At the Science Museum on Monday, environment secretary Michael Gove launched the latest set of climate change projections for the UK. Produced by the Met Office Hadley Centre, the UK Climate Projections 2018 – or “UKCP18” – is the “most comprehensive picture yet of how the climate could change” in the UK. It includes projections of how temperatures, rainfall, cloud cover and humidity could change in the coming decades, as well as forecasts for how far sea levels around the UK could rise. The findings show that “all areas of the UK are projected to be warmer” by the end of the 21st century – particularly in summer months. For example, summers as hot as in 2018 could be expected every other year by the middle of the century, the projections suggest.
Carbon Brief 29th Nov 2018 read more »
As international delegates converge on Katowice in the heart of Poland’s coal country for the most significant climate talks in three years, the host city gives those battling global warming cause for hope and despair in equal measures. The smog from local heavy industry that often hangs over Katowice is a reminder of the wider challenge of the transition from coal to renewable sources amid insurgent populist forces often sceptical about the need to curb greenhouse gas emissions. The city has made strides to diversify its economy away from fossil fuels as mines have closed down, while also cultivating the amount of urban green spaces. The conference centre that will host tens of thousands of delegates for the COP24 summ it that begins next week was built on the site of a former mine. A state-owned coal company is one of the official sponsor of the talks.
FT 1st Dec 2018 read more »
More than half of voters think the UK is not doing enough to reduce carbon emissions, while a significant minority regard climate change as one of “the biggest challenges facing society”. However, many MPs continue to privately regard as a niche issue that can prove “career limiting” if they seek to champion bolder climate policies. That is the stark conclusion to be drawn from two contrasting reports this week highlighting the disconnect between the public and political leaders on climate change. 27 per cent of Brits regard climate change as one of “the biggest challenges facing society”, while 25 per cent highlighted pollution as one of the gravest challenges. The two issues were surpassed only by poverty, which was identified as the biggest challenge by 35 per cent of respondents. Moreover, 54 per cent of UK respondents said the country was not doing enough to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Across the seven countries surveyed, two thirds said more action should be taken to tackle emissions. Echoing long-running UK government polling, the survey also revealed overwhelming support for green energy, with 77 per cent of UK respondents saying we should support cleaner energy, a third supporting increased taxes or levies on the most carbon heavy fossil fuels, and 23 per cent saying we should do both.
Business Green 30th Nov 2018 read more »