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.
Thursday, 21 November 2024
Putting a Different Construct On It?
Steel and cement production release massive amounts of climate-altering 'greenhouse gas'. These materials are, of course, much used by the construction industries. The construction industry actually accounts for circa 37% of global 'greenhouse gas' emissions. Simon Jenkins is intrigued, however, that it seems to largely escape censure or even a focus (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/19/construction-world-biggest-carbon-emitter-labour). Jenkins agrees the UK needs new homes for its burgeoning population. He regards, however, the 20% Value Added Tax (VAT) on the refurbishment of old buildings as essentially a 'subsidy for pollution'. That's because there's no VAT on new constructions. Jenkins also isn't enthusiastic about the creation of new 'garden cities' on green land in the SE. He notes their new-builds would generate massive amounts of 'greenhouse gases'. It would also leave their new inhabitats very car-dependent. Jenkins believes this would even further exacerbate the current 'North-South prosperity divide'. He thinks much more could be done, throughout the UK, to utilise empty or under-utilised buildings. Improving their environmental efficiencies would, he says, be more effective and less climate-damaging, than 'green' new-builds.
A Wasteful Investment?
Waste incineration plants are currently the UK's dirtiest means of generating electricity. This country currently has around 60 of these 'energy from waste' plants. Annually, they burn around 16m tonnes of waste, generating about 3% of the UK's electricity. Obviously, 'energy from waste' plants reduce the material that has to go to landfill. Without carbon capture, however, they emit very high levels of 'greenhouse gas'. Their emissions are actually markedly worse than those from plants that burn gas or wood. The UK pension fund, Aviva, is said to be currently facing a £350m investment loss on 3 waste incinerator plants. Between 2015 and 2023, these plants received £480m in loans (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/nov/20/uk-pension-fund-loses-350m-waste-incinerator-power-plants). Fairly obviously, waste incineration plants aren't currently a good UK investment. Although they reduce the need for landfill (where methane can be generated), environmentalists think the best way of dealing with waste is to markedly reduce its production. This especially applies to our production and use of plastics.
Wednesday, 20 November 2024
Change Course For Hamsterdam!
This must be the first time a UK passenger plane has been grounded by 160 Hamsters running amuck in the luggage hold (https://metro.co.uk/2024/11/17/aircraft-grounded-130-hamsters-run-riot-luggage-hold-22009613/). It's not exactly 'Snakes on a Plane' but beasties can cause problems on flights. Hamsters are pretty nifty at opening cages.
Wye, Oh Wye?
Chicken droppings contain more phosphates than any other animal manure. When these phosphates are washed into rivers, they cause eutrophication (algal growth). This starves fish and river plants of oxygen, producing dead zones. The Severn and Wye river valleys, are already home to many large Intensive Poultry Units (IPUs). More than 51 million chickens are currently industrially farmed on their river banks. Campaigners are currently trying to halt the building of yet another IPU in Shropshire. This would house nearly an additional 250,000 chickens. It makes no sense, to have such a high concentration of potential organic pollution adjacent to two important rivers, much utilised by anglers and water enthusiasts (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/19/uk-intensive-farming-hotspots-79-times-more-chickens-than-people-data-shows-river-pollution-wye-severn). Agricultural pollution is a relatively little discussed danger to the UK's river systems. It certainly receives much less publicity than Water Company release of untreated sewage. IPUs generally get easy approval, because their construction is linked to jobs. This shouldn't, however, be the only consideration. There's a need to look after and start to repair our already ravaged natural environment. The last thing this area needs is another IPU!
A little More Explanation?
