Climate Crisis: Are we doing enough?

[matticus]

I find their goal of stopping UK drilling licences to be really underwhelming. So many people have achieved so much more than them. I would include anyone who has worked on any decarbonisation project in the UK in this category.

Sure, decarbonisation is essential (obvs!) and that work is to be admired. (although it's usually paid work for people unlikely to pursue careers elsewhere, but anyway ... )
But don't you think we also need what the campaigners do? Raise public awareness? Make governement think that this stuff needs doing? Just how well were things going before JSO ... well, let's look at the report you quoted:

Below is from Climate Change Committee's recent report. It's not all bad.

Executive summary

Climate change is here, now. Until the world reaches Net Zero CO2 emissions, with deep reductions in other greenhouse gases, global temperatures will continue to rise. That will inevitably lead to increasingly extreme weather, including in the UK.[1]

The current record pace of human-induced climate change will mean that the UK’s weather and climate will continue to change over the decades ahead. The UK will experience warmer and wetter winters – raising flood risk for properties, agriculture, and infrastructure. Continued shifts towards drier and hotter summers will increase the intensity of summer heatwaves and droughts, with rising risks of surface water flooding when rainfall does occur. Sea levels around the UK will continue to rise for centuries to come.

I don't see the point in denigrating the climate campaigners (irrespective of whoever has or has not done so ...) in light of the overall situation; cultural and political.

Kind Regards,
Your Pal in a lower carbon future, etc ...

 

[PurplePenguin]

The government created the Climate Change Committee in 2008. Just Stop Oil was created in 2022. Campaigners can be useful, but they tend to be more useful when they have some knowledge about their subject. JSO have largely just made climate campaigners look bad which is really not what is required at the moment. As I said before, I would be delighted if they became rogue tree planters. They could even paint them orange.

 

[matticus]

As I said before, I would be delighted if they became rogue tree planters. They could even paint them orange.

How would it change your actions - going forward - with respect to the Climate Crisis? And how many people less enlightened than you would be carried along with the same sentiment?

(After all, plenty of people are planting trees.)

 

[PurplePenguin]

How would it change your actions - going forward - with respect to the Climate Crisis? And how many people less enlightened than you would be carried along with the same sentiment?

(After all, plenty of people are planting trees.)

It draws attention to the lack of tree planting and counters your view, which is the prevailing view, that plenty of people are doing it. You're glossing over the bit where I've recommended that they become a bit more informed on the subject as well.

 

[bobzmyunkle]

You're glossing over the bit where I've recommended that they become a bit more informed on the subject as well.

Every so slightly arrogant there, @PurplePenguin

 

[PurplePenguin]

Every so slightly arrogant there, @PurplePenguin

There's plenty of people who know a lot on the subject. I just don't include JSO in that group.

 

[bobzmyunkle]

. I just don't include JSO in that group.

Anything in particular they need to brush up on?

 

[PurplePenguin]

Anything in particular they need to brush up on?

Their primary goal appears to be to stop drilling and mining in the UK. I don't think that has any impact on usage and climate change. It is not something the Climate Change Committee seems to be bothered about. In contrast, there are areas where the UK needs to up its game that do have an impact on climate change. I think focusing on these areas would be more productive.

 

[bobzmyunkle]

Their primary goal appears to be to stop drilling and mining in the UK. I don't think that has any impact on usage and climate change. It is not something the Climate Change Committee seems to be bothered about. In contrast, there are areas where the UK needs to up its game that do have an impact on climate change. I think focusing on these areas would be more productive.

So nothing to do with being better informed, more that you disagree with their focus.

'New oil and gas licensing will kill hundreds of millions of people. This has been clear since 2021 when the International Energy Agency (“IEA”) declared that there could be no new oil, gas or coal if the world were serious about its climate targets'

Have you got any argument against that?

 

[matticus]

It draws attention to the lack of tree planting and counters your view, which is the prevailing view, that plenty of people are doing it. You're glossing over the bit where I've recommended that they become a bit more informed on the subject as well.

I didn't gloss over it - I ignored it. Soz!

But back to trees (your great Big Idea for saving the planet): sure we still need more trees. But is it a major crisis that needs addressing? Is the following (google response) incorrect?

The UK is actively engaged in tree planting initiatives to expand woodland cover, combat climate change, and enhance biodiversity. Recent figures show a significant increase in woodland creation, with rates hitting a 20-year high. The government has invested heavily in tree planting programs, aiming to plant millions of trees across the four nations.

 

[First Aspect]

Incomplete would be more useful. I'm not convinced that the tree planting is necessarily associated with biodiversity. Some of it is, but not where those trees are a crop. Those are biological deserts.

 

[PurplePenguin]

I didn't gloss over it - I ignored it. Soz!

But back to trees (your great Big Idea for saving the planet): sure we still need more trees. But is it a major crisis that needs addressing? Is the following (google response) incorrect?

The UK is actively engaged in tree planting initiatives to expand woodland cover, combat climate change, and enhance biodiversity. Recent figures show a significant increase in woodland creation, with rates hitting a 20-year high. The government has invested heavily in tree planting programs, aiming to plant millions of trees across the four nations.

In fairness, tree planting has had a good year. One good year. That needs to carry on and increase untol 2050, but funding has been cut.

https://www.theccc.org.uk/wp-conten...-colored-lines-ai-generated-c-3-1536x1015.png

I do have other ideas.

 

[PurplePenguin]

So nothing to do with being better informed, more that you disagree with their focus.

'New oil and gas licensing will kill hundreds of millions of people. This has been clear since 2021 when the International Energy Agency (“IEA”) declared that there could be no new oil, gas or coal if the world were serious about its climate targets'

Have you got any argument against that?

An oil drill that releases less greenhouse gas is better, so that should be factored in, but generally decarbonising is about reducing demand unless we're getting to the point where prices collapse.

 

[the snail]

View attachment 8910

In fairness, tree planting has had a good year. One good year. That needs to carry on and increase untol 2050, but funding has been cut.

https://www.theccc.org.uk/wp-conten...-colored-lines-ai-generated-c-3-1536x1015.png

I do have other ideas.

So how many trees do we need to plant to offset our fossil fuel usage and historical emissions?

 

[PurplePenguin]

So how many trees do we need to plant to offset our fossil fuel usage and historical emissions?

There is no single solution. It's just one element. The amount CCC would like is on their website and I have run out of energy today to go look for it.