes of targets before the end of 2022. There might be alterations to the annual level of particulates but no limit will be imposed on hourly rates (rush hour?). Even worse, the Secretary of State will be given wide powers to revoke or lower the targets. Thus seems to be the power of the transport lobby. The National Geographic article also repeats the observation that air pollution exacerbates the lethal impact of Covid-19 infections. Although air quality actually damages human health to a greater extent than the virus, the contrast in political responses to these two threats is striking. It's easier to attack a virus than to irritate motorists?

Seeing the Changes 1547

Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) in flower in Loughor and Apple (Malus domestica) in blossom in Loughor and Penclacwydd.

Exhausting Solutions

Catalytic converters contain precious metals, like Palladium. They are fitted to cars to reduce their release of environmentally-damaging fumes. British Insurance Companies reported a marked increase in catalytic converter theft in 2020. Theft occurred even in the middle of a pandemic lockdown, when less driving was happening (https://www.theguardian.com/money/2021/apr/26/uk-catalytic-converter-theft-covid-insurer-admiral-claims-cost). Petrol hybrid cars are major targets for catalytic converter thieves. Sometimes, teams dressed as mechanics, use power tools to cut through the exhaust pipes of cars. They can do this, in broad daylight, to cars parked in the street or in supermarket malls. Each theft costs the car owner around £1500. Some owners have been targeted twice in a year and then cannot get insurance. It is also illegal to drive a car that has had its converter taken. It doesn't seem fair that drivers, trying to do the right thing in terms of emissions, should be targeted in this way. Thieves don't care, however, if there is easy money to be made and only modest penalties are imposed if they get caught. Going fully electric would be one solution.

Baby: It's a Wild World!

Life can be very complicated. Solar energy is a cheap, non-polluting (in terms of 'greenhouse gas' production), mode of electricity generation. The UK has finally got round to using more of it, in spite of its government offering few/no inducements. Solar power is clearly a 'good' thing. There is a report, however, that 40% of UK solar farms use panels, linked to forced labour in China's Xinjiang region (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/23/revealed-uk-solar-projects-using-panels-from-firms-linked-to-xinjiang-forced-labour). Solar panels utilise polysilicon, a material manufactured in Xinjiang. China is a world leader in the production of cheap, efficient solar panels. The link between solar panels in the UK and human rights was always likely (although it didn't occur to me, until now). Forced labour is clearly a 'bad' thing. Am I wrong to want a fast uptake of solar energy and a quick abolition of forced labour? Clearly, I can't have both simultaneously!

Oil's Last Hurrah?

Royal Dutch Shell and BP are expected to report quarterly profits for oil production for the first time, since the Covid-19 pandemic struck (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/apr/24/shell-bp-back-into-profit-oils-glory-days-fade). The improved profits of these oil companies, will be due to crude oil's recovery in the price. This may be a chance for Shell and BP to 'refill their coffers', before oil is phased out. The International Energy Agency (IEA) have, however, predicted that crude oil prices are likely to exceed pre-Covid-19 levels within 2 years. The IEA say this will happen, unless "governments around the world take concrete action." The IEA don't have a great prediction track record but they could be right. All countries need to permanently change how they generate electricity and provide transport. Otherwise, some might be tempted to continue their unsustainable activities, when crude oil becomes cheaper again. It is also hoped that Shell and BP will meaningfully diverse away from profiting from oil extraction. The oil companies should not be using profits to open up more oil fields or to lobby politicians to allow them to carry on polluting!

Indian Endgame?

Allowing Sars-CoV-2 to circulate unchecked must increase the risk of dangerous new strains arising to prolong the pandemic. The Covid-19 virus is no longer limited to a small population of bats in Asia! So, the Indian second wave of the pandemic is actually a problem for all humans (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/25/the-world-must-act-indias-covid-crisis-is-a-dire-problem-for-us-all). India is a country with a population of 1.4 billion. The Republic clearly has a fragile health system as evidenced by its crowded hospitals, people being turned away, chronic shortages of oxygen etc. Having a large, diverse population (with different states, languages, religions and life-styles) also makes country-wide surveillance of viral transmission highly improbable. Clearly, political mistakes have been made (these are far from limited to India). We can't, however, wait for a combination of the WHO's Comex vaccine-sharing scheme and putting India on a 'red' travel list, to solve the problem. Countries that have (or are) rolling out their vaccination programmes must not be complaisant. India must clearly be a candidate for 'focused firefighting'. Vaccines need to be rapidly directed to India to get the virus under control in that country. Decisions to give up limited vaccines are unlikely to prove popular in some donor countries. It would, however, be ultimately in their best interest. Otherwise, the pandemic will go on and on.

Seeing the Changes 1546

Action in Loughor. Lots of white flowers including Hoary cress (Cardaria draba); Greater stitchwort (Stellaria holostea); Ramsons (Allium ursinum) and Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) in bloom. Also spotted my first two Speckled woods (Parage aegeria tircis) of the year.

Will Giving Up Meat and Dairy Save the Planet?

