Another day and another report that says that our current economic development model is not fit for purpose.
The scale of the potential impact of a chaotic climate driven by global warming is set out starkly in today’s report by the Adaptation sub committee of the Government’s official advisers – the Climate Change Committee...
...shortages of water crippling agricultural production, costs of coastal defence rising as natural coastlines eroded by rising sea levels, our uplands degraded by burning and overgrazing releasing their stored carbon as a result and as much as three quarters of the remaining natural wildlife habitat restricted to small pockets of land, fragmented and vulnerable to the impact of a changing climate.
The group’s chair is the eminent scientist Lord John Krebs – he is clear that governments should act now to develop and implement policies to ensure that we make the right land use choices to ensure we are resilient to climate change. The report finds that progress to date has been limited.
There is a lot in this report, but here’s three actions that we think should be at the top of the list of things that governments should do now:
Develop a peatland rescue package – Our peatlands are in a dire state, damaged and degraded they have become a source of 10 million tonnes of carbon per year. Restoration is practical and proven to work, protecting soils for future generations, locking up carbon and helping reduce flood risk.
Rescue CAP reform - the reform of the EU Common Agriculture Policy has been a disaster, but Environment Minister Owen Paterson and responsible ministers across the UK have the power to minimise the risks to our farmed environment and to help progressive farmers and wildlife by making the most of flexibility in how they implement CAP.
Invest in Nature – the report is clear that the poor state of our wildlife makes it even more vulnerable to climate change. This is bad news for wildlife and bad news for us. There is increasing awareness of the value of nature to us but there is a woeful mismatch between the investment needed and the resources available to protect wildlife. There needs to be a fresh debate about the role of the state and its institutions in protecting wildlife and restoring nature.
The challenge is clear – governments across the UK must wake up to the seriousness of the threat of climate chaos to our natural environment and to the land-based sectors like farming and forestry, and show leadership by acting now.
What is the good of continually blaming politicians when each individual has the choice whether to to do wildlife friendly things or the alternative.
Typical example is all the rubbish strewn about the countryside villages and towns,no fault at all of politicians.The average person cares not a jot about wildlife they are more interested in things that destroy wildlife.
Quite simply, we aren't going to make it without a rethink of our sectoral approach to landuse. I'm increasingly frustrated (1) at the spectacular resistance to any sor tof real change to instututions that have well passed their sell by date and (2) the inability to think in terms of doing more than one thiong on one piece of land at one time - an art pioneered dramatically in terms of public support by the Forestry Commission.
For example, land less intensively managed as wet meadow, wetland and woodland to slow rivers & absorb the flood, rather than more and more concrete (and it is starting to happen, albeit it at far too small a sacle) but which is also designed for wildlife, for new, beautiful landscapes and for people - for walking, reconnecting with nature, non- motor vehicle transport networks. vehicle transport networks
Fully support all you say Martin. Unfortunately trying to change the resolve of myopic politicians, normally only interested in votes, to do the right thing is not easy. Again, I know the RSPB is doing all it can in this direction. Well done RSPB.