Impressive reduction in plastic bags

Once in a while the sheer scale of what's going on in the UK in relation to its use of resources and production of wastes hits home. It did with the numbers given in this article. The Independent reports that:

Shops gave out 3.5 billion fewer plastic bags last year under a voluntary scheme which has, for now, headed off the threat of a government ban on free carrier bags. Figures from Wrap, the Government's anti-waste body, show that the number of plastic bags dispensed fell from 13.4 billion in 2007 to 9.9 billion last year, a drop of 26 per cent.

Wall street journal - obnoxious on global warming

Interesting piece from Stuart Gaffin of Columbia University on Reuters environment blog. He's critiquing yet another attempt to argue for the status quo regarding taking action to reduce CO2 emissions in the US:

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) editorial page occupies a uniquely obnoxious place in commentary on global warming.....In response to President Obama’s revolutionary new efforts to cap CO2 emissions, WSJ editorial member Holman Jenkins Jr. tells us to “…Put away the global warming panic…” and writes an impressive number of fictions in two sentences...

in the same sentence that claims science knows nothing about CO2, somehow he [Jenkins Jr] (or science?) knows enough about it to conclude that “ …the impact is too small to untangle from natural variability …” Which one is it?

The rush to nuclear power

The Economist a while ago descibed a power struggle with France leading the way in a global revival of nuclear energy. ....and now it's Italy making a deal with France to step up Italian nuclear power. India too seems to have signed up with the 'French nuclear giant Areva' for six new nuclear reactors and we're told in this article that

The Areva-designed pressurized water reactors, which are meant to replace aging reactors around the world whose designs date from decades ago, are already under construction in Finland, France and China. Areva also has plans to build the new reactors in Britain and the United States

Although this has obviously been developing over quite a long time the press coverage does make it feel like there's almost a rush to get on the nuclear power bandwagon. There's a lot riding on this technology - hope it can stand the test of time. What's changed in the past few weeks? Is this because nuclear power has suddenly gained political acceptability and 'green' credentials in the context of climate change and those concerned have become convinced that it's the only way to go? Or are there other political and economic drivers? I can see that some nuclear power might have to be part of our future but what does this mean for investment in renewables?

Nuclear power debate

According to the Independent

Britain must embrace nuclear power if it is to meet its commitments on climate change, four of the country’s leading environmentalists – who spent much of their lives opposing atomic energy – warn today

Monbiot also has changed his tune, seeing nuclear power as less threatening than the effects of climate change. He claims he hasn't gone pro-nuclear but his position is that he will no longer oppose nuclear power if four conditions are met:

1. Its total emissions - from mine to dump - are taken into account

2. We know exactly how and where the waste is to be buried

3. We know how much this will cost and who will pay

4. There is a legal guarantee that no civil nuclear materials will be diverted for military purposes.

Not sure how we could ensure all those conditions are met and it's assumptions about what we can and can't control that bother me but at least Monbiot's taking a well-argued position and his article logs lots of changing circumstances and views. This move in favour of nuclear power isn't exactly news as the debate about renewable v nuclear power and fossil fuel v nuclear has been hotting up for quite a while now with many like James Lovelock arguing in favour of nuclear on grounds of reduced emissions, safety and practicality. The safety arguments in terms of what hasn't happened recently compared with other sources of power are I think increasingly impressive e.g. in this article comparing dangers in nuclear and wind energy. Though they do seem to me to make assumptions about stability in future and I'm not sure nuclear would look as favourable if necessary institutions and infrastructure were to start to break down. But increased carbon emissions seem to be seen as a bigger threat to life on earth as we know it.

Just recently pro-nuclear power arguments do seem to be gaining ground with long-opposing countries like Sweden lifting its ban on nuclear power. There are allegedly still lots of myths around concerning conventional v renewable energy. It'll be interesting to see how this shapes up as we head towards COP15, the United Nations next major climate change conference to be held in Copenhagen in December.

Snowdrop time again

We observed our ritual of seeking out snowdrops again, this time in Moggerhanger woods. Almost as much as the flowers, I like the stories of them, which I've written about in previous years. They're allegedly two weeks later this year than they have been in recent years.