Wales introduced a residential area 20 miles per hour (mph) speed limit in 2023. It was an attempt to rebalance communities, so they were no longer dominated by cars. Will Hayward, notes that, in 9 months, it saved the country more than £45m, prevented almost 500 people being killed or injured, made residential areas more appealing (less polluted) places to live, as well as reducing car insurance premiums. The measure also continues to have the support of all Welsh emergency services. What's not to like? Strangely, the 20mph speed limit has become the most unpopular piece of law-making, in the history of the Senedd (Welsh Parliament). A petition opposing this measure, has reached almost 470,000 signatures. Hayward wonders why. He suggests that four of the main Facebook sites, opposing the change, clearly involve operatives with obvious political bias. Hayward also notes, however, that the Welsh government seem to have been short-sighted. Imposing this speed limit, cost around £32m (mainly on changed signage). Only £1.6m was spent, however, on explaining the policy to the populace (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/18/wales-20mph-speed-limit-lives-money-policy). Perhaps the Welsh government didn't think they needed to spend more money, explaining a supported manifesto commitment? They have made recent public pronouncements that, having 'listened', some roads will revert to 30mph. Hayward maintains that evidence-based policy does work. He opines, however, that you have to 'own it, explain it and stay the course'. There's always a political price to pay. In a world where facts and evidence matter less and less, this seems an important message!
Tuesday, 19 November 2024
True from False?
It seems like a good idea to check whether, in today's blizzard of false information, if you have a functional bullshit detector. It's, obviously, specially important if you write a blog on media treatment and science. Fortunately, my detector seems to be in fine working order. The Cambridge Misinformation Susceptibilility Test seems a reliable starting place. It seems to have most of the safeguards for users (you can delete or be anonymous). It tries to link the data to age, gender, nationality, political considerations (although the categories are rather 'American) and educational attainment (https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/misinformation-susceptibility-test). It seems important for folk to test themselves periodically. They also, of course, need to ensure that the test they use is reliable and unbiased. It's probably just a matter of time before misleading versions come online!
Monday, 18 November 2024
It's a Dead Parrot!
Scientists (what do they know?) are generally agreed. Most think the Paris Accord of limiting global heating to 1.5 degrees Centigrade above pre-Industrial values is 'deader than a doornail'. 2024 is almost certain to be the first individual year above this threshold. The planet is on track for an elevation of 2.7 degrees Centigrade, with dramatic climate repercussions (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/18/climate-crisis-world-temperature-target). We've known about the climate impact of anthropogenic (human generated) 'greenhouse gas' emissions for decades. Our rulers and shakers have simply been too slow to act. Some folk have (and still are) dialling-up the emissions for greater 'profits'. Folk need to be reminded of the following a) 1.5 degrees C was merely a 'guesstimate' in Paris for a 'safe' increase; b) 'tipping points' might mean there already can be no return to previous climate conditions; c) if a return to 'traditional' climates is possible, there will be a long, long time lag before any emissions reductions take effect; d) most countries haven't/ can't put mitigations in place for dealing with the likely climate change and e) the higher the global average temperature goes, the worse the consequences. 1.5 degrees C seems to be like Monty Python's Norwegian Blue. Let's hope 2.7 doesn't go the same way!
Sunday, 17 November 2024
Feeling It 'In Our Thames Waters'
Thames Water is the largest of England's privatised water companies. For decades, this entity has accumulated debts, directing much of its monopoly income to shareholder dividends and CEO bonuses/'golden hellos'. Dealing with leaks and infrastructure upgrades should have been its major priorities. The ability of Thames Water to now keep London's taps flowing, is reported to be 'on a knife edge'. The company is said to urgently need £23bn for 'repairs', having failed to tackle serious safety concerns or to upgrade its vital IT services. Floods, explosions and asbestos removals all need to be dealt with (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/nov/17/thames-water-supply-knife-edge-23bn-repairs-needed). What's the point of a water company, that doesn't do its job? For much too long, England's privatised water companies were treated as 'cash cows'. Water companies have even, in some cases, deliberately polluted lakes and rivers to boost their profits. Although,'bailing out' Thames Water by its users, shouldn't be an option, folk can't live without clean, potable water.
Winter Waste?
