Are proposed actions to mitigate against Climate Change unachievable? More harm than good?

Alok Sharma

The final concluding Statement from Cop26 is here: delivered late on November 13 by a weary President!  

Latest November 13th: Cop26 goes over the time limit: disagreement on Fossil Fuel phasing out  (Coal and others?). Many looking for cash to help. Meanwhile, the scale of lobbying by the fossil fuel industry is indicated by the size of their delegations in Glasgow.

Clearly, work has been going on behind the scenes for some time: rather undermines Cop26. 

COP26: Cautious welcome for unexpected US-China climate agreement

The next Cop is Cop27 

The COP27 will take place in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. 2022. (well at least it  should be hot and dry.)

Lincolnshire Warnings  This local effects diagram within 10 years seems unlikely but represents a warning if nothing is done. (Better defenses etc) 

Here is the latest News


Much media interest in the number of Private Jets being used (not quite in the spirit of Cop26).  The Times (2 November highlighted it)


Cop26 brief from Met Office (Webinar) on 6th October 2021 (full day session)

It is essential that societies seek ways of becoming environmentally sustainable and adaptable to unknowable environmental changes, particularly in the climate. This must happen in the context of globalization. (OU)

RMetS Resources for Cop26

Climate change is now generally recognized as a phenomenon that requires both actions to prevent further damage and mitigation to improve the resilience of those experiencing its effects. 

Many groups are putting forward their aims and objectives on behalf of their members and Stakeholders in a bid to put pressure on Ministers and as input to COP26 (Conference of the Parties) due 31st October/November 2021 in Glasgow. 

One such recommendation from Prospect is at this link 

In brief these proposals say:

1. Publish a comprehensive Net Zero Roadmap: 2. Accelerate Deployment of low carbon infrastructure: 3.  Embed a whole systems approach: 4. Develop a fair funding formula: 5. A strategy for energy conservation: 6. Maximize the benefits for UK PLC: 7. Net Zero Workforce Plan: 8. Ramp up Research and Development Programme: 9. A Just Transition: 10. A Net Zero Energy Commission. 

Another submission from CSPA (Pensioners Alliance) is identified below. But will these proposals lead to anything substantial as there is little chance of succeeding until the major world economies agree? 

Such effects impact: with particular severity on older people. They include:

 • Severe weather (storms, floods, extreme heat) 

• Sea level rises and coastal erosion 

• Threats to water and food security

 • Potential interruption to and scarcity of fuel supply

• Increased air pollution. It is vital that dialogue improves between organizations representing older people and government, its agencies and other interested parties, for example, the insurance sector. It is necessary to

• Educate older people about what may be in store

 • Prevent stress and mental ill-health arising from climate change 

• Mitigate the effects of climate change and air pollution on physical ill health • Mitigate damage as far as possible. 

This AGM instructs the EC to open cross-party dialogue on this topic with a view to strategic and practical engagement in the political and civil arena and to produce an action plan relevant to CSPA members and consonant with Later Life Ambitions. 

Further, the AGM encourages Groups to engage on this topic with regional and local stakeholders such as the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Green Summit.

All well and good but very broad brush and as mentioned above will be difficult, and futile to implement, unless everyone is on board.

County Council and Police Crime Commissioner Elections 2021

 The County Council and Police Crime Commissioners elections 

are to take place on May 6th 2021. 
Due to the sad death of Price Phillip, campaigning has been suspended for 10 days from April 9th 2021. 
The link to the candidates at County Level are here. Electoral Listings

Crime Commissioner Candidates are here in the Sleaford Standard release. 
Crime Commissioner

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It Never Rains but it Pours: a Blog Theme of our times for Sleaford & Holdingham

 As it happens it has just started raining for what is forecast to be a wet week-end.

In more ways than one it seems. 

There are several themes on the news at the moment after weeks and weeks of constant Covod-19 stories (some very sad but one or two reasons to be cheerful). Exhaustion appears to be creeping in after promises which don't always come to fruition. Here is an image from the Daily Telegraph as we teeter on (or already in) a second wave.

Whilst Closing Times have been getting a lot of attention there is a lot going on.

Zoom events, and similar, seem to be appearing on an increasing basis: and personally if I accepted all I would be busy 23 hours per day. Most are Webinars but one or two are  direct Zoom events with maybe about 100 - 200 attendees. Added to that, Podcasts and Reports, and the world has certainly changed to a more virtual mode.

I have three or four strings to follow. International especially China and Hong Kong:  Local Political issue and with effects of Brexit negotiations, Employment effects of Covid-19:  Sustainability (Green Energy) and last but not least Climate Change and TV productions bending towards productions featuring futuristic worlds based on Sustainable lifestyles.

Centre For Cities also invite me onto their Zoom discussions. Apparently Cities and Large Towns are being affected by a movement of residents out of Urban Areas. Interesting topic. 

Note: I am a member of RTS, RMetS, Twitter and Prospect - so some of my information comes from them.

https://members.prospect.org.uk/news/id/2020/September/15/Prospect-pushes-importance-green-recovery-at-TUC-Congress 

Enough for the moment.   

Green Energy: Zero-Sum Carbon Emissions by 2050 through exploitation of Renewable Sources? Lincolnshire Effect?

