Extinction Rebellion

[Sepp Blatter]

This is a very nice idea for cleaning wastewater from festivals - hope to see more technologies like it:

Managing variable wastewater flows from festival venue

Wastewater treatment technology from WCS Environmental Engineering is delivering enhanced ammonia removal at a village treatment works which manages

h2oglobalnews.com

 

[Regardless]

More extreme weather around the world. Looks really damaging in Greece @Sepp Blatter

 

[Sepp Blatter]

More extreme weather around the world. Looks really damaging in Greece @Sepp Blatter

Some pretty nasty floods up north - flash floods are not uncommon but these are the worst we can remember. Sadly, successive governments/the EU failed to tackle urbanisation, illegal building, deforestation, and lack of investment in flood defence, leaving little capacity to cope with extreme rainfall. The solutions are there and have been studied in detail - but the political will has been lacking.

 

[26-0]

More extreme weather around the world. Looks really damaging in Greece @Sepp Blatter

3 years worth of rain fell in just two days.

 

[Soapy]

3 years worth of rain fell in just two days.

Guess it'll bump up the average rainfall numbers making the next extreme event less severe.

 

[Sepp Blatter]

Mitsotakis' government coming for some deserved criticism about the lack of preparation for storms and floods during their time in office. These Mediterranean hurricanes are not uncommon (remember at least four even in the time we have lived here) but they failed to do enough - didn't spend the funds they had available, didn't produce flood mapping data, had a piecemeal approach to flood defences, and did not have a good disaster management plan.

Entire villages in Thessaly ‘wiped out’ | eKathimerini.com

Three years after the destruction wrought by the Ianos weather front, the nightmare of catastrophic floods returned to the Thessalian Plain, submerging entire villages under tons of water, destroying infrastructure, livestock and crops.

www.ekathimerini.com

Greece exposed – No updated hazard maps and flood risks

hellas.postsen.com

Greece set to ask for EU aid over floods amid mounting anger

Greece is set to request EU financial aid following deadly floods from Storm Daniel amid mounting criticism against the centre-right government in Athens.

euobserver.com

Useless - can't even plan for the short term let alone the longer-term policies needed to mitigate flooding. Mitsotakis is hiding behind climate change again, the slimy fucker.

 

[26-0]

Mitsotakis' government coming for some deserved criticism about the lack of preparation for storms and floods during their time in office. These Mediterranean hurricanes are not uncommon (remember at least four even in the time we have lived here) but they failed to do enough - didn't spend the funds they had available, didn't produce flood mapping data, had a piecemeal approach to flood defences, and did not have a good disaster management plan.

Entire villages in Thessaly ‘wiped out’ | eKathimerini.com

Three years after the destruction wrought by the Ianos weather front, the nightmare of catastrophic floods returned to the Thessalian Plain, submerging entire villages under tons of water, destroying infrastructure, livestock and crops.

www.ekathimerini.com

Greece exposed – No updated hazard maps and flood risks

hellas.postsen.com

Greece set to ask for EU aid over floods amid mounting anger

Greece is set to request EU financial aid following deadly floods from Storm Daniel amid mounting criticism against the centre-right government in Athens.

euobserver.com

Useless - can't even plan for the short term let alone the longer-term policies needed to mitigate flooding. Mitsotakis is hiding behind climate change again, the slimy fucker.

With one of his main pledges after his latest election win being cutting taxes the necessary funding and actions to mitigate the worst effects of the climate crisis will be lacking for some time I expect.

And I suspect most countries are in for a rude awakening in the very near future as infrastructure, industry and lives succumb to ever more frequent and extreme weather events. Perhaps, ultimately, public services and funding for vital infrastructure through higher taxation will be acknowledged as the sensible, civilised approach but I can’t see that happening before some real carnage takes place sadly.

 

[26-0]

New report from Christian Aid finds that more than a fifth of UK shoppers’ grocery items are at risk from climate breakdown.

Changing weather patterns across the world will result in shortages of foods including bananas, grapes, nuts, peas, tea, cocoa, tuna the report says.

We saw this earlier this year with shortages of tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, cucumbers and citrus fruits following drought conditions in Spain and Morocco.

 

[Sepp Blatter]

With one of his main pledges after his latest election win being cutting taxes the necessary funding and actions to mitigate the worst effects of the climate crisis will be lacking for some time I expect.

And I suspect most countries are in for a rude awakening in the very near future as infrastructure, industry and lives succumb to ever more frequent and extreme weather events. Perhaps, ultimately, public services and funding for vital infrastructure through higher taxation will be acknowledged as the sensible, civilised approach but I can’t see that happening before some real carnage takes place sadly.

The money was there and they didn't use it - and the preparations were woeful even though they knew the potential scale of the problem. He talks a good game...

Indeed - funds have to be invested. Not just in PR-friendly flood defences and barriers that make great photo opportunities, but in longer lasting solutions like planting forests at the heads of rivers, encouraging salt marshes, stopping development on floodplains, and encouraging urban areas to plant lawns and greenery instead of concreting over everything. Learn to work with nature instead of against it.