From November to March, in the UK, an extra 5000 tonnes of household waste is sent to landfill or for incineration. This is a 40% increase on values seen in the warmer months. This is because the wetter, winter period makes effective separation by recycling plants of 'co-mingled' items, next to impossible. 'Co-mingling' is the practice of requiring households to put all their recycling in single containers. Householders can be (and in many cases are) required to separate their paper, plastic, glass, metal, as well as food and garden waste. This prevents contamination, reducing the need for landfill and incineration. The UK government will have to rule on whether to abolish 'co-mingling' in England (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/17/how-winter-makes-recycling-harder-with-40-jump-in-contamination). Most householders can and will separate the items for recycling, if they are helped and given clear instructions. The variations between the practices adopted by different councils doesn't help them. There could also be more use (as in The Netherlands) of communal drop off points for certain materials within walking distance of people's homes.
Saturday, 16 November 2024
The UK's Unhealthy Eating Habit Is Costing It Dear!
Brits seem hooked on foods that are high in fats, salt or sugar. They are also attracted to highly processed foods. Such food items are linked to obesity. Their consumption also produces high incidences of type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke etc. The Food, Farming and Countryside Commission (FFCC) estimates that unhealthy food habits currently cost the UK at least £268bn per year. This figure far outstrips the entire cost of its National Health Service (NHS). The FFCC figure is made up of direct NHS costs, charges for social care services and welfare system pay-outs. Lost productivity is also an added component (https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/nov/15/uk-unhealthy-food-costs-268bn-a-year-report-food-farming-countryside-nhs). Injecting folk with eating suppressing drugs isn't a real answer. It's expensive and is unlikely to prove a healthy, long-term option. Prevention is always better than cure. Relying on the 'good' intentions of food producers isn't an option. They have had decades to get their collective act together. Profits have always trumped health considerations. The UK government clearly needs to a) refocus on preventing dietary-linked disorders, b) heavily tax unhealthy foods and c) use some of that tax, to give poorer folk better access (via vouchers) to fruit and vegetables. It may be 'nanny state' but Brits are clearly incapable of looking after themselves!
Friday, 15 November 2024
Too Greedy To Change Course?
George Monbiot suggests an 'all-seeing eye' (a god?), looking at the Earth, might be intrigued to spot 'A species that knows it is destroying itself but is too greedy to change course'. That 'greed' is not, however, apparently equally shared by the 8 billion humans on the planet. The vast majority of folk express concern about the effects of global heating. They think there's a real danger of an existential climate crisis. The 'rich' and powerful, however, seem ever keen to get 'richer' and even more powerful. The rich produce massively more 'greenhouse gas' emissions, than their poorer brethern. They also use a fraction of their wealth, to reduce any chance of potential restrictions on their climate wrecking behaviour (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/15/dying-earth-cop29-azerbaijan-species). Jonathan Watts notes the rich are now developing a 'doomsday bunker mentality'. These folk are building 'bolt-holes' on remote islands. The bunkers have stores and protections against invasion by the masses. Watts regards this as an attempt to ensure 'survival of the richest' (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/14/survival-of-the-richest-trump-climate-and-the-logic-of-the-doomsday-bunker). It's clear that the rich know what forces they are unleashing and its likely outcome. Humans are frequently said to be a social species. Real social concern, however, often seems to only extend to that individual and his/her/their immediate families. Current paper 'money' is actually a somewhat arbitrary human invention. Will 'having' it, always make people greedy for more? Have humans bizarely invented a system that will ultimately destroy them?
Thursday, 14 November 2024
Food For Thought?
