This blog may help people explore some of the 'hidden' issues involved in certain media treatments of environmental and scientific issues. Using personal digital images, it's also intended to emphasise seasonal (and other) changes in natural history of the Swansea (South Wales) area. The material should help participants in field-based modules and people generally interested in the natural world. The views are wholly those of the author.
Wednesday, 29 November 2023
Guilt-Free Flying?
There's been a great fanfare for Virgin Atlantic's flight VS100. This flight was partly funded by the UK government. Its being hailed as the first transatlantic flight using '100% sustainable jet fuel' and a means of producing 'guilt-free flying' (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/nov/28/transatlantic-flight-sustainable-jet-fuel-virgin-atlantic-saf). Flight VS100 used cooking oil as fuel, rather than kerosene, cutting down on fossil fuels. So-called 'Sustainable Aviation Fuel' (SAF) is attractive to airlines as it requires minimal modification of existing aircraft. It has, however, some problems. Firstly, SAF's current availability is less than 0.1% that of kerosene. Secondly, its production competes with that of agricultural food production. Agricultural land is declining, as the world human population increases and climate change exerts its pressures. Thirdly, SAF is still carbon dioxide in: carbon dioxide out. Fourthly its use still generates contrails high in the atmosphere thatincrease global heating. Finally, using SAF reduces incentives to radically change flight technologies. We are a long way from 'guilt-free flying'!
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Birder's Bonus 241
Noted a Curlew ( Numenius arquata ) on the Loughor estuary at Bynea.
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Greater spearwort ( Ranunculus lingua ) has been used in traditional medicine to treat rheumatism, skin conditions and digestive problems.
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Green buckwheat ( Fagopyrum tartaricum ) is also called 'Tartar buckwheat'. It's a domesticated food plant, producing kernels. ...
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Daily shots of my fully compostable Oyster mushroom pot, received for Christmas. Omelettes ahoy!
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