Estimations for the 'greenhouse gas' emission savings, made by adopting a vegan diet, range between 3 and 30% (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/apr/25/going-vegan-can-switching-to-a-plant-based-diet-really-save-the-planet). This discrepancy is because scientists (funded by different bodies?) do the calculations with different measures/ outcomes. Some authorities maintain that emissions should not be the prime focus. They say the impacts of changed farming systems on carbon sequestration, soil acidification, water quality and ecosysyem 'services' must also be considered. It has been estimated that, if meat and dairy production ceased (unlikely but?), global farmland use could be reduced by 75%. This would free an area equivalent to the US, China, the EU and Australia combined! That's an awful lot of land for reforesting or rewilding. Freeing a modest percentage could be very beneficial. The only meaningful things a private citizen can do to reduce climate change, are to alter his/her diet and transport. This may involve trade-offs. It's been calculated, for example, that going vegan for 2 years has the same saving impact, as forgoing 1 flight between Europe and the US. Rather obviously, as what individuals can do is limited, government actions are required to help encourage appropriate changes in lifestyles. A bit less meat and dairy consumption would be a start.

Benefits of Covid-19 Vaccinations

After the agonising about possible links between Covid-19 vaccinations and a vanishingly rare blood disorder, it's good to get actual concrete news on vaccine effectiveness (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/apr/23/one-dose-of-pfizer-or-oxford-jab-reduces-covid-infection-rate-by-65-study). A study, involving more than 350,000 people, was jointly carried out by Oxford University and the UK Office for National Statistics. 21 days after a 1st dose of either the Pfizer or the Oxford vaccine, the Covid infection rate declined by 65%. This single injection was more effective against symptomatic rather than asymptomatic infections. Older people were just as well protected by vaccination as younger age groups. The study also found that a 2nd Pfizer jab boosted protection to 90%. It is too early to provide a comparable number for the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. This vaccine was employed somewhat later in the UK. Figures for an extra benefit should, however, be available soon. The 2 main vaccines used in the UK roll-out are thus currently highly effective in preventing deaths and hospitalisations. Vaccination also breaks the chains of transmission of the virus in populations. This reinforces the truism that vaccination benefits greatly outweigh any risks.

When Being Wrong is a Good News Story

Failure to predict things accurately can come back to haunt expert bodies. The International Energy Agency (IEA) got things horribly wrong in 2000 (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/apr/25/insanely-cheap-energy-how-solar-power-continues-to-shock-the-world). The IEA dramatically underestimated the coming importance of solar and wind power, whilst massively inflating predicted demand for coal and oil. In fairness, they were not alone. The story of the rise of photovoltaic solar capacity reads like a soap opera. It involved many players from different countries (especially the US, China and Germany). The efficiencies of solar panels kept on growing. Companies boomed and then went bankrupt, often under strange circumstances. The gigawatt production by photovoltaic systems is now orders of magnitude greater than was predicted by the IEA in 2000. As the man said, "solar power is providing the cheapest energy the world has ever seen". Poor predictions but excellent news in the fight against climate change.

Gorse of Course?

Extremely dry, windy conditions in the UK at present. One consequence, has been an enormous gorse fire in the Mourne Mountains of Northern Ireland (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/apr/24/huge-gorse-blaze-continues-to-burn-in-mourne-mountains). The fire is endangering fire fighters in the area around Slieve Donard. I haven't seen any suggestion, as yet, that the fire might have been started deliberately. Here, in Wales, however, people often burn gorse to 'clear the scrub'. This frequently gets out of hand, with devastating consequences to the environment.

Ocean 'Weather'

Ocean currents, termed eddies, can be between 10 and 100 km in width. These powerful flows have been likened to weather events. In the seas, rather than the atmosphere. A study, in Nature Climate Change, analysed temperatures and heights throughout the Southern Ocean between 1993 and 2020 (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/23/changes-to-giant-ocean-eddies-could-have-devastating-effects-globally). The study found the eddies were progressively intensifying, especially in areas where they were already stong. Worryingly, the data suggests the changes will impair the Southern Ocean's ability to absorb carbon dioxide. This Ocean is actually one of the planet's largest carbon sinks. Bad news for people who hope to limit climate change?

Poo Crew

A team of scientists based outside Exeter (Devon, England), are testing human sewage samples for the presence of the Sars-CoV-2 virus (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/24/were-the-poo-crew-sleuths-test-for-covid-by-reading-signs-in-sewage). The 'Poo Crew' team (their name) get samples from many UK locations. They intend to use their data to monitor the spread of Covid. The results will also be used to provide early warning of future spikes of infection. It is likely their techniques will be used to monitor other infectious human diseases in the UK.

Seeing the Changes 1545

Smooth sow-thistle (Sonchus oleraceus) in bloom in Loughor. In Penclacwydd, the very first Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) was in flower.

Now, That's What I Call Talking the Talk!

The Earth's climate is very dependent on the Amazon rainforest. There is considerable concern about deforestation (much of it illegal) occurring in this area. Brazil's President Bolsonaro promised at the virtual summit on Earth Day to double his country's budget for environmental protection (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/24/bolsonaro-slashes-brazils-environment-budget-day-after-climate-talks-pledge). Bolsonaro's pledge was met with praise. The following day, he approved a 24% cut in the environmental budget, for 2021. A deficit in short-term memory or something much worse?

Seeing the Changes 1544

The alien Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) in flower in Loughor.