The link between global heating and food prices is clearly illustrated in a recent CarbonBrief (https://www.carbonbrief.org/five-charts-how-climate-change-is-driving-up-food-prices-around-the-world/#:~:text=The%20heat%20impacted%20the%20cost,with%20the%202C%20warming%20target.%E2%80%9D). This brief, notes that, although European food inflation generally hovers between 0.43 and 0.93%, in parts of 2022 and 2023, rates peaked by as much as 19%. It predicts that the extra levels of heating, projected to hit Europe by 2035, will amplify food costs by 30-50%. Globally, the masses are feeling the effects of rising food and energy prices. In some cases, this has resulted in their sometimes electing climate-denying political 'strongmen'. James Meadway points out reasons why this appears to have happened in the recent US elections, when the economy was supposedly 'healthy'. Meadway notes that inflation figures are based on a 'basket of goods' for the 'average' household. This doesn't, of course, capture the very wide variations between households. The basket includes items like emissions-boosting air travel abroad. Twenty-seven percent of US citizens have never been to a foreign country. Costs of air flights don't change their lives. The 'basket' also includes, the now cheaper, purchase of a flat screen TV. How frequently, Meadway asks, does the 'average' holdhold purchase a new TV? Everyone, however, has to buy food. The rising food and energy prices, impact most heavily on the poorest folk. Meadway also opines that central banks changing the interest rates to 'combat' inflation only make things worse. It worsens the lives of marginal folk, without stimulating food production (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/13/grocery-prices-donald-trump-climate-crisis-olive-oil-butter-extreme-weather-cost-of-living). Meadway also notes that, between 2020 and 2022, 62 new 'food billionaires' were created. He thinks their excessive profits should be taxed. Meadway also believes that governments must subsidise the costs of basic foods for their poorer populations. Those governments certainly need to get an urgent 'handle' on minimising climate change! Otherwise, food cost inflation is only going to get worse.
Wednesday, 13 November 2024
Pointless?
Lots of fine 'pledges' were made at last year's Dubai COP28. There's been, however, no sign of the promised transition from fossil fuels to 'renewables' in 2024. The burning of coal, oil and gas all continued to rise (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/13/no-sign-of-promised-fossil-fuel-transition-as-emissions-hit-new-high). At Baku's COP29, the Albanian Prime Minister (PM) now wonders what's the point of the meeting, 'if the biggest polluters continue as usual' (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/live/2024/nov/13/cop-29-leaders-speak-after-report-finds-climate-pledges-not-kept-live-updates). This PM clearly has a point. Do the COP meetings actually make any difference? Is it just 'window dressing'? The actions of the big players (countries and consortia) will ultimately determine whether catastrophic climate change can be avoided. There's little sign of these folk wanting to change their current behaviour. 'Drill, baby, drill' seems even more in vogue!
Bad COP?
At COP 29, the UN Secretary General described 2024 as being a 'masterclass in human destruction' of the planet. That COP is in Baku (Azerbaijan). Azerbaijan is a long-established major producer of oil and gas. COP29 has had a number of strong 'pledges'. These have mainly concerned promises of reduced 'greenhouse gas' outputs as well as funding to help undeveloped nations avoid adding to emissions totals. 'Pledges', however, rarely seem to be converted into meaningful action. Scandalously, there's also evidence of the organisers selling opportunities for fossil fuel producers to make deals to increase extraction (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/12/year-masterclass-in-human-destruction-un-chief-tells-cop29). One must ask whether COPs like this, serve any useful purpose? The organisers appear to be 'fiddling whilst the planet burns'. But what did we really expect? There's little sign that a climate crisis can be avoided.
Tuesday, 12 November 2024
War: What's It Good For?
Oil and gas producers in Iran, Russia and Venezuela never reveal their annual profits. In spite of this, 2022 was clearly a bonanza for the world's 90 plus big fossil fuel companies. Actual profits that year exceeded expected values by circa $490 bn (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/live/2024/nov/11/cop29-live-the-climate-summit-gets-under-way-in-azerbaijan?filterKeyEvents=false&page=with%3Ablock-673201128f084530d737d6aa#block-673201128f084530d737d6aa). Russia's war with Ukraine in 2022, clearly greatly magnified the annual profits of oil and gas producers. War enhances 'greenhouse gas' emissions. It also encourages fossil fuel producers to extract even more product to chase growing profits. Perhaps, such 'super-profits' should be ploughed back into helping the global South reduce its emissions? Unfortunately, Iran, Russia and Venezuela are unlikely to contribute to this reparations pot.
Monday, 11 November 2024
It Should Also be Born in Mind?
