FRESH AIR; Time For Change ??

ADAPTATION HORIZONS.

Oct 26, 2023

But First let me apologise for this belated post. I had reached the point where the buttons would be added…. when my laptop crashed. Unable to fix it I had to wait 40 hrs for my Guru (aka Son) to visit. ….. Apparently I need a new laptop……. My other Guru/Son recommends a Fruit Raincoat….. aka - an Apple Mac.

“Surely we have a responsibility to leave for future generations a planet that is Healthy and Habitable by all species” Sir David Attenborough.

I see on the still distant horizon some major adaptations to anthropogenic activities, holding great potential to Heal Our World. Whilst already underway they are in great need of acceleration. An acceleration of clamour and action, rather than of the gas pedal. As Our Planet warms, the Air we breathe becomes increasingly toxic. Heat itself is toxic. Humans pollute for the profit of the few as the planet Perishes. We must adapt our thinking, our lifestyles, our priorities, ie:- TLP. Yes, many are doing just that, and in this post I offer constructive evidence of Positive, Adaptive Progress.

The EU promised in 1990 to cut carbon emissions of 55% by 2030. They have achieved 32% in 33 years. The Guardian says that the EU needs to triple the speed of adaptation to meet the promised targets. This is not impossible, if we all contribute. As rising temperatures, pollen counts, wildfires, fuel fumes, tire and industrial dusts all causing severe - chronic respiratory problems to worsen and kill. European based experts have called on the EU to tighten air pollution limits to match those of the WHO. We can assist, by driving and consuming less. Ergo TLP.

The EU’s new Climate Commissioner, Wolpke Hoekstra, an ex employee of Shell and of McKinsey Oil Consultancy agrees - and claims that he is reminding national governments of their promises to scrap Fuel Subsidies. However most have in fact increased their support for fossil fuels. The Climate Action Network are campaigning against this Dangerous and Suspicion-provoking Attitude. Alongside supporting such campaigns we must adapt our TLPs. Complacency doesn’t work.

Mother Jones’ Climate Desk highlights that for over 50 years the Gas Industry has been deliberately covering up the seriousness of respiratory illnesses caused by nitrogen oxide emitted by Our Gas Stoves. e.g:- 13% of U.S. childhood Asthma cases ! Finally local authorities are banning so called natural gas connections in newbuilds, and are initiating the compulsory removal of gas cooking and heating appliances from existing buildings. The PR firms employed by the Gas companies, were often those that also had worked and lied for Big Tobacco. The very name ‘Natural’ Gas is a marketing lie (as big as Putin’s criminal misnomer “Special Operation”), that the Climate Brink campaign are asking us to consider referring to more Honestly as Methane, or Pollution Gas, or War Gas, Or Heatwave Gas, Or Anti-Democracy Gas. So let us do that, take your pick !

From EuroNewsGreen we hear that the World Bank’s new President is encouraging the redirection of some of the IMF’s $1.25T Subsidies that are handed out to Fossil Fuels, Fisheries and Agriculture. These industries have a $6T negative environmental impact. He argues that the petrochem handouts in particular could be more wisely spent on renewables, to aid them to better compete. A closer study is needed on how a significant portion of this free money in reality further enrichens the super wealthy. I don’t doubt that the usual suspects will do their best to scupper the the idea, but it may well be an indication of TLP adaptation on a new horizon. There are such signs appearing……

Citibank is the planet’s 2nd biggest funder of Fossil Fuels. Since the 2016 Paris agreement they have profitably bunged $333B to Big Oil. Last week 150 protestors blocked the bank HQ entrances, for which 24 were arrested. No bank staff or clients were arrested as accessories to the crimes of big oil. A Citibank spokesman said “While we respect the right to protest, activists do not have the right to prevent staff or clients from entering the premises”. Which maybe suggests that the staff and clients DO have the right to support climate chaos ??…. Then I read a brilliant post from Climate Club, giving creative suggestions on how to protest. Not just peacefully but with huge potential to reach the hearts of Citibank’s workers. Please do have a look at Climate Club’s post 23rd Oct, scroll down to ‘If you have 5 minutes / Bonus action’. After chuckling I thought of the children of Citibank’s employees potential for engendering TLP adaptation…….

Which brings us to this item from the BBC…. Paul Polman former CEO of Unilever and author of “Net Positive: How Courageous Companies give back more than they take” Paul poses the thought that we need businesses that thrive by fixing the world’s problems instead of creating them. He surveyed 4,000 employees in the US & UK, on wanting to take a stance on their company’s climate ethical mismatches against their own. 50% were willing to quit. Particularly Millennials and gen Zs. Hmmm…. got me thinking about the influence climate quitters could invoke at Citibank. Another thing I have come across is the reluctance of Job Seekers of all ages to even solicit employment with climate destroyers. How do you feel about such TLPs ?

In the UK, DEFRA responded to the findings of a London air pollution enquiry, by accepting that nitrogen oxide from local traffic emissions were above UK, EU & WHO guidelines. Whilst over the last 30 years the number of monitoring sites has improved the tech has not. DEFRA concludes that spending 10M pounds on upgrades could save 5 to 15B pounds a year on treating people affected. Now how’s about combining that with driving and consuming less….. TLP…… ?? We all know that more cities are imposing vehicle bans in their centers ? Stockholm has decided to implement a ban from December. Paris, expecting a horrifying 100,000 cars a day for the Olympic Games, will operate a ban from early 2024. Milan, with 1.4M residents suffering air pollution at 4x safe levels is to go car free from next summer. Just in case y’all wondering…. I went car free 3 years ago today. Missed it briefly, is all….. I adapted, set new horizons, started growing my own and writing.

Geothermal is on the up. I have read quite a few derogatory reports on home conversions, so I suggest you do plenty of research …. However I have recently come across Grand Scale projects that appear good. One is a scheme that has been heating 350 high rise flats in Gateshead, UK for 6 months already. Abandoned deep coal mines naturally heat the floodwater to 20C, or even 45C. When this is pumped compressed, it heats further, and the carbon footprint is reduced by 65%. No doubt that could be improved on if it were to be done nationally, and there are millions of people living above such mines across Britain. Then I discovered that similar projects are running in Nederland, Spain, Nova Scotia and Iceland. I wonder if any of my readers are benefitting from this energy source ?

Pragmatically speaking - there is no big switch to toggle off, we cannot drop a hat and feel secure, adaptation needs time……. we may not have much, so please reach out for that horizon and pull us all closer. Don’t Fry, Don’t drown, just Think about Lifestyle and Prioritize - TLP, and remember … “The World is changed by your example, not your opinion” Paulo Coehlo.

Yes, I Author !

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