A great short film (animation) on climate change. Well worth the 10 minutes it takes to watch.
Simply put, with a great message.
http://wakeupfreakout.org/film/tipping.html
Wake Up, Freak Out - then Get a Grip from Leo Murray on Vimeo.
Showing posts with label Climate Change. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Climate Change. Show all posts
Layers of Denial
An interesting article, copied below from Reuters, on energy in the UK and consumers' attitudes towards cost and consumption.
It seems that even when convinced of the existance of climate change and agreeing that we each need to play a part in addressing the problem, we find it hard to face up to the realities of taking action.
It's just another form of denial. But no amount of ignoring this (global warming) problem will make it go away. The sooner we accept that, the better.
It will take very brave governments and leaders to implement unpopular measures in the face of an objecting public, but such leadership is needed since we seem incapable of motivating ourselves.
Time will tell whether the UK government matches its rhetoric with action - let's hope so.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
British Renewables Push Will Boost Energy Bills
UK: July 1, 2008
LONDON - Meeting Britain's renewable energy targets will add significantly to domestic energy bills on top of already steeply rising fuel prices, a report said on Monday.
The report from tax advisory company Ernst & Young comes days after the government called for a 100 billion pound green revolution to get 15 percent of its energy -- equivalent to 40 percent of its electricity -- from renewables by 2020.
Britain currently gets barely four percent of its electricity from renewables, primarily wind power.
The report said the drive to carbon cutting renewables would add 20 percent in real terms to domestic energy bills by 2020, equivalent to 5.3 billion pounds or just over 200 pounds per household, on top of increases due to booming fuel costs.
But a YouGov survey conducted to coincide with the report also noted that most Britons baulked at the prospect of having to pay to combat climate change.
The survey found that 67 percent of people said they would not be prepared to pay anything extra on their home energy bills to fight global warming.
"Customers face a triple whammy -- rising fuel and oil prices, the costs of climate change mitigation, and on top of both, the additional investment required to become more energy efficient," said Ernst & Young's Simon Harvey.
"However, the average consumer does not appear to realise that this additional cost is going to hit their wallets."
Confusingly the survey also found that while two-thirds of people said they were responsible for cutting their own carbon emissions a majority said a rise of 200 pounds in their fuel bills would not make them cut consumption.
"The challenge for government and the utilities companies is convincing the average UK consumer of the benefits of reducing energy consumption," said Harvey. "Convincing them to undertake the series of measures that will be required to tackle climate change will require multiple changes in behaviour."
Reporting by Jeremy Lovell; editing by Matt Falloon
REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
It seems that even when convinced of the existance of climate change and agreeing that we each need to play a part in addressing the problem, we find it hard to face up to the realities of taking action.
It's just another form of denial. But no amount of ignoring this (global warming) problem will make it go away. The sooner we accept that, the better.
It will take very brave governments and leaders to implement unpopular measures in the face of an objecting public, but such leadership is needed since we seem incapable of motivating ourselves.
Time will tell whether the UK government matches its rhetoric with action - let's hope so.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
British Renewables Push Will Boost Energy Bills
UK: July 1, 2008
LONDON - Meeting Britain's renewable energy targets will add significantly to domestic energy bills on top of already steeply rising fuel prices, a report said on Monday.
The report from tax advisory company Ernst & Young comes days after the government called for a 100 billion pound green revolution to get 15 percent of its energy -- equivalent to 40 percent of its electricity -- from renewables by 2020.
Britain currently gets barely four percent of its electricity from renewables, primarily wind power.
The report said the drive to carbon cutting renewables would add 20 percent in real terms to domestic energy bills by 2020, equivalent to 5.3 billion pounds or just over 200 pounds per household, on top of increases due to booming fuel costs.
But a YouGov survey conducted to coincide with the report also noted that most Britons baulked at the prospect of having to pay to combat climate change.
The survey found that 67 percent of people said they would not be prepared to pay anything extra on their home energy bills to fight global warming.
"Customers face a triple whammy -- rising fuel and oil prices, the costs of climate change mitigation, and on top of both, the additional investment required to become more energy efficient," said Ernst & Young's Simon Harvey.