Creatine supplements have long been used by bodybuilders and others to provide legal performance boosts. Energy for physical activity comes from Adenosine Tri Phosphate (ATP). ATP is mainly generated by the cellular break- down of glucose and other organic compounds. ATP production is, however, sporadic and short-lasting. Creatine seems to act as a buffer, allowing this energy compound to be produced more quickly. This allows maximal effort to be given for longer. Evidence now seems to be accumulating that creatine supplements can support neural function. The brain has no glucose stores, entirely depending on receipt of this sugar via its blood supply. Intense neural activity, however, uses lots of ATP. There are suggestions that, in some folk, creatine improves mental clarity and focus as well as concentration duration. This supplement may even be neuroprotective, limiting damage to the brain from free radicals etc. (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/nov/10/the-creatine-conundrum-can-it-really-help-your-muscles-and-your-brain). Much more research is needed on the potential mental boost possibly provided by creatine supplements. Proper double blind studies will be required. If the mental health effects are confirmed, older folk and menopausal women could be obvious potential beneficiaries.
Sunday, 10 November 2024
A Play Area For Townies?
There's a proposal to create a new Welsh National Park. The location would run from Prestatyn in the North-east, take in LLangollen and include Lake Vyrnwy in the South. This proposal has predictably generated a raging debate. The claim has been made that the park would be 'a play area for townies' (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/10/new-national-park-wales-local-opposition). Supporters of the proposal, point to the importance of improving access to the countryside. Such access has mental and physical health benefits. Even 'townies' need such opportunities. The setting up of a National Park would, they say, also make it easier to protect this part of rural Wales. There's clearly a need to utilise our limited environment to help deal with climate change. Opponents of the National Park development, worry about increased traffic from Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester, disrupting their lives. They also express concern about outsiders purchasing second homes and Airbnbs in the newly attractive location. This could, they claim, make it impossible for their young locals to get on the housing market. Some opponents are even concerned about the restrictions placed on residents living in National Parks. Constructing new buildings and the setting up of new businesses is more tightly controlled. This one, as they say, is likely to 'run and run'. It should, however, be possible to solve, so long as the argument doesn't simply come down to 'us' against 'them'? National Parks need careful nurturing and rather better financial support.
Honey, Honey!
DNA profiles have been developed to test the authenticity of honeys. Ninety percent of UK samples, failed such tests. The failure rate of honeys from UK supermarkets, was strikingly high. The honey trade body has counter claimed that the supermarket product is 'of high quality'. They have expressed doubts about the validity of the DNA tests. The suspicion remains in minds of some folk, however, that certain supermarket products have been 'bulked out' with cheaper sugar syrup (https://www.theguardian.com/food/2024/nov/09/nine-in-ten-honey-samples-from-uk-retailers-fail-authenticity-test). It can be argued that it really doesn't matter, so long as the supermarket 'honey' is a safe product. Honey has, however, often been championed on the basis of its 'naturalness'. Some of the claims are almost mystical. There's no good reason, however, why a premium should be paid for a cheap, concocted item. It's suggested that honeys should specify their country (countries?) of origin. Their labels should also give more detail on production methods. This seems entirely reasonable.
Saturday, 9 November 2024
Hair Today (But Not Gone Tomorrow)?
A person consuming certain drugs, retains traces of those compounds in their growing hair. Consequently, hair-strand tests, for drug or excessive alcohol consumption, have been developed. In the UK, such tests have proved popular with some employers (e.g. railways) and Family Courts. More than 30 years of testing has revealed, however, that hair-strand tests need careful evaluation. Recorded drug values are influenced by factors including the subject's race, hair colour and even the use of particular hair products. Pregnancy, exposure to UV light and whether the individual lives near drug users, will also change the readings (https://www.theguardian.com/law/2024/nov/09/uk-children-taken-away-from-parents-due-to-misreporting-of-drug-tests-say-experts). Hair-strand tests have resulted in some folk losing their jobs. They've also influenced decisions made by Family Courts. Such tests may result in a child being removed from its parents and placed in the care of a local authority. Folk, relying only on hair-strand test data, need to be educated about their limitations. Erroneous decisions can be life-changing (usually for the worse).
