Ultimately, restoration of peat bogs and creation of mixed woodland are effective carbon 'offsets'. But overall, all of the carbon sequestration of all of the land and forests across the whole UK is estimated by the Government to be less than 4Mt. Total UK emissions last year were more than 300Mt (excluding international aviation and shipping) and that's with the pandemic taking about 10% off. We have to emit less. We simply cannot plant enough trees or make enough peat bogs to 'deal' with what we produce. That's not to say we shouldn't do those things, there are a great many benefits to improving our natural habitat.
Not that anybody will be remotely interested but FWIW I have an Environmental Science degree (which I've forgotton the majority of!) and have worked in ground engineering & environmental consultancy for over 25 years but I don't think I'd describe myself as an "Environmentalist"
Have just read through this thread with much interest. We all do what we can I'm sure, recycling, buying less 'stuff', buying things without harmful chemicals in them, buying clothes that are produced without slave labour and in sustainable materials, being as wildlife friendly as we can be in our gardens. But, whilst I shall continue to do these things, the older I get and the more I see just how much power is held by Big Pharma, the oil & gas cartels, the construction and fishing industries, the less hopeful I feel. I've loved the fact that all the planes were grounded during the pandemic. I would love to travel to my favourite Greek island by train and boat one day. But I despair as yet another ancient woodland is felled by HS2, despair when I read that Sierra Leone is selling rainforest to China to create a big fishing harbour to allow it to export tuna etc. internationally, putting other species, fished sustainably by locals who depend on it, at risk. I despair when I read that there are more and more hormone & fertility disrupting chemicals in everyday products. I cling onto hope when I read of plastic eating enzymes, of people like Greta Thunberg, David Attenborough and local community groups. I'll be gone before the real climate catastrophe hits us - but my grandchildren will still be here. Thank God for the garden, just me and the plants and the bugs and birds being as one. While we still can.
This one is calling on the government to enshrine the new environmental targets (to reverse natural decline in the England by 2030) in law rather than stick to the all talk and no action Tory policies that we've been seeing. This petition is backed by over 50 nature conservation charities (and Boris's own father). This idea has been already debated in parliament and has been voted down by the Tory majority which is very worrying. You can read the full debate here if you're interested https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-01-26/debates/20CFA026-8E78-4D84-82E4-B4236D826AA4/Environment%20Bill
The petition has topped 200,000 signatures now, although this still seems very low to me.
The Joint Nature Conservation Committee which is supposed to be an independent advisory committee to the government has quietly launched a review of some species protection in the UK which looks suspiciously like they're trying to follow Boris's plan to stop letting newts get in the way of housing projects. If the plan is to reverse natural decline within 8 years I'm not sure why there's a need to remove species from any protection lists. It's all a bit under the radar but this podcast explains things a bit https://offtheleashpodcasts.co.uk/2021/06/21/tom-langton-jncc-proposal-amphibians-reptiles/
A government that has dragged its feet and missed every target for protecting and enhancing nature in and around the UK has wasted no time in setting up reviews of the European Protected Species designations post Brexit.
I don't expect this petition to do much good. Here is a report of the recent debate on the 'Ban driven Grouse shooting' petition https://wildjustice.org.uk/general/wilful-blindness-over-grouse-shooting/ which just shows that Conservatives are happy to ignore environment in favour of economy and their own desires.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
Anyone else catch a report the other day which briefly stated that a number of trees which had been planted some 12 years ago in celebration of some Royal occasion ? It would seem that they are now in the way of a housing development and so are due for the chop. There seems little point in the Govt. banging on about how many trees they are going to plant and how conservation minded they are if they then allow this to happen.
I think it is better to have some sort of reasonable long standing policy - if there is a likelihood of the land being used in the future for building ( 12 years is fairly shortsighted as far as housing/development needs go ), then forget the PR tactic and look elsewhere for the tree planting. Agree that some new tree planting can suffer from lack of care - that comes down to whichever organisation did the original planting and who is responsible for the maintenance. I have to say that I have been pleasantly surprised about some tree planting in my area ( SW Somerset ). A new by pass was created from a single road several years ago - mainly to deal with the HPC 3 traffic - trees and shrubs were planted along the mile or so and the banks were left to grow naturally ( thousands of Oxeye Daisies which are left to grow and flower ). As it is my main route into town, I do take note and pleased to say that I've only noticed 1 dead tree. It can be done
This one is calling on the government to enshrine the new environmental targets (to reverse natural decline in the England by 2030) in law rather than stick to the all talk and no action Tory policies that we've been seeing. This petition is backed by over 50 nature conservation charities (and Boris's own father). This idea has been already debated in parliament and has been voted down by the Tory majority which is very worrying. You can read the full debate here if you're interested https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-01-26/debates/20CFA026-8E78-4D84-82E4-B4236D826AA4/Environment%20Bill
It appears that this petition was a success. Amendments are being put forward to the new environment bill to make the 2030 target legally binding. Thank you to all that signed and fingers crossed for positive action to follow this up.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
Posts
In the meantime, the IEA have recommended banning the sale of gas burning appliances from 2025 Premises & Facilities Management - Path to net zero outlined in latest IEA report (pfmonthenet.net) which is far more likely to make a dent in the carbon emissions. I'm not expecting the UK government to follow the advice. They'll just promise a few more trees that they ultimately won't plant.
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
It would seem that they are now in the way of a housing development and so are due for the chop.
There seems little point in the Govt. banging on about how many trees they are going to plant and how conservation minded they are if they then allow this to happen.
Agree that some new tree planting can suffer from lack of care - that comes down to whichever organisation did the original planting and who is responsible for the maintenance.
I have to say that I have been pleasantly surprised about some tree planting in my area ( SW Somerset ). A new by pass was created from a single road several years ago - mainly to deal with the HPC 3 traffic - trees and shrubs were planted along the mile or so and the banks were left to grow naturally ( thousands of Oxeye Daisies which are left to grow and flower ). As it is my main route into town, I do take note and pleased to say that I've only noticed 1 dead tree.
It can be done