https://snapsurveys.wmca.org.uk/snapwebhost/surveyresume.asp?aun=19-s9a2j&k=162558871712
TODAY ON BBC NEWS from Roger Harrabin:
The UK is already undergoing disruptive climate change with increased rainfall, sunshine and temperatures, according to scientists.
The year 2020 was the third warmest, fifth wettest and eight sunniest on record, scientists said in the latest UK State of the Climate report.
No other year is in the top 10 on all three criteria.
The experts said that, in the space of 30 years, the UK has become 0.9C warmer and 6% wetter.
The report's lead author Mike Kendon, climate information scientist at the UK Met Office, told BBC News: “A lot of people think climate change is in the future – but this proves the climate is already changing here in the UK.
“As it continues to warm we are going to see more and more extreme weather such as heatwaves and floods.”
Scientists warn of worse extreme weather if global temperatures rise and politicians fail to curb carbon emissions.
We must have compulsory rationing of petrol and diesel by issuing coupons to motorists, as was done during the energy crisis of 1973. See Andrew Marr: 'A History of Modern Britain', p 340. And, the national speed limit was cut from 70 to 50 mph to save fuel.
Regional Fare-Free Public Transport (FFPT) with bus lanes on every nearside lane with traffic light bus priority to speed them past car commuters.
Car parking has meant that front gardens have been paved over. This increases flooding risks and means yet more of nature is concreted, bricked and tarmaced over when we humans are part of nature. We need to respect her and live in harmony with nature, rather than thinking we can do without her.
Low Traffic Neighbourhoods with financial incentives as rewards and carrots for households without cars, paid for by those with cars.
We all have to urgently cut greenhouse gas emissions by travelling less, spending less and consuming less.
My own voluntary car pledge to reduce my 2019 mileage by 50% for 2021, which is now being met by my magnanimous self-restraint.
Make raised platforms for wheelchairs to have smooth, step free access to bus and train, as they have for tram travel.
Let the most mobile, like me, sacrifice something for the sake of the least mobile.
What you have written is very true - the runaway greenhouse effect when all tipping points have been reached and earth turns into venus.
My voluntary self-restraint will not be enough and governments around the world must govern for the sake of all and to try and reverse the downward spiral of ecocide. STOP HS2, METRO, SPRINT immediately. Turn buses into electric buses directly on roads without the railway tracks having to be laid for "bus on rails" trams.
What you have written here is excellent and very true. Addressing the climate emergency begins at home and ends at home to show other countries what can be done to combat ecocide.
It must involve reversing economic growth for, instead stable or steady-state economics. Go, once more, for a 3 day working week that was so successful in 1974. "Yet, it also gave millions an enjoyable frisson, the feeling of taking a holiday from everyday life." (et al, p 340)
Reverse the selfish doubling of production and consumption that comes from unsustainable 3% economic growth every year for 25 years. (Sir Jonathon Porritt)
What you have written here is excellent and very true. Addressing the climate emergency begins at home and ends at home to show other countries what can be done to combat ecocide.
It must involve reversing economic growth for, instead stable or steady-state economics. Go, once more, for a 3 day working week that was so successful in 1974. "Yet, it also gave millions an enjoyable frisson, the feeling of taking a holiday from everyday life." (et al, p 340)
Reverse the selfish doubling of production and consumption that comes from unsustainable 3% economic growth every year for 25 years. (Sir Jonathon Porritt)
YES! Much more needs to be done, as I have already described. Change NOW as I have done. If I can do it why not everyone by losing small prizes to win the much bigger prize of true sustainability, a healthy planet where life support systems are not deteriorating - and, eco-socialism!
POSITIVE CHANGE: Positively hopeless transport decisions when you destroyed two mainline Victorian railway stations in Brum for something much worse.
Positively and truly incompetent when you bulldozed parts of the free-flowing, congestion-free inner ring road to replace it with yet more traffic lights and one-way systems to cause gridlock in rush hours and that accelerated climate catastrophe. IDIOTIC FOLLY!
NEGATIVE CHANGE: In 50 years of living and working in both Brum and the Black Country, congestion all over and, air quality in some places, has got worse.
Large scale destruction of railway lines and stations and, then mothballing 56 Kms of double track for 6.7 Kms of trams and leaving 50 Kms for freight only and no passenger trains. TRULY DAFT!
Metro madness has resulted in railway infrastructure - stations and track - being taken for tram stops and tramlines. One principal mainline station in Wolverhampton is now a conference and events centre. Snow Hill platform 4 was taken for the "bus on rails" tram from 1999 to 2015. Since 2015, platform 4 remains wasted, unused. Snow Hill Station remains half its former size, I have been told.
'Grand Central Shopping Centre And Diesel Perfumed Underground Station Stuck In The Basement Of The Former John Lewis Store' railway station is a £750 m mega project with a suitably grand and very long name indeed, when a fraction of that money could have been used to build a healthier, more pleasant station of fresh air flowing through and natural light.
By less socialising in person, more by Zoom and less travelling by fossil fuel dependancy.
Much less social and economic activity as we lockdown for climate out of enlightened self-interest - for our own survival as a species.
The Clean Air Zone must continue, parking restricted, the carrot of FFPT and bus priority introduced and greenhouse gas spewing mega projects Metro and Sprint scrapped.
Unnecessary travel with all its congestion, cocktail of poisonous gases from exhaust gases and the knowledge that yet more deadly greenhouse gases are changing the chemical composition of the atmosphere.
We need to show some restraint over travelling, spending and consuming; quite apart being from being less greedy in wanting evermore prosperity when so many are so rich they don't know what to do with their money except to buy ever bigger cars and to have evermore holidays ever further away.
I think, we need to be less prosperous, less well connected to bring about a fairer, greener and healthier West Midlands. Evermore economic success/growth is fairy tale economics that is pure deception and is bringing about "the collapse of civilisations, the extinction of much of the natural world and time is running out" warnings from David Attenborough at COP24 in Poland in December 2018.
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