Well, not every Wednesday. But three rather significant things did happen yesterday.
First, two of the RSPB's forestry experts attended the ash die-back summit convened by the Secretary of State, Owen Paterson. Here is the Defra statement and our response to the latest reports of spread of the disease can be found here.
Second, I participated in an IEEM debate in Cardiff yesterday entitled "The greatest threat to biodiversity is climate change" (RSPB). So let's build the Severn Barrage? Apart from having various flash-backs to debates I was involved in three years ago, it was good to begin to hear more about the new proposal from Hafren Power. Things are obviously getting serious again and tidal power is the subject of an inquiry recently announced by the Energy and Climate Change Committee. At the end of the debate we were asked what our children would have thought about our role in this debate given the looming crisis of climate change. A good question, but my conscience on behalf of my kids is clear. I think. I shall return to this issue soon.
Third? Now what was that third thing? Oh yes, President Obama has been re-elected. In his acceptance speech he said,
“We want our children to live in an America that isn’t burdened by debt, that isn’t weakened by inequality, that isn’t threatened by the destructive power of a warming planet.”
A glimmer of hope then for a fair and binding climate change deal in 2015? I remain optimistic.
What tumultuous events happened on your Wednesday? And what awaits you today?
No need to reply....
Thanks Glossy Ibis - we sorted it out eventually!
Peter - I'll check with IEEM - it was filmed. Regarding ash die-back. I am sure there are lessons to be learnt by all of us, but we have long argued (occasionally as a lone voice) for better regulation of species movements and have (over the past four years) been actively contributing to the development of the EU's regulatory response to this issue.
The days slide one into another Martin. Things (appear to) happen on Tuesdays and Wednesdays!
Hi. 1) I would be interested to see the transcript of the IEEM debate re Severn Barrage; I fundamentally remain in two minds re the barrage when I do not see an alternative coherent lagoon/reef proposal re "where, when and what and how much" from the barrage anti's; it is incumbent on the "environmental alliance" to get its act together this has gone on for a generation now; otherwise I may "switch" in the interests of de-carbonisation.
2) I agree with the RSPB re "ash/dieback but who has been asleep on watch here ? I repeat my assertion that that not only the government and its advisors in Defra/FC/NE but where was the coherent loud "in time" campaign from Woodland Trust/NT/RSPB/FoE/BBC. Why was this not mounted ? What lessons are to be learned by the NGO's those whose sole remit is the protection of the environment ?
Asleep on watch ?