"However, the average consumer does not appear to realise that this additional cost is going to hit their wallets."
Confusingly the survey also found that while two-thirds of people said they were responsible for cutting their own carbon emissions a majority said a rise of 200 pounds in their fuel bills would not make them cut consumption.
"The challenge for government and the utilities companies is convincing the average UK consumer of the benefits of reducing energy consumption," said Harvey. "Convincing them to undertake the series of measures that will be required to tackle climate change will require multiple changes in behaviour."
Reporting by Jeremy Lovell; editing by Matt Falloon
REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
Climate Change - Outlook
Throughout 2007, an increasing number of reports from scientists and commentary from observers and the media took on a rather alarmed/pessimistic note regarding the trajectory of our greenhouse gas emissions and the observed effects of climate change.
Basically that:
As George Monbiot so succinctly puts it; "When you warn people about the dangers of climate change, they call you a saint. When you explain what needs to be done to stop it, they call you a communist."
Scientists often see their professional role is to inform on the facts and let people decide for themselves what action is required. They are naturally reticent about making predictions which are less than certain and climate change prediction is fraught with uncertainty. Privately (sometimes publicly) they may talk of what they see as the likely outcomes and what needs to be done. Publicly, it is left to the IPCC to report to the world on the scientific consensus on climate change.
As a result of the scientific (and political, in the case of the Summary for Policymakers) consensus building and the time constraints around the reporting process, the IPCC reports have often been described as conservative and representing outdated science. For example, scientific research considered for the 2007 IPCC Fourth Assessment Report may have been conducted as far back as 2000.
So these latest developments in observation and research (two examples, the unprecedented levels of melting polar ice in summer 2007 and; the discovery that the worlds oceans may already be absorbing less carbon dioxide) are causing concern because:
To understand the broad issues and stay up to date on developments, aside from reading daily news releases, I consider it a worthwhile exercise to read reports which consolidate current science, thinking and opinion.
Two such recent reports, which I would recommend, are:
Basically that:
- our emissions are tracking ABOVE the worst case scenarios of business as usual (BAU);
- we are seeing greater environmental impacts much sooner than expected;
- it's looking like the 2 degrees Celsius (previously a target to avoid the worst impacts of climate change) is not only too high, but we look like we are set to overshoot it anyway
- the window of opportunity to correct our course is closing rapidly;
- we have to start some serious WORK on this issue right now to have a reasonable chance of turning things around.
As George Monbiot so succinctly puts it; "When you warn people about the dangers of climate change, they call you a saint. When you explain what needs to be done to stop it, they call you a communist."
Scientists often see their professional role is to inform on the facts and let people decide for themselves what action is required. They are naturally reticent about making predictions which are less than certain and climate change prediction is fraught with uncertainty. Privately (sometimes publicly) they may talk of what they see as the likely outcomes and what needs to be done. Publicly, it is left to the IPCC to report to the world on the scientific consensus on climate change.
As a result of the scientific (and political, in the case of the Summary for Policymakers) consensus building and the time constraints around the reporting process, the IPCC reports have often been described as conservative and representing outdated science. For example, scientific research considered for the 2007 IPCC Fourth Assessment Report may have been conducted as far back as 2000.
So these latest developments in observation and research (two examples, the unprecedented levels of melting polar ice in summer 2007 and; the discovery that the worlds oceans may already be absorbing less carbon dioxide) are causing concern because:
- they are impacts beyond the worst predicted by the definitive and respected IPCC report released only last year;
- there will not be another report for another three years;
- in the meantime, governments and other bodies will use the 2007 report as a guide towards their policies and actions;
- the next few years are crucial to the outcomes of climate change.
To understand the broad issues and stay up to date on developments, aside from reading daily news releases, I consider it a worthwhile exercise to read reports which consolidate current science, thinking and opinion.
Two such recent reports, which I would recommend, are:
- The (Interim) Garnaut Climate Change Review
- The Climate Code Red: the case for a sustainability emergency
They may not be the best bedtime reading, but they are a great way to gain an education on the topic and understanding of what's in store and what we can do about it.
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