Government has no climate change plan - MPs
I don't think this is news to anyone.
Transferring production and therefore emissions to China doesn't amount to a reduction in our emissions
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-56285239
This planet is dying and we are all acting too slowly. Thoughts, debates & suggestions on how we can act FAST and attempt to save the planet. No business posts or posts unrelated to saving the planet will be accepted and posters will be removed from the loop.
Open Loop 652
Government has no climate change plan - MPs
I don't think this is news to anyone.
Transferring production and therefore emissions to China doesn't amount to a reduction in our emissions
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-56285239
Britain’s moths decline by a third in 50 years, study finds
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/03/britain-moths-decline-by-third-50-years-study
How ethical is Ecosia (the search engine)?
I've been using Ecosia for some time now and mostly found it very good, but I'm sorry to see from this Ethical Consumer report that Ecosia doesn't plant [m]any trees as a result of my searches - because I never intentionally click on the advertisements.
It's still rated as much better than Google, however, so I'll keep using it anyway - except when I need to use Google Maps or be certain of getting comprehensive results.
https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/technology/how-ethical-search-engine-ecosia?utm_source=ECRA+Monthly+Newsletter&utm_campaign=bb4b9d9665-EMAIL_newsletter_2021_03_05+nonsubs&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_9856040c29-bb4b9d9665-321357508
'Catastrophic': UK has lost 90% of seagrass meadows, study finds
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/04/catastrophic-uk-has-lost-90-of-seagrass-meadows-study-finds
Earthwatch: Citizens’ Science Projects
This looks like an interesting idea. Different projects to get involved with.
https://my.earthwatch.org.uk/
McDonald's X Beyond Meat Partnership Dubbed 'Clearest Sign Yet' That 'Future Of Meat Is Plant-Based'
https://www.scooploop.com/thread/mcdonalds-x-beyond-meat-partnership-dubbed-clearest-sign-yet-that-future-of-meat-is-plant-based
https://blog.theveteranssite.greatergood.com/camp-century/?gg_source=VET&gg_medium=house&gg_campaign=Ad-720x360_Blog_Here%27s%20Why%20Greenland%20Could%20Become%20The%20Next%20Chernobyl_VET&gg_con
Attenborough gives a stark warning on climate to the UN
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/science-environment-56175714
What changes have you made to live a more sustainable life?
Big or small, it would be good if we could share what we’ve done so far, any tips, and your next aim. It would be lovely to hear from some of you that rarely comment.
But please no one-upmanship- we’re here to support each other, and learn, not to find fault or criticise.
I’ll kick us off. A small thing - we replaced our old large kitchen bin with a really small one. I thought we’d be forever emptying it but instead it’s made us far more aware of creating waste.
Call for nature's recovery by 2030
Over 50 nature conservation groups have joined together with a petition to urge the Prime Minister to set a legally binding target to reverse the loss of nature in England by 2030.
https://e-activist.com/page/75310/petition/1?locale=en-GB&en_chan=tw&ea.tracking.id=twitter-share&en_ref=204398232
Food waste: UK food retailers could do better.
In the UK supermarkets are not bound by law to redistribute their food waste, though many do voluntarily. In countries like France, where redistribution is enshrined in law the system seems to work more systematically and efficiently.
https://apple.news/AVNcEPztJRZmUD5w-R8Z-bg
How clean are England's rivers? The latest report makes for uncomfortable reading
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/sep/25/england-rivers-polluted-beyond-legal-limits
Thames Water fined £2.3m for raw sewage pollution incident
Judge says firm’s breach of environmental standards in 2016 amounted to ‘high negligence’
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/26/thames-water-fined-23m-for-raw-sewage-pollution-incident?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Row over UK tree-planting drive: 'We want the right trees in the right place'
Forestry Commission accused of funding non-native plantations that damage peatlands and imperil rare species
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/23/row-over-uk-tree-planting-drive-we-want-the-right-trees-in-the-right-place
Date in the current year: February 27, 2021
World NGO DayWorld NGO Day is an annual international observance held on February 27. It was established by Marcis Skadmanis, a Latvian-born UK social entrepreneur who is passionate about creating organizations that make a positive contribution towards sustainable innovation and technology.
Non-governmental organizations, commonly referred to as NGOs, are usually nonprofit and sometimes international organizations independent of governments and international governmental organizations. They are active in humanitarian, human rights, social, public policy, environmental, healthcare, educational and other areas.
The term “non-governmental organization” was coined following the establishment of the UNO in 1945, although the history of international NGOs dates back to at least the late 18th century. The definition of “international non-governmental organization” (INGO) was first given in the resolution of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on February 27, 1950.
