Country diary: A spectacular summer for ragwort – and that’s no bad thing | Sara Hudston
Bridport, Dorset: The concerning thing is that, where I would normally expect to see many flies and beetles, there is almost nothing
the Guardian
Save The Planet
This planet is dying and we are all acting too slowly. Thoughts, debates & suggestions on how we can act FAST and attempt to save the planet. No business posts or posts unrelated to saving the planet will be accepted and posters will be removed from the loop.
Open Loop 644
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The Climate Change Committee’s assessment is that only a third of the emissions reductions required to achieve the country’s 2030 target are currently covered by credible plans. Our 2030 target is the first one set in line with a Net Zero trajectory.
You have probably already heard this. However, I have come across the annual report from the Climate Change Committee which has more detail.
theccc.org.uk/2024/07/18/uk-off-track...
The Committee’s ten recommendations are:
Make electricity cheaper. Removing policy costs from electricity prices will support industrial electrification and ensure the lower running costs of heat pumps compared to fossil-fuel boilers are reflected in household bills.
Reverse recent policy rollbacks. Remove the exemption of 20% of households from the 2035 fossil-fuel boiler installation phase-out, address the gap left by removing obligations on landlords to improve the energy efficiency of rented homes and reinstate the 2030 phase-out of new fossil-fuel car and van sales. The damage of these rollbacks can be limited by quickly reinstating these policies.
Remove planning barriers for heat pumps, electric vehicle charge points and onshore wind.
Introduce a comprehensive programme for decarbonisation of public sector buildings.
Effectively design and implement the upcoming renewable energy CfD auctions. Ensure funding and auction design for the Sixth and Seventh Allocation Rounds are appropriate to deliver at least 50 GW of offshore wind by 2030.
Accelerate electrification of industrial heat. Strengthen the UK Emissions Trading Scheme to ensure that its price is sufficient to incentivise decarbonisation and that support is available for a rapid transition to electric heat across much of industry.
Ramp up tree planting and peatland restoration. Tree planting must be scaled up in the 2020s for abatement to be sufficient for later carbon budgets and Net Zero. There must be no more delays to addressing the barriers to delivery.
Finalise business models for large-scale deployment of engineered removals.
Finalise and open to the market the business models for engineered removals.
Publish a strategy to support skills. Support workers in sectors which need to grow or transition and in communities that may be adversely impacted.
Strengthen NAP3 with a vision that sets clear objectives and targets and reorganise government adaptation policy. Adaptation must become a fundamental aspect of policymaking across all departments and be integrated into other national policy objectives.
Progress report to Parliament
theccc.org.uk/publication/progress-in... -
Alastair Driver (Director of Rewilding Britain): "Very important that as many people as possible sign this petition to ban indiscriminate pesticides. The dearth of insects is a major issue not only for the natural environment but for farming and horticulture. We cannot keep making excuses every time."
action.greenpeace.org.uk/ban-bee-kill... -
Landowner who cut down protected woodland fined (Edited)
Ridiculously lenient fine.
bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmjj5gl6m0po -
Could this be the answer to range anxiety for EV owners?
Currently in the US but could come to the UK
gbnews.com/lifestyle/cars/revolutiona... -
Although this article is old it has popped up again after a Lego octopus was found by a family
theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/... -
Not made to knit- landmark court ruling
European court rules human rights violated by climate inaction bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-68... -
Government cannot prove biomass sustainably sourced
"The Government has so far supported the industry with £22 billion ..."
standard.co.uk/business/business-news... -
Celtic rainforest in Devon to be expanded
theguardian.com/environment/2024/jan/...
The article doesn't mention it, but another reason for the decline is overgrazing, particularly by sheep. -
BBC Click - Sustainability Stories
This week's edition covers a flying electric ferry, food waste in India, and old wind turbine blades going to landfill.
bit.ly/3uAEUQY -
Class Carbon divide. (Edited)
theguardian.com/environment/2023/nov/...
Lonicera posted in `Anything` but maybe the comments here will be different? Share widely. It puts a few figures on that uneasy feeling that the rich/poor divide is not right.
