Climate Change Debate

So what needs to change? Lots and quickly is the answer, according to the latest UN report.

We have a sea change with huge demonstrations, petitions on every aspect from plastic, waste and clean air.
Are we really happy to get to the point where children have to limit playtime at schools because we have poisoned the air they breathe? What are we thinking of? In grandchildren ask and “what did you do?” Are we really going to say we decided to wait until other countries caught up. I do not think that will be good enough.

I am horrified by the ate of destruction now evident. Forty years ago, I led a team up on the glaciers in Norway, crawling under the ice to measure the rate of of movement, as ice flowed down and crashed into the sea. Now as a spokesperson on environmental matters for 130,000 councils of Europe in the CEMR, have agreed to move our target nearer to 2030, based on clear evidence, now available. Latest figures from the International Panel for Climate Change show that we are still heading for disaster. As leaders of place, we need to up our game, with action not words.

As the ice melts and sea level rises, large areas of Lincolnshire will flood the bread basket of Britain. As many of the most densely populated areas of the world are close to sea level, millions would be displaced. Where will they go? Here? We cannot afford to displace millions of people.

There would be more extreme events, flooding, erosion, damage to habitats, plants and animals. In other areas, water shortages and drought. Climate change is damaging to health, economy, infrastructure and the natural environment.

If you had a lovely present to give to a special child, would your trash it first and then give it to them, damaged and spoilt? I think not. The special present we give to our children is this planet.

It is not at odds with economic development, and using less does not cost us more. It is about doing things differently.

We need to not just save the world, but create a better one and we need to start now.  Start with support for local services, locally grown food and buy local.