Marcis Skadmanis established NGO Day in 2009 to raise awareness about the importance of NGOs. A year later, it was officially recognized at the IX Baltic Sea NGO Forum of the Council of the Baltic Sea States. World NGO Day became truly international in 2014, when the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland hosted an official celebration with the support from the UNO, European leaders and international organizations.
Drax scraps plan for Europe's largest gas plant after climate protests
Burning trees instead.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/feb/25/drax-scraps-plan-yorkshire-gas-plant-climate-protests
Found this article very interesting and informative.
https://apple.news/ApN7StwPCSNW5nPhPe6PIbQ
Just bought a pair of their Mizzles waterproof shoes. They are really comfortable. Been wearing them barefoot all day.
Washing products for clothes (Edited)
Has anyone got any recommendations for genuinely green, but nevertheless efficient, washing products? I’ve tried washing nuts and refills of ecover etc but is there anything better out there?
Global salmon farming harming marine life and costing billions in damage
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/11/global-salmon-farming-harming-marine-life-and-costing-billions-in-damage
Become a volunteer ranger in London Park City (Edited)
I think this sounds a lot of fun and very worthwhile - might have applied if we hadn’t left London.
https://www.nationalparkcity.london/rangers
Leeds Bradford Airport expansion plans approved
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-56031794
https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/platypus-population-wetlands/?gg_medium=content&gg_source=ars&gg_campaign=dog-crash-reunited-family&gg_content=local
Fingers crossed it works out and more will follow.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-56023723
Client Earth (Edited)
This is NOT an entirely new post. It`s just the first one I`ve come across that mentions Client Earth who`s campaign strategy is to take companies(possibly governments?) to court over their activities. Such a group has been long needed!😀
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/bp-greenwashing-climate-crisis-client-earth-oil-company-a9232986.html?fbclid=IwAR236xZ3ZjleBDvpXSrdMnKnSsdaVoncwouw6g76vOEudMGEPSanfsl741k
There are some inspirational stories here. Amongst the winners is Nemonte Nenquimo, the indigenous Ecuadorian woman who has stood up against her government’s decision to allow exploration and exploitation of her tribal lands for oil and minerals. Her success was one of the good news stories posted yesterday.
https://news.mongabay.com/2020/11/meet-the-2020-goldman-environmental-prize-winners/
It’s not entirely doom and gloom.
Here are some positives to keep us going.
https://news.mongabay.com/2020/12/top-positive-environmental-stories-from-2020/
Amsterdam adopts new Doughnut Model
Still trying to get my head around this economic model which is designed to enable sustainable living. Find it very interesting.
https://time.com/5930093/amsterdam-doughnut-economics/?
Has the pandemic disrupted your efforts to be ‘green’?
I’ve certainly struggled. Before the pandemic I’d made big strides in living a more sustainable life. But I have felt a bit overwhelmed lately and know I’ve been buying more things in plastic, buying less local produce, and so on. I obviously haven’t flown anywhere and car driving is minimal but I admit I have lost some of my drive and commitment. Anyone else feel the same?
Plans for £3.5bn theme park on Kent marsh dismay conservationists
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/21/plans-london-resort-theme-park-kent-marsh-swanscombe-dismay-conservationists
Here’s what Buglife has to say.
https://www.buglife.org.uk/campaigns/save-swanscombe-marshes/#gf_1
Recycling building materials - a new resource.
This looks potentially useful. https://diygogo.co.uk/about-us/
Wildlife Trusts explore legal challenge to Government decision to allow emergency use of neonics
https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/wildlife-trusts-explore-legal-challenge-government-decision-allow-emergency-use-neonicotinoid
https://www.oddbox.co.uk/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyqOGi4G87gIVx7LVCh1OCwNtEAAYASAAEgJ4SPD_BwE
Has anyone heard of this scheme, and/or tried it out?
Sounds interesting.
This article is from 2016, but still relevant; I saw a talk on this last week.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-mid-wales-36533155
As a 'green stimulus' Pakistan sets virus-idled to work planting trees
More good news.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-pakistan-trees-fea/as-a-green-stimulus-pakistan-sets-virus-idled-to-work-planting-trees-idUSKCN22A369
How creating wildlife crossings can help reindeer, bears – and even crabs
Something more hopeful.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/23/how-wildlife-crossings-are-helping-reindeer-bears-and-even-crabs-aoe
Only a third of UK’s key fish populations are not overfished
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/22/only-a-third-of-uks-key-fish-populations-are-not-overfished
Ask your MP to support enforceable air quality limits in Environment Bill (Edited)
A template if anyone feels like writing to their MP - add your name and address ( is continued on second post )
Dear .....
As a constituent, I am writing to ask you to vote for changes in the law to ensure enforceable air quality limits to protect the health of our local children and adults.