Friday, 8 November 2024
Taking a Stake?
Nature campaigners are calling on UK taxpayers to take stakes in forest and peatland restoration projects. Forests and peatlands are carbon sinks. They remove atmospheric carbon dioxide, reducing the rate of global heating (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/06/nature-campaigners-urge-uk-taxpayers-to-take-stakes-in-forest-projects). Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are already at record levels. We are near exceeding the Paris Accord's alledgedly 'safe' increase of 1.5 degrees Centigrade above pre-Industrial levels. The recent US Presidential elections will, however, result in that country leaving the Paris Accord for the second time, crippling the climate agreement (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/01/a-trump-presidency-could-cripple-the-paris-climate-agreement-warns-un-chief-antonio-guterres). Getting the UK taxpayers to take stakes in local carbon sinks, just became a much harder sell. Small countries have little impact on climate change, when big countries are intent on maximising their emissions. People know that!
Thursday, 7 November 2024
Every Move You Make?
Air fryers are increasing common in UK kitchens. The consumer body, Which, has found, however, that some smart devices, request permission to record audio on the user's phone via a connected app. This function enables the user to start cooking before he/she gets home. Which found that the app provided by Xiaomi devices connect to trackers for Facebook and a TikTok ad network. The user's personal data is then sent to a server in China (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/nov/05/air-fryer-excessive-surveillance-smart-devices-which-watches-speakers-trackers). Collecting of personal data can also be done by some smart watches and digital speakers. There's debate about whether data protection rules are adhered to. It's somewhat worrying that users may be subsequently targetted by marketing firms. Outsmarted by your own air fryer?
Greater Manchester Windfarm?
Cubico Sustainable Investments (an independent renewable energy developer) has submitted plans to erect 21 onshore wind turbines at Scout Moor. The turbines would be adjacent to a windfarm near Greater Manchester. This site would then be able to generate more than 100 megawatts of electricity. That's sufficient, to power more than 10% of Greater Manchester's domestic energy needs. This installation could also be in operation by 2030 (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/05/biggest-onshore-windfarm-energy-cubico-scout-moor-greater-manchester). So long as the folk living near this onshore windfarm get some benefits, this is a good direction of travel. Cubico have proposed a multi-million pound Community Wealth Fund, as well as a Moorland Restoration and Management Plan. The development would speed up the UK's 'green' transition, without having to transmit the power generated over excessive distances. Building it would also much faster, cheaper and safer than constructing a nuclear powerstation. Sections of the moorland would also still be available for wildlife and human recreation.
Wednesday, 6 November 2024
Apres Le Deluge?
'After the flood' in Valencia, it's clearly apposite for the EU to reconsider responses to extreme weather events. In 2014, Federike Otto founded World Weather Attribution to quickly evaluate whether an extreme weather event could be linked to the climate crisis. This was a reaction to the general hesitancy to connect any particular event to climate change. Cause and effect is a serious issue. Scientists always have to 'hedge their bets' when dealing with such complex phenomena. A quick (and 'dirty') World Weather Attribution analysis of the events in Spain, suggest that the climate emergency made the extreme rainfall about 12% more intense. It also indicates that these once rare events, are becoming markedly more common. Otto, however, says there's an urgent need to improve the preparedness of folk in their responses to such emergencies. As she points out, it's all very well predicting the event, but do people know what to do? There's been several cases, in Germany and Spain, of people being killed in unevacuated care homes (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/04/spain-deaths-europe-realities-extreme-weather-flooding). The EU provides necessary finance to help with 'clean-ups' after extreme weather events. Otto suggests, however, there's also clearly a need to provide money to help communities plan effective responses. Can folk help mitigate the effects by limiting the spread car-friendly water impervious surfaces? Can planning be done, allowing rivers to flow, without first flooding into people's homes. Do locals know where to go in the event of flooding, violent storms etc.?
