Recently in Chris's Forester column Category
I
know it might be a bad time in the middle of one of the coldest early winters I
remember to remind readers that this
country is signed up to reducing carbon emissions by 80% by 2050 to prevent
catastrophic global warming. In August 2009 a national campaign was launched by
film maker Franny Alexander to encourage
Figures
published recently by the Global Carbon Project indicate a world-wide drop in
emissions of 1.3%. This is the second highest carbon emission in history just
below 2008's all-time high. Analysts put the small fall down to the current
economic crisis and predict temperature rises of 4°C by 2100 if emissions
continue to rise at the present rate. A rise of this nature poses extremely
bleak prospects for much of our planet. (...read more.....)
This
month marked the completion of Gloucestershire County Council's latest local
transport plan consultation exercise. Transition Newent's response to the
Council's plan can be read and downloaded in full on our website (details
below).
We
stress the importance of the 'Smarter Choices' programme - walking, cycling,
public transport and car-sharing - as solutions to carbon reduction and the
greenest and most cost-effective travel in a world of expensive and limited oil
supplies. 'Smarter Choices' are also policies that the population deemed most
desirable in previous consultations. It is a great pity, then, that under the current
austere budget constraints these choices are the most likely to be cut. We do
hope not and will continue to advocate these solutions. (...read more...)
Bike Stall Success at Newent Onion Fair
When a group like Transition has ideas to get across, there's nothing quite like attending a boisterous public event to have those ideas challenged. So it was that a couple of Saturdays ago, Transition Newent set up its stall at the annual Newent Onion Fair. Our main theme this year was bikes: as a sustainable means of transport and a stark reminder of expensive and dwindling oil stocks in the near future.
(... read more ...)
Lloyd's
Insurance has recently issued a stark warning to businesses. It warns that
failure to prepare for a world of increasing oil scarcity and a lower carbon
economy can lead to 'catastrophic consequences'. The report accuses the oil
industry based group, International Energy Agency, of underestimating the
threats and predicts a global oil supply crunch with crude oil prices above
$200 a barrel by 2013. Lloyd's chief executive explains that failure of the
Like
many of you, I guess, disappointment quickly follows the purchase of supermarket
sourced summer fruit picked too early for flavour to have developed. Imported peaches
and apricots are often a big let down after promising much; before the inside
is properly ripe, rot rapidly sets in on the surface and texture and taste
leave much to be desired. But have you tried the Newent apricot yet? (...continue reading ...)
Reduce, Reuse, Repair and Recycle
Recycling
has become an important part of central and local governments' response to halting
climate change and reducing our carbon footprints. The new coalition government
has suggested that to raise the
A Cultural Transition Too
Naturally,
the Transition movement considers the long-term effects of climate change and
peak oil and sees a sustainable future in more localized, participative
communities. These views also inform how people will be entertained and how
they will shape their own cultural identities. (...read more ...)
Flight Ban Gave Us an Insight
'The Heat is On!' by Chris Wooldridge of
Global Warming Threat Can Scare
'The Heat is On!' by Chris Wooldridge of
Changing Climate No Conspiracy
I
wish I could report that climate change science is bunkum. The recent uproar
concerning the
