Dial 911 - we have a Climate Emergency...
Are we in an emergency?
It would seem so as the UK, Scottish and Welsh Governments have all made Climate Emergency Declarations recently.
Alongside these, dozens and dozens of local councils of all shapes and flavours across the UK have done likewise - and more are jumping on board every week.
Some of the Declarations have their own nuances and variations but the majority are looking to become carbon neutral by 2030.
It is difficult to get exact and up to date figures but these two lists get pretty close :
It is definitely better for councils to make such declarations than not but the proof of the pudding really is going to be what comes next.
I wrote in my post yesterday about the 'progress' in my local council. Don't hold your breath...
The powers that councils have to actually make significant changes do of course vary significantly between the different levels of local government.
At the top of the tree in England are the six metropolitan counties, such as Greater Manchester and West Midlands, who have major powers affecting large populations (1.2 million plus). London is counted separately.
Outside of the metropolitan counties are the 28 County Councils (eg Hertfordshire, Kent, Lancashire) and the 55 Unitary Authorities (eg Brighton and Hove, Bristol, Central Bedfordshire).
The Metropolitan Counties are divided, at the next tier of local government, into 36 Metropolitan Boroughs.
Likewise the County Councils and Unitary Authorities are divided into 256 Non-Metropolitan Districts.
Wales has a different system of 22 'Principle Areas'. Scotland is separate altogether.
According to the Climate Emergency website 67 first and second tier councils, out of a total of around 400, have so far made Climate Emergency Declarations.
Of these 67, 47 have set a target to be carbon neutral by 2030, 13 have not yet set a target date and 7 are aiming for zero carbon by 2050.
For those that are going for the 2030 target (including my own local town council) this is going to be a significant challenge.
I haven't yet seen any detailed action plans but I am going to be keen to read them when they start to appear.
For those councils at the level of having control over public transport, schools and significant public housing stock the options are greater.
Those councils with lesser powers will have to be creative and use more carrot than stick.
The other big issue is the timeline - 2030 is not that far away.
Councils with all their protocols and procedures are not fast moving bodies.
Most councils will only have full meetings 11 or 12 times a year. That gives them a little more than a hundred meetings to consult, to report back, to plan, to modify, to resolve, to budget, to act, to modify, to monitor, to audit, to evaluate...
I am going to be very keen to follow progress.
Local councils are only part of the global equation of climate change actions. There are national governments and global bodies that have to kick in with the really heavy lifting.
And there is business who will need to be cajoled and convinced to play their part.
Finally there is you, and me, and our next door neighbours. And all the ordinary citizens at every level of humanity.
From those at the top of the wealth scale who most likely do most of the damage, knowingly or otherwise, to those at the bottom who will suffer the effects whether they like it or not.
The world faces a challenge.
Some will dispute the use of the word 'emergency'.
For me personally, if it attracts massive attention and generates urgent action, I am quite happy to stick a flashing blue light on it.
[ image from pixabay.com ]
Good on you, UK! There seems to be a lot of positive news coming from the Isles these days regarding climate policies. If you can believe the words, that is, and if they are backed up by manifest action. And that is still in the relative light, compared to others, such as Australia, Canada or let alone the US(!!!) where negative news outweigh any move in the right direction, if there are even any.
Here in Mexico, of course, it doesn't matter what policies our rule-smiths come up with, people still continue doing whatever they want. Like burning forests in protected areas, hoping that as a consequence they might be opened up to convert the land into avocado plantations. :-( So GO UK! Show the rest of the world of how to become carbon neutral!
There are some promising words being said now.
I am hoping these convert into some real impactful actions soon.
When a region goes carbon neutral does it consider the sources of things which are imported and consumed? For example buying anything new made of steel means you are responsible for a % of what spewed out of the refinery, mill and mine.
I suspect not.
I think most councils are struggling to deal with even the basics for their commitments.
One volcano or comet and we don't have to worry about global warming.
I'd be way more worried about the multiple volcano eruptions happening this year. Might end up having a cold year and watch Snowpocolypse Portland again...
And climate change is exactly that... Count yourself lucky to live now and not during the ice age... That would suck!
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Your opinion is ignorant and frankly plain stupid. It's a shame we have to share the same planet. Why can't we worry about both? This isn't a zero-sum game.
Thank you you are totally correct!
And I'd look up volcanoes and their ability to drop temperatures globally.
But then it's always easier to complain and insult than it is to educate Your self.
Best of luck!
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Volcanos are worse for the atmosphere, so you argue there is no need to worry about the CO2 impact of industry and other human activity? I fully understand that if a comet or massive volcano eruption happens, this will essentially make all efforts to reduce climate change somewhat pointless. However, the stupidity in your argument still remains.
We cannot predict or prevent apocalyptic natural disasters, we only know they are bad and possible just like an alien invasion. However, we can predict the effects of man-made climate change and we can prevent this. Also stopping manmade climate change will not make an alien invasion or whatever you fear more likely to happen. So to do nothing to a problem created by all humans and understood (by educated ones at least) is stupid. However, to argue we should do nothing is profoundly stupid. You are basically saying we should not be reasonable and you have a right to your stupid opinion, however, the prize is a bleak future for humanity. Congrats I guess.
Well... We have no idea the real impact of oil.
But no worry about the tundra thawing? Methane explosion...
But really if it was super hot and rising sea level... Why is my favorite spot at sea level still there. Wasn't it supposed to rise already?
And humans yeah sure did impact the environment. How about the passenger pigeon, buffalo, and the rest of the eco system you currently see.
Sorry but if you think that bears wolves and people are going to survive now with herds of buffalo in the millions? Nope.
So which change are you asking for? The one where your opinion is the elitist clique one?
Everyone loves the environment that has a heart.
But let's try polluters... How about holding the EPA accountable rather than arguing a carbon tax and funding big banks and corporations?
You know you can become a farmer? Grow hemp and lock up massive amounts of pollution?
Save the environment and grow hemp. Use sustainable things.
And even. My solar power used mining and carbon to make it...
And since your so mad... You using blockchain technology and Crypto is actually really super evil.. You can offset your carbon footprint and I'll grow some. Weed for you... Just costs you steem... Say 15%? To start? I might mismanage It and need more...
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Oh and sure there is really alot we can do.. Well Chernobyl and Fukushima aside... Yeah sorry.
Geo engineering is way more. Of an issue... Wouldn't you think?
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It's not perfect and there is more we can do obviously, but I think it is a good start. We should definitely use some of the taxes collected to fund ideas like you mentioned.
However I am pro nuclear. As bad as nuclear waste is, it is much more localized and kills a lot less people than fossil fuels.
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It all starts at home. Be as clean as you can. I think it comes down to the fact that people dont want to stop pissing the bed because the bathroom is too far away. I mean who cares if it leads to. The ultimate destruction of life or not. You shouldnt burn a tire just because you need to manufacture something. Its gross and its dumb. I can only hope the old people who run the world die off sooner than later. They really are a product of another time.
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...meanwhile we spew carcinogens into the atmosphere, poisons into our fresh water, continent sized patches of plastic into our oceans, and our food supply is becoming a laboratory experiment. That's all secondary.
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