Reduced reliance on Carbon Fuels and the pollution: 

A Green Recovery Plan for the energy sector
Introduction

As the Government Department States:  

UK becomes first major economy to pass net zero emissions law

(New target will require the UK to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.) The BBC put it this way last year (click image)

Most renewable energy sources originate from the sun (solar energy), while tidal energy originates from the gravitational pull of the moon, and geothermal energy results from heat trapped below the surface of our planet. See below!

Is Nuclear also an option? 

What is Green Energy: Here is the Open University Definition

Solar energy can be used directly in a two different ways. The heating part of the Sun’s rays can be used to directly produce hot water (solar thermal), while the light energy can directly produce electricity from photovoltaic cells (PV).

There are, however, a number of indirect ways in which solar energy can be utilised:

·       Wind energy has been utilised for mills and pumps for hundreds of years, but has been harnessed to produce electricity during the past several decades. Wind 'farms' have been set up in the UK, and around the world, both inland and offshore.

·       Wave energy technology is still in the early development phase but several devices have been tested in pilot projects. The most widely used is the oscillating water column which uses waves to push air through a turbine which generates electricity.

·       Tidal energy is utilised by allowing the tide to build up a head of water behind a barrier, then allowing the water to flow through a turbine to produce electricity. The effectiveness depends on the position of the moon, being greatest at full and new moons. Tidal currents can also be used to generate power, by installing turbines in the flows, and that is seen as a more likely way ahead than building large invasive barrages.

·       Geothermal energy is energy taken from hot regions below the surface. The available heat varies from place to place.

Note: Nuclear Energy: energy is produced by a controlled nuclear chain reaction and creates heat—which is used to boil water, produce steam, and drive a steam turbine. The turbine can be used for mechanical work and also to generate electricity. This is being looked at more seriously than previous!! This option is also being widely pushed (n addition to the above). It is safer and appears (to many) as less costly to produce. 

Virtual Meetings: Holdingham Viewpoint

At least the lockdown has brought about the use of Zoom and other interfaces through which to hold virtual meetings. Saves time and money actually attending in person but maybe shortcomings as well!

It also gives better opportunities to see the salient points and use them to fine-tune arguments on other forums. 

The ones I use most are Centre For Cities, The Royal Television Society and ITV. A mixture of planning, information and entertainment choices. I have been members for years now having worked in TV (weather Forecasts at ITN), Council work and Royal Television Society. Plus associated Meteorological forums (including international).

Obviously dying for a McDonalds: good publicity or bad?

Locally we have open spaces but with restrictions on their usage (at present) . 

Traffic on the Lincoln Road is often congested and speeding is not uncommon. The McDonalds and other fast food takeaways near the Hodingham Roundabout can only be used as drive-in collection - is the Lincoln Road as an entrance the wisest place these days.
Maybe and I am sure the Companies are aware and so is the planning authority.
See the narratives below referring to Centre For Cities and also the impact on our viewing habits from TV etc. Public Service broadcasting may survive but new addition may not. 
So back to the big picture.

I start with the growing use and informed opinion available via Zoom, Skype and Youtube. 
Here are some relevant excerpts which may have implications for the Sleaford area, including Holdingham.  

Clearly viewing numbers and viewing patterns have been affected: infrastructure spending is needed nationally but money is extremely tight: and the weather which plays havoc with plans -when one season produces a massive excess of water and the next has panic stations when it doesn't rain for weeks on end. So that is one relevant area to invest in.

But how on earth do we (as a Country) try and spread the good years to alleviate the bad (storage of excess water for instance). Centre For Cities is advising (with more to come) on relevant issues. 

Support for Local Services

So TV is looking to many habits adopted in Lock down to be carried on after Lock down   

Lockdown: a view from Holdingham

Lots happening at the moment with what seems like pressure to free ourselves from the limiting (debilitating?) effects of the Covid-19 outbreak. 

Economic forecasts are dire with many working from home or being laid-off as firms close down (Nationally) or reduce output or (in some cases) changing their mode of operation.

 Debates run as to the need and conditions of the lock-down (Stay ay Home or Stay Alert) and what that implies. 

Has the Covid-19 been handled well or badly? Whatever the answer we are where we are. 

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But back to basics. 

Two forums that I am a member of are: Royal Television Society and the Centre For Cities (which also covers large Towns and is associated with Centre For Towns). 

Below are two Events covering the titles given. They last for an hour so choosing the issues that will have impact on Sleaford (and others in Lincolnshire) have to be identified.

Centre For Cities: The future  of Urban Transport    
Centre For Cities: Exit strategy: can the high street survive?  

Additionally the RTS provided a Zoom transmitted Conversation :  Industry Impact of Covid-19 (RTS = Royal Television Society). The video is not available yet for this. 

So the issue of how we escape with least damage to our functioning as a Country is being hotly debated. 

A new Mayor of Sleaford (and a Deputy Mayor from Holdingham).

I watched the AGM of the Sleaford Town Council on Wednesday (13 May)  evening (virtual meeting using Zoom software)  https://www.sleaford.gov.uk/full-council-recordings.html

A new Mayor was elected (Anthony Brand) who represents the Westholme Ward. 

The new Deputy Mayor is Robert Oates who represents the Holdingham Ward. Their details can be found on the Sleaford Town Council web-site.

 

The direct link to Councillor Brand and Councillor Oates as Mayor and Deputy is at this link.    

More to follow. Looks like Zoom will become a regular feature. https://assets.zoom.us/docs/user-guides/zoom-rooms-full-user-guide.pdf 

More to follow. Strange times we are living in!