Why we must cut fossil fuel use - FAST

Progress has been slow in removing fossil fuels from our energy mix. But scientists have repeated the same message since the Paris Agreement was signed: human beings are destroying the planet and the impacts are clear. The most recent warning came this month when the UN’s group of top climate scientists said it was “code red for humanity” and that our damaging impact on the environment was unmistakable.

One of the things which has changed in recent years is the speed and regularity of extreme weather. This has astonished many scientists as it has ordinary people who have suffered the consequences of record-high flooding in Germany, extreme drought in Madagascar, or unbearable heat in Canada. The climate crisis isn’t something we need to fix for future generations; it is already affecting children, parents, and grandparents, and will continue to do so.

from  https://www.goodenergy.co.uk/blog/2021/08/25/what-is-cop26-and-why-should-you-care/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=fitb2c-GT-September21

Another bleak warning from the UN

RADIO 4 'TODAY' NEWS REPORT

"A UN report says major economies are planning to produce more than double the amount of fossil fuels than would be consistent with meeting a key climate goal.

"Experts from the UN say the amount of fossil fuels that major economies including the UK are planning to extract this decade are incompatible with keeping global warming to safe levels.  It was agreed at the Paris Climate summit in 2015 that the average temperature worldwide should not be allowed to increase by more than 1.5 C.  With more on the UNEP report, here is Matt Magrath:

"This report says there is a huge and growing gap between the fossil fuel production plans of major countries and the limits that science says are necessary to keep the global rise in temperatures to safe levels.  According to the study, coal, oil and gas producers including the US, the UK, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Australia expect to extract around 110% more fossil fuels by 2030 than would be compatible with the 1.5 Celsius temperature rise.  Coal production is likely to drop but gas will increase the most in the coming years.  The authors say these plans are simply incompatible with the Paris Climate Agreement.

"This report illustrates how far countries have to move to keep the key goal of 1.5 alive is to be realised."

A NASA climate scientist says it was indicative of a wider failure to go into what he called, 'climate emergency mode'.  "There is a comforting sense that if there are a bit more renewables, a bit more electric cars and all will be well.  We cannot keep saying it is an emergency or saying that it is an existential crisis and then continue to expand the very things causing the emergency in the first place that is just burning fossil fuels."

Two fun thoughts! Which is the better joke?

JOKE 1

Over the decades, only a handful if that, of people have said or written to me that they agree with me over finishing the ready-built, 120 Kms (74 mls) Black Country Railway - finishing it with TRAINS!

JOKE 2

For forty years, this year, our elected representatives have been busily keeping trains off urban railway lines and, instead, putting everything but the kitchen sink on them.  In fact, the great joke is that with our railways with trams going on them, it is just like the experts wanting to put London Underground trains on the HS1, London to Paris Eurostar!