from Bob Whitehead - stop burning fossil fuels, now

Good morning Tim,

We can argue with each other about the level of emissions, but we cannot argue with the laws of nature of of physics. Even if all CO2 (and other GHG emissions) were stopped now, the amount already in the atmosphere will be causing warming for years, if not decades to come. Yet, the goal of keeping below the 1.5 degree limit would be attainable, and that is the important point. That is the reason for having zero carbon policies and opposing the still increasing level of emissions.

Let us be specific, the use of fossil fuels for burning should be rapidly ended. A certain amount of oil could be used for lubrication, non-single-use-plastic  or pharmaceuticals, for example, but as an energy source its time is over. That would also end leaks of gas (methane) leaks from refinery and delivery systems and would be allied to the shift from cattle rearing and landfill in further reducing methane emissions.

This would entail turning the economy upside down, producing a lot less and only producing things which are strictly necessary, useful and and sustainable. In particular, the largest polluters on the planet, the rich, should be targeted. Hence the need for a just transition - ecosocialism.

Bob

Incineration, landfill and zero waste

Thanks for the attachment that I have read.  The answer is more PV on our roofs to generate electricity for the place beneath.  And, storage batteries using resources going into e-bikes/scooters for people like me who could use our own energy to power the thing.  Is Gareth campaigning for PV instead?  And, for insulating every building to the maximum?

I don't like incineration or landfill one little bit.  But we all rely on someone dealing with our waste even if we do spend the minimum (reduce) and are zealous over composting, re-use, repair and recycling, as Linda and I are.  We have zero waste when it comes to food.

The more important waste problem is building and maintaining the Stourbridge principal mainline railway through the Black Country and Staffordshire up to Derby and then not fully using it for the purpose it was built for!!  Don't you think?!

Or, the waste of replacing buses on roads direct, with "buses on rails" on roads at the most colossal expense in the waste of resources and greenhouse gases emitted.  And, yet again, poor old Stourbridge gets left out!

The real problem is our lot.  We humans are the big problem, it seems to me.  I want zero waste but it is extremely difficult to achieve!

National FoE's Climate Action Plan

 What can the mayor do for the planet?

We’re facing a climate emergency, the biggest threat we’ve ever seen to humanity’s existence. With extreme weather raging around the world, including flooding and extreme heat in the UK, acting on solutions in all our communities is essential.

How we build and manage our towns and cities is a crucial part of this, not only in actively reducing the climate impact of our transport and energy, but in showing national government where our priorities are, what can be done, and how we expect them to echo those nationally and internationally.

The Mayor of West Midlands has important powers they can use in ensuring the region is as climate and nature friendly as possible. The good news is, we have a plan for how they can achieve that.

We need the mayor to commit to:

1. Ensuring all infrastructure plans, programmes and investment decisions – including COVID-19 recovery plans – are in line with what’s needed to address the climate and ecological emergency, and in line with the region’s carbon budget and carbon reduction pathway.
2. Ensuring those impacted most by climate breakdown and nature loss are heard and centre-stage in decision-making.
3. Protecting workers and communities through a just transition from a fossil fuel-dependent economy to a low-carbon, nature-rich, circular economy, including delivering over 28,000 new jobs.
4. Introducing policies and measures that ensure new development is net zero carbon and existing homes are brought up to high energy-standards, and addressing fuel poverty.
5. At least doubling public transport use, cycling and walking within the next 10 years, to cut emissions and ensure everyone can breathe clean air.
6. Powering the region with clean, renewable energy, reaping the economic and job opportunities that this brings.
7. Greening the region by increasing tree cover, protecting nature, and eliminating green-space deprivation.
8. Becoming a zero-waste region by 2030 without relying on landfill or incineration, to reduce pressures on nature from resource extraction and pollution.
9. Calling on the local government pension scheme to divest from fossil fuels, to stop profiting from environmental harm.
10. Making the very best of the infrastructure we have, enact the Climate Emergency declarations, defend nature and introduce more inclusive governance.

Ask your mayor to build a fairer, greener future.