Why Climate Scientists Have Consistently UNDERestimated Key Global Warming Impacts | ThinkProgress

Posted on by Patrick Sudlow

Some of have suggested things will be worse than that suggested, such as the total breakdown of the Gulf Stream, plunging the UK into another Ice Age.  Kevin Anderson of the University of Manchester’s Tyndall Centre, spoke at a breakfast at the Rylands Library and spoke at Manchester’s Town Hall on the urgency of reducing our carbon emissions to prevent catastrophic climate change.  Which I mention in an earlier post and that to me, the councillors, especially Richard Leese, the leader, did not appear that interested in.

It is also mentioned in this months Manchester Climate Monthly.  There is a new research paper recently published that suggests scientist have consistently under-estimated the effects of climate change.  And that things are a lot worse than it was ever thought.  Though I feel, it is doubtful our politicians will change their attitudes and policies.  No doubt, believing they will be okay because they are rich.  They may soon find out, they ARE in it with US, and that they cannot eat or drink money:  Why Climate Scientists Have Consistently UNDERestimated Key Global Warming Impacts | ThinkProgress.

stickman’s corral: Review – Extreme Environment (Ivo Vegter)

Posted on by Patrick Sudlow

Though I disagree with some of the points the reviewer makes during his review of Extreme Environment.  I think, he has highlighted the repeated nonsense of those who think ‘business-as-usual’ scenario is the one we should follow and environmentalist are just a bunch of ‘Nazis’.  The fact that Ivo Vegter uses Monckton as a source of knowledge to attack environmentalist, should give a clue to the his mindset.  There are points environmentalist can learn both from the book and the reviewer’s blog, for them to develop their case more hard-cast and understandable to all.

stickman’s corral: Review – Extreme Environment (Ivo Vegter).

Frontline Online: Where should we be looking for waste we can turn to energy? – The Ecologist

Posted on by Patrick Sudlow

Another article which follows on from an earlier reblog I posted on the 12th January:Video: The Dark Side of the Green Economy
Inappropriate biofuel and biomass development can exasperate the pollution, poverty and starvation we already suffer from.  I cringe, every time I hear of a ‘ecohouse’ which has wood burners install as a ‘green’ answer to their space heating.  It is not, especially on our already overcrowded and polluted Island.  The CAT (Centre of Alternative Technology) has a lot to answer for, they have not really moved on since the 70s with regards to alternative technologies.  Wood used to be the main source of energy on these Islands, but it was becoming scarce by the 1700s and the Islands nearly deforested.  This changed with the onset of steam technology which allowed the exploitation of the ancient fossil fuel beneath our feet.  As the Ecologist article mentions, using waste organic waste is a way forward.  I have been pushing AD biogesters to turn organic waste to energy (Methane) which is happening all over the world.  But is still in its infancy in the UK, just as wave and tidal technologies are.  We should be looking at the Best Available Technology (BAT), instead of relying on 18th Century technologies which may be cheaper to build.

Frontline Online: Where should we be looking for waste we can turn to energy? – The Ecologist.

Government bullish over Energy Bill despite faltering renewables investment – 29 Nov 2012 – News from BusinessGreen

Posted on by Patrick Sudlow

Because of the Governments ineptitude, companies have decided to not invest in this country or like PV Solar, a maker of silicon for Solar PV, possibly close down their manufacturing business.  The UK has consistently missed the boat, when it came to supporting renewables, instead investing in heavily in Nuclear and fossil fuels.  Will the UK, ever rid itself of the title, ‘The Dirty Man of Europe’?

Government bullish over Energy Bill despite faltering renewables investment – 29 Nov 2012 – News from BusinessGreen.

The situation is not helped when we have a very biased media, which appears determined to destroy the logical and sensible move to renewables, by giving it as much bad and incorrect press as possible:

Exclusive study confirms true scale of renewable bad press

This video sums up the UK Government’s attitude:

The History of Climate Change Negotiations in 83 seconds   

This article describes the subsidies the fossil-fuel industry has received and still receiving.  Also the different approaches taken by Germany and Denmark:

http://www.forumforthefuture.org/greenfutures/articles/cost-propping-oil

Revealed: the coal industry’s plan to devastate the climate | Greenpeace International

Posted on by Patrick Sudlow

Despite continuing warnings that we are getting close to a 2 degree global temperature rise, big business is still pushing the construction of old, dirty technology.  In the UK the Government is still pushing through waste and biomass incinerator plants which are also major contributors to CO2 rises.  But, Government and Big Business claim they are carbon neutral, which of course they are not.  There are better technologies to deal with waste and biomass which do not produce large amounts of CO2.  Such as AD biogesters, which have been for years in Europe and South America.
Also, energy efficiency is a subject talk about but little is actively being done about it.  Just wander around a large town or city to see how much energy is needlessly being wasted, mostly on advertisements.

Revealed: the coal industry’s plan to devastate the climate | Greenpeace International.

