Expectations and Estuaries

A rather depressing analysis from The Guardian’s Mark Lynas today. See the full article here, but in summary he wonders how little we are going to achieve and how late. The article is pessimistically entitled ‘Climate chaos is inevitable. We can only avert oblivion’. I’d like to say I think this is melodrama, but alas his perfectly cogent argument smacks of realism and scholarly orderliness. He poses the devastating, but just question: ‘At best we will limit the extent of global warming, but Kyoto barely helps. Does humanity have the foresight to save itself?’

I have seen Mr Lynas talk on several occasions and have also read his books. They are disturbingly calm and well thought-out, as is he, but nonetheless arrive at the inevitable conclusion that we are doomed if we insist on remaining paralysed and refusing to act. Here’s a link to Mr Lynas’s own website.

Another story proving popular today is that of the barrage. The plans to use this as a means of generating green electricity may be laudable, but most of the large environmental groups oppose it, and it seems with good reason. The plan is set to “fundamentally change the nature of the estuary,” according to the RSPB’s Chief Executive, Graham Wynne and other groups such as WWF and National Trust seem to concur. Certainly, many of the tens ofthousands of birds who currently feed on the estuary now set to be flooded look to be at risk, as does other wildlife such as eels and elvers.Obviously, there is a need to up investment into renewable energy sources and for Britain to generate more green electricity: nobody is disputing this fact. What is contentious, however, is whether or not this project would represent an ecologically (or indeed economically) sound means of pursuing that agenda.

Environment Agency on Flood Risks

OK, so true to my word, here is my first post on environmental news.

The Environment Agency has suggested that the UK needs a national strategyto protect key buildings from the risk of flooding. They cite the necessity to ensure safe running of hospitals and power stations. The agency is urging us to act now, before our next (and there will be one) weather catastrophe strikes.

They also suggest that individuals sign up to warning schemes and mention the 34 flood defences they have helped construct to protect homes since last year's floods, but the thrust of their argument is on the safeguarding of infrastructure.

They are keen to establish responsibility for surface water flooding, which causes a large proportion of the problems we face in Britain and to hold them accountable for it. They would like to take on the role of strategic overview for all flood risk management and to see it taken as seriously as terrorist threats.

This, to me, makes sense. Climate change and the associated dangers pose not just threats, but the absolute certainty that we will face serious problems. Even if we can't care about the future of our planet or about the plight of people in other continents, then we need to accept that we are going to have to face the associated problems.

Recycling

Just a quick note...

I haven't written here for a long, long time. This was mostly as a change of work etc. meant I no longer had time/access/flexibility etc. to do it properly. I had also hoped, however, that as environmental consciousness grew and ecological concerns began to permeate all strata of the media, that small voices like us bloggers would become decreasingly necessary. Eighteen months on, I see that I was wrong.

So, I have decided to revive the blog. I can't imagine it will make a huge difference, but, as they say, every little helps. And as we face the critical point of no return, we can't risk making anything short of our maximum effort.

More to follow.