From airport protests to migration

Interesting article from Leo Hickman in yesterday's Guardian about two opposing protests due today, one against airport expansion and one in favour. Reading the tongue-in-cheek tone of those in favour reminds me that environmental arguments are so often couched in very serious terms which I think leaves them open to quite successful opposition. Don't get me wrong. I'm not trivialising the issues of the effects of increased airport expansion and I'm not in favour of expansion. But like many I do fly sometimes and have an ongoing struggle with issues of individual and collective responsibility and action and the lack of congruence between what I espouse and what I sometimes actually do. Quite a contrast between these protests and last night's superb Nature's Great Events BBC programme on the salmon run which took wildlife filming to yet another new high. Hard to see these situations as connected but I suppose it wouldn't take that much for climate change to disrupt the salmon migration which could see the total collapse of all we were looking at.

Environmental Responsibility Reader now out!!

This reader, edited by Martin Reynolds, me and Mark J Smith, has now been printed. Zed books is the publisher. Here's the link. Great to see it after a lot of hard work. Here's what reviewers said about it:

'This collection brings together in one place key texts of leading thinkers in environmental ethics. No one who takes environmental responsibility seriously will want to be without this book.'

- Ruth Chadwick, Director, ESRC Centre for Economic and Social Aspects of Genomics (Cesagen) Cardiff University

'In these tumultuous times, I shall keep this rich mix of classic texts close at hand. They combine inspiration, ethics and pragmatic reflection on why we have reached the crisis we face today and tomorrow. This kind of deep thinking will be key to whether we can shift to become global citizens with an eye to the future.'

- Dr Camilla Toulmin, Director, International Institute for Environment and Development

'A welcome and timely reminder that we need to take up our environmental responsibilities now following the inspiring guidance provided by this excellent collection.'

- Wendy Harcourt, Editor of 'Development' and the forthcoming Zed Book Series on 'Gender and Environment'

'The environmental challenges of the 21st Century are the most complex, difficultand dangerous that humanity has ever faced. Perplexity is a common human response to complexity. Inaction is what follows from perplexity. The readings brought together into this volume provide hugely valuable insights into how best we could navigate this landscape of environmental risks and opportunities more successfully.’

- Tom Burke, founding director of E3G

Limits to tourism

Interesting piece on Reuters environmental blog suggesting limiting visitor numbers to Galapagos and Antarctica to protect wildlife. Besides the link with Darwin that's much in the news on the 200th anniversary of his birth, I connect to this because (i) we have a brand new OU course on Environmental Responsibility starting in May and eco-tourism is the topic of the final project so our students will be looking for such accounts that connect ethics, policy and action and (ii) because I've just been probably as close as I'm going to get to Antarctica in visiting Patagonia so am aware of the huge importance of tourism in local economies and the challenge of managing this activity in ways that are sustainable both ecologically and socially.

Attenborough on Darwin

I've been listening to quite a few broadcasts and comments recently from Sir David Attenborough on Charles Darwin. Attenborough is still, at 82, one of the most convincing presenters I've ever heard. There's a written account that captures quite a lot of it here. Lots of controversy about what Darwin did and didn't know and the reporting of it, as discussed by David Chapman but Attenborough himself I find truly inspirational.

Australian bushfires

Terrible bush fires in Australia ....so shocking and sad to hear about them, particularly all the lives lost and disrupted. Hard to imagine such a situation as we sit surrounded by snow and ice. Talk of new policy, and a climate-change wake-up call are prominent in our press here and elsewhere.

Prize for climate change bullshit

Beware....Monbiot has announced the Christopher Booker prize for

"... whoever in my opinion and assisted by climate scientists and specialists manages, in the course of 2009, to cram as many misrepresentations, distortions and falsehoods into a single article, statement, lecture, film or interview about climate change."

This quote and further details in his blog and the Guardian.

Snow

Well the snow and ice we've got right now might be causing mayhem but it certainly lifts our local landscape.