Funny weather we’re having… how the melting Arctic is affecting global weather patterns in a sinister way | Campaign against Climate Change

Posted on by Patrick Sudlow

An article on Climate Change, going into some detail on why we are experiencing some very unusual weather.  It is those in the Global South and the poor in the Global North who suffer most, from these extreme weather patterns.  And as he states, we are now on a slippery slope downwards, which we will not be able to get back up.  And what do our leaders do, more of the same, which is the cause of Global Warming.  It is time, those in the Global North, cut back on their excessive consumption and waste.  It is time to throw away the motor car and give up flying on holidays abroad.  Because, in the end, this is going to adversely affect everyone, no matter how much money you have.  You cannot eat money, gold, shares, bonds or even bricks and mortar.

Funny weather we’re having… how the melting Arctic is affecting global weather patterns in a sinister way | Campaign against Climate Change.

Posted on by Patrick Sudlow

I totally agree with Kevin Anderson and he repeats something I have said for some time. It is the affluent middle-class who contribute most to climate-change. And yet they try to demonize those on low-incomes and benefits.
This is particularly true of certain members of Manchester Green Party, who make token gesture, like showing up at meetings holding a bicycle. Though they are motorists, who cannot live without their cars. One person in particular, I do not think has never used public transport in her entire life. Others are quite happy to jump on a jet for short journeys, such as to Ireland. Then they dismiss those who live in social housing as being uneducated and do not care about climate change. They do care, but why, when the are struggling to warm their homes, should they listen to some clown, from an affluent background, who is living quite well?

In fact, these so-called educated middle-class bullies and hypocrites, are the ones who need to change the way they live. And I think JK Rowlings comments in the Guardian, more or less potray my own thoughts on middle-class hypocrisy:

middle-class-nastiness

and I think these middle-class hypocrites should also take note of what an American newscaster had to say about bullies:

jennifer-livingston-newscaster-fightback-bully.

I have said it before, ‘Hypocrisy, hypocrisy, every where I look, nothing but hypocrisy and not a drop of truth to quench my thirst for knowledge’.  Sorry Samuel Taylor Coleridge for adulterating part of your The Rime of the Ancyent Marinere.

manchesterclimatemonthly's avatarmanchester climate monthly

Below is Professor Kevin Anderson’s submission for the recent “Climate Clock is Ticking” series.  The Guardian don’t appear to have used it in either their print edition or online.  Below his submission we have posted our response to the same invitation.

The request for the piece from the New Economics Foundation was:

‘The Climate Clock is Ticking. Normal isn’t Working. What Will You Do Differently?’

We would like to use your answer in a feature of collected insights to mark the half-
way point of the 100 months climate countdown that began in August 2008, and to
highlight what can be done differently in the next 50 months.

_____

My day job is to translate the science of climate change into the everyday language
we use to understand our lives. To chaperon policy-makers in the transition towards
a low-carbon UK, and to help companies and civil society understand the…

View original post 1,136 more words

100 Million people will die by 2030 if the World does not act on Climate Change

Posted on by Patrick Sudlow

A new report released on the 26th September 2012, called ‘A Guide to the Cold Calculus of a Hot Planet’, claims 100 Million people will die before 2030, due to the results of Climate Change.  This is because of the inactions of Governments and businesses to act on climate change.  This has led to a more polluted planet, causing the Global temperature to rise.  Unfortunately Governments and business are locked into a fossil-fuel and consumer economy.  They have not heeded the calls to invest in real renewable technologies and a move away from ‘business-as-usual’ model.

The report is optimistic, that there is still an opportunity to scale-back pollution and halt Global warming.  I feel, it will not happen, till there is a complete collapse in water and food supplies, when it is too late.  They put forward the argument that economically (not the first time, it has been argued), it would be the sensible thing to do.  It would reduce poverty, hunger and ill-health and opposed to the outcome of pursuing a carbon economy.  This is a report all politicians and business people should read and act on it.

At a meeting of Southern Voices a talk given by Washington Alcott ( a Jamaican), entitled ‘Climate Change – A conservation from the South’.  Made the point that climate change and the environment agenda;

“It was predominately the white-middle class who dominated the debate and decided the outcomes”.

I agree with him, in fact I would go further, it is the so-called ( predominately white) educated middle-class who are part of the problem.  The do not want to change their life-styles, so do not want real change.  Even, those espousing to be environmentally aware, still drive the most, shunning public transport and continue to fly abroad multiple times a year for  holidays.  They consume more than those on reduced incomes, but pay less because of the unequal charging mechanisms.  Because of their spending power, they could make a huge difference but they will not.  There are ‘OK Jack, sod you’.

House approves GOP bill to revoke environmental standards – 24 Sep 2012 – News from BusinessGreen

Posted on by Patrick Sudlow

Some more bad news from the US, who have the largest carbon footprint per person than anywhere else.  They are living on 6 planets worth of resources and they just want to consume more.  And yet they criticise countries like China and India, who are trying to improve the living standards of their citizens.  And the individual carbon footprints 6 times less than the US citizen.

House approves GOP bill to revoke environmental standards – 24 Sep 2012 – News from BusinessGreen.

Senate votes to ban US airlines from EU carbon trading  

In the UK, despite a Government which also does not understand the need for more renewable energy supplies especially, small localised units.  Investment in onshore wind turbines appears to be strong, with new wind farms coming on-line.

http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2207382/uk-onshore-wind-capacity-breezes-past-5gw-mark