UK 'Clean Electricity Pledge' is Achievable?
The UK's new National Energy System Operator (NESO) says the plan to create a 'clean' electricity system by 2030 is 'doable'. This would mean replacing all coal, gas and waste burning, by 'renewables'. Wind turbines and solar panels would be the main sources of renewable energy. This transition would, however, require the fixing of the country's 'sluggish' planning system. This would be essential to transmit the electricity from where it's generated, to all areas of the country. This would be costly and difficult. People get upset by pylons (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/nov/05/britain-green-energy-system-operator-neso-green-electricity). Achieving 'clean energy' status, would make Britain much less dependent on 'fossil fuel' price fluctuations. It would also improve the country's energy security. Nuclear power and extra North Sea oil and gas extractions, are not viable options. NESO notes that Britain's electricity prices could actually decline. The country might even become an exporter of 'green' energy.
Tuesday, 5 November 2024
The Rich Get Richer?
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is one thing the EU never got right. It currently hands out 3 billion euros a year in farming subsidies. The money received by each farmer depends on their 'acreage'. The bigger your farm, the more money you get. Predictably, billionaires are receiving most of the subsidies. Concomittantly, thousands of small farms in Europe are closing (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/03/revealed-billionaires-ultimate-beneficiaries-linked-to-eu-farming-subsidies). It's likely the billionnaire EU farmers will simply buy up vacated small farms to increase the area of their holdings. They will consequently get an increased subsidy, without even producing any additional crops. The really big farms are also generally dominated by monocultures, with very low biodiversity. Brexit was said to facilitate UK farmers being subsidised for encouraging biodiversity. The results, however, have been somewhat 'patchy'. In the words of the song, "Because the rich get richer. And the poor keep on getting poorer". The EU's current CAP ensures this will always remain the case. Clearly, it won't encourage necessary rewilding.
Monday, 4 November 2024
No Precision Breeding For UK Farm Animals?
Genetic Modification (GM) involves transfering whole genes from one organism to another. The recipient organism then becomes able to produce a new protein. Gene Editing is more subtle, as it only alters a few bases in an organism's existing gene. This still, however, essentially alters proteins. The UK is set to approve The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act. This will allow UK scientists to use Gene Editing to modify plant crops. The legislation is not, however, approving gene editing in domesticated animals (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/nov/02/scientists-dismayed-as-uk-ministers-clear-way-for-gene-editing-of-crops-but-not-animals). The failure to approve gene editing in animals may hold back the creation of healthier herds and flocks. If approved the technology could be used to create domesticated animals resistant to particular diseases. Gene Editing could also make animals more capable of coping with climate change. Cows could even be created, with reduced levels of methane burping. Methane is a very potent 'greenhouse gas'. Although welfare issues have been cited, the failure to allow Gene Editing in domesticated animals is rather odd. This technology has been repeatedly tested in humans in attempts to counter faulty genes. In some countries, Gene Editing has even been trialled to enable animal organs (liver and heart) to be transplanted to humans, without subsequent rejection. It would, in any case, be impossible to prevent Gene Edited stock animals being imported into the UK. You can't easily tell, if an organism has been Gene Edited. UK farmers will be tempted, if cows, pigs and sheep, with clearly beneficial attributes, become available from foreign laboratories. Perhaps the only folk being limited by the proposed legislation, are UK scientists?
Sunday, 3 November 2024
BOGOF
BOGOF is the acronym for 'buy one, get one free'. The Food Foundation opines that UK supermarkets are currently 'actively incentivising citizens to buy more of those foods known to be bad for the health of people and the planet'. It points out that almost 20% of supermarket 'multibuy deals', like BOGOF, concern meat and dairy products. Red meat and dairy have known health risks. Their production techniques are also clearly linked to the production of 'greenhouse gases' and climate change. Even worse, 10% of supermarket 'multibuy deals' involve processed meats. Processed meats are even more strongly linked to cancers in humans (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/nov/01/uk-supermarkets-using-multibuy-deals-to-encourage-sales-of-meat-study-finds). Supermarkets, of course, are in the business of maximising their profits. I suppose it must be down to governments to get them to apply their BOGOFs to healthier food choices. Unhealthy citizens cost money. Folk need more help in their choices of what and how much to eat. Supermarket 'multibuy deals' are also likely to increase food wastage. This is already a substantial problem in the UK and elsewhere.