Air pollution causes 40,000 early deaths at a cost of £20 billion each year according to the Royal College of Physicians. Meanwhile, people spend 90% of their time indoors and are exposed to harmful air-borne chemicals and The Royal College’s report on this makes a powerful case for indoor air quality to also be included in the Environment Bill.
The coroner’s verdict, that air pollution was a cause of the death of 9-year-old Ella Kissi-Debrah, underlines the need for these changes.
Therefore, I’m writing to you to ask you to vote for Amendment 2 and New Clause 6 to the Environment Bill, supported by the All Party-Parliamentary Group on Air Pollution, which provide in turn for,
Soil Association meeting, Grow Better Together
Soil Association meeting on-line, Thursday 21st January 2021, 5.30 - 6.45pm. Here is the link if anybody is interested. You do have to register to be forwarded the link to join.
https://www.crowdcast.io/e/grow-better-together/register
They cannot leave any place alone!
And they cannot resist even this disfunctional,hated technology....
https://www.rainforest-rescue.org/petitions/1231/keep-the-oil-industry-out-of-africas-natural-treasures?mtu=512308082
Petition--u turn -- bees (Edited)
Dear friends across the UK,
This is urgent! Britain is breaking its promise of better bee protections by allowing a bee-killing poison banned in the EU to be used on our fields!
Just before the 2018 Europe-wide ban on neonicotinoids, Britain U-turned to become a leader on pollinator protection. Then-Environment Secretary Michael Gove even went on record saying the restrictions would be kept in place after leaving the EU. Now the government is opening the back door to pollinator poisons by allowing neonic use on sugar beet. And sugar lobbyists are celebrating!
Let's respond with all our people-power. Avaaz members across the UK and beyond have come together in millions every time a new threat to our bees emerged -- let's quickly build a massive buzz for the bees and when we reach 100.000 voices we'll deliver them in hard-hitting ads to our government. Sign now & share widely:
Protect British bees - stop bee-killing pesticides on our fields!
Bees and other pollinators are already struggling: a third of the UK bee population is thought to have vanished in just a decade. And bee-keepers are raising the alarm that this so-called “emergency authorisation” could last another *two years*!
Meanwhile, the lobbying efforts of some proponents of continued neonic use in the UK were described as ‘incredible’ and kept off social media -- presumably to blindside bee-friends up and down the country.
This isn’t about pitting farmers against environmentalists -- with up to three quarters of our crops dependent on bees and other pollinators, we all need our bees to be safe. And while it’s not even clear whether the virus these neonics are supposed to fight will even hit, we do know that emergency authorisations are a sneaky way to water down the ban on these bee-killers. Let’s tell Secretary Eustice to stick to the promise to keep bee-killers off our fields:
Protect British bees - stop bee-killing pesticides on our fields!
It can feel exhausting that the same battles need to be fought over and over again -- but that’s what our community does: stick up for those who can’t fight for themselves, and call out our governments when they roll back hard-won protections for the bees. With spring just around the corner, let’s get our voices buzzing for bees once more.
With hope,
Antonia, Anneke, Bert and the whole Avaaz team
More information:
Government breaks promise to maintain ban on bee-harming pesticide (The Guardian)
Government to let farmers use bee-killing pesticide banned in EU (The Independent
https://secure.avaaz.org/campaign/en/uk_neonics_loc/?tfLKjlb&v=501652192&cl=17896491628&_checksum=f86e88ff1cdbec91307cb857d95dd3b74fadd679522337b20340ccc7da501a87
Seagrass 'Neptune balls’ sieve millions of plastic particles from water, study finds
Something more positive. There are projects to replant seagrass in areas where it has been destroyed.
However, 150 million tonnes of plastic added to the ocean during each holiday season (just in the Mediterranean) !!!
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/15/seagrass-neptune-balls-sieve-millions-of-plastic-particles-from-water-study-finds?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
'Carbon-neutrality is a fairy tale': how the race for renewables is burning Europe's forests (Edited)
UK taxpayers subsidising deforestation.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/14/carbon-neutrality-is-a-fairy-tale-how-the-race-for-renewables-is-burning-europes-forests
Humanity headed towards ‘ghastly future’: Urgent warning from top scientists
https://populationmatters.org/news/2021/01/14/humanity-headed-towards-ghastly-future-urgent-warning-top-scientists
Paris agrees to turn Champs-Élysées into 'extraordinary garden'
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/10/paris-approves-plan-to-turn-champs-elysees-into-extraordinary-garden-anne-hidalgo
Wanted: UK bison rangers, no previous experience expected
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/13/wildlife-rangers-in-uk-jobs-offer-no-bison-experience-required
More than 50 countries commit to protection of 30% of Earth's land and oceans
Some good news (maybe) for balance. Words are cheap - we need action.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/11/50-countries-commit-to-protection-of-30-of-earths-land-and-oceans?CMP=share_btn_tw