Vapid?
Between 2012 and 2023, England's vape usage grew by more than 400%. Currently, almost 10% of the English public buy and use these products. Some of this use has been actively encouraged in cigarette smokers, to reduce their risk of lung cancer. A proportion, however, are young individuals, who have never previously smoked cigarettes. The tobacco companies clearly see vapes as a means of maintaining their profits. Single-use vapes, with child-friendly flavours and packaging, have been strongly marketed to encourage the next generation of nicotine addicts. The precise health effects of prolonged vaping are, as yet, uncharted. Single-use vapes also present a considerable environmental problem. They are rarely recycled. Their mixture of plastics, metals, chemicals and electronics, makes this difficult. Single-use vapes are generally simply dropped in the streets. These devices are fire risks. Vaping devices also waste enormous quantities of lithium (and other materials), that could be used to produce Electric Vehicle batteries etc. The UK government plans to introduce a disposable vapes ban 'before Christmas' 2024. Their Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) carried out a survey of vape-users. They claim that almost 30% might return to cigarette smoking, with 'health disbenefits' (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/nov/01/disposable-vapes-ban-could-push-users-back-smoking-defra). It seems odd that DEFRA are apparently using their position to warn government ministers of a potential health 'danger' of a single-use vape ban. Their role ought have a focus on environmental impacts. Surely, it's the UK Health Security Agency that should be considering potential 'health disbenefits'. There must be ways of encouraging ex-cigarette smokers to stick to vaping. Single-use vapes shouldn't be part of this 'solution'. Only the tobacco companies 'need' a new generation of nicotine addicts.
Saturday, 2 November 2024
Smog Log
Air pollution is a major global cause of ill-health and premature deaths. This is especially the case in India and Pakistan. Predictably, the Covid-19 pandemic had few benefits for humans. One, however, was its impact on air pollution (from industrial activities and vehicle exhausts) on the sub-continent. Reductions in polluting activities, resulted in some folk being able to glimpse for the first time, the Himalayas, from their cities. Post-pandemic the smog has returned with a vengence, in what's known as the 'pollution season' (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/01/lahore-delhi-choked-smog-pollution-season-india-pakistan). In Lahore, Delhi and elsewhere, death rates from cancers, as well as respiratory and cardio-vascular diseases will again be on the rise. Climate change isn't the only killing consequence of emissions!
Friday, 1 November 2024
Snow Saving
Climate change is making a number of established ski resorts economically nonviable. Natural snowfall now can't be relied on, especially at the beginning of a season. Artificial snow is a possibility but it's expensive to produce. In days gone by, before electric fridges and freezers, Finns used to cut blocks of unthawed ice from rivers or lakes. These blocks were then covered in a thick layer of sawdust. They were then stacked in a barn; a pit or an ice cellar. The ice blocks could then be used in the summer months. The Finnish company Snow Secure, have adapted this technique for the benefit of ski resorts. Rather than sawdust, they produce mats of extruded polystyrene. This same material is used in Finnish house insulation. These mats can actually last up to 20 years. They can help preserve the previous year's snow at a resort, for use at the start of the next season. These mats have been successfully used in Finnish ski resorts. Snow Secure has now/ will soon start exporting the mats to Norway, Switzerland and Spain, as well as Wisconsin and New Mexico in the USA (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/01/finland-exports-snow-saving-mats-ski-resorts-climate-crisis). The insulating mats may help marginal ski resorts for a short time. It's, however, not a cure for the impacts of climate change. Global heating is increasing and skiers flying to the resorts, exaccerbates the problem.
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