 

[Sepp Blatter]

New report from Christian Aid finds that more than a fifth of UK shoppers’ grocery items are at risk from climate breakdown.

Changing weather patterns across the world will result in shortages of foods including bananas, grapes, nuts, peas, tea, cocoa, tuna the report says.

We saw this earlier this year with shortages of tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, cucumbers and citrus fruits following drought conditions in Spain and Morocco.

Indeed - as mentioned earlier, much better management of agricultural water is needed. There are technologies available and/or under development. It is time to start supporting them and using them.

 

[26-0]

Indeed - funds have to be invested. Not just in PR-friendly flood defences and barriers that make great photo opportunities, but in longer lasting solutions like planting forests at the heads of rivers, encouraging salt marshes, stopping development on floodplains, and encouraging urban areas to plant lawns and greenery instead of concreting over everything. Learn to work with nature instead of against it.

Couldn’t agree more.

What a conundrum.

How to convince voters that paying higher taxes is necessary to vastly improve infrastructure, flood defences and the environment generally to avoid these extreme weather events costing lives, homes and businesses etc.

Most in this country have already been fooled into believing that public services and utilities are best provided by profit-making companies (even when owned by hostile states) rather than by the public sector with a fear of them possibly having to pay tax for that - but totally oblivious to the fact that the private companies are not only charging them fully for the services but for extortionate profits on top.

Public services, public works and taxation are to be avoided at all costs and are a vote loser

If the UK were to invest in major mitigation projects it could only be done by cronies in similar fraudulent procurement and supply methods seen through Covid.

 

[raefil]

Couldn’t agree more.

What a conundrum.

How to convince voters that paying higher taxes is necessary to vastly improve infrastructure, flood defences and the environment generally to avoid these extreme weather events costing lives, homes and businesses etc.

Most in this country have already been fooled into believing that public services and utilities are best provided by profit-making companies (even when owned by hostile states) rather than by the public sector with a fear of them possibly having to pay tax for that - but totally oblivious to the fact that the private companies are not only charging them fully for the services but for extortionate profits on top.

Public services, public works and taxation are to be avoided at all costs and are a vote loser

If the UK were to invest in major mitigation projects it could only be done by cronies in similar fraudulent procurement and supply methods seen through Covid.

Paying higher taxes will happen.


Only for the poorest though.

 

[Regardless]

 

[Sepp Blatter]

Couldn’t agree more.

What a conundrum.

How to convince voters that paying higher taxes is necessary to vastly improve infrastructure, flood defences and the environment generally to avoid these extreme weather events costing lives, homes and businesses etc.

Most in this country have already been fooled into believing that public services and utilities are best provided by profit-making companies (even when owned by hostile states) rather than by the public sector with a fear of them possibly having to pay tax for that - but totally oblivious to the fact that the private companies are not only charging them fully for the services but for extortionate profits on top.

Public services, public works and taxation are to be avoided at all costs and are a vote loser

If the UK were to invest in major mitigation projects it could only be done by cronies in similar fraudulent procurement and supply methods seen through Covid.

That is the problem - and it is exactly why I speak out about attaching climate change to absolutely every problem - it gives politicians a way to deflect blame for their own mismanagement and unwillingness to be honest about the need to invest. For example, climate change has a minor effect on flooding when compared to the other problems that need solving. Water shortages are much more about wastage and overuse than the climate. But, instead of meeting those challenges, politicians can wave their hands, blame it on the climate (i.e. someone else's fault), and take some photo opportunities with wind turbines. Job done.

The key is creating win-win situations where environmentalists and economists can agree. The electricity sector is a great example of that - it is now cheaper to install renewables than most traditional generating resources, and modernizing electrical systems benefits companies in the long run. So, they are making progress and setting an example for other sectors to follow - the UK is actually very good when it comes to green energy.

We now need to take a similar approach to the other aspects - the fires in Hawaii, for example, were due to an invasive grass. it can be used for animal feed or as biomass for generating power. Why were they not already doing that? If you plant trees at the head of a valley to stop flooding and erosion, can local communities and businesses benefit from wood products, firewood, animal foraging, charcoal, and other ways to make a living from sustainable management with the added bonus of clearing the forest to deter fires?

It isn't just about throwing money around - it is about changing the way of thinking and looking for such answers. And, encouraging the 'healthy' private sector - start ups and small businesses with ideas and technologies rather than throwing funds at huge corporations. Governments should be providing guidance, coordination, and ensuring that there is a plan so that everyone works together.

 

[raefil]

the UK is actually very good when it comes to green energy.

My energy bill states that all my electricity is now coming from Green sources.

this is where my cynicism kicks in, though, despite all this progress our govt appears to be doing absolutely nothing to regulate that the economy of using green energy is passed down to consumers rather than to larger profits for energy suppliers.

 

[Sepp Blatter]

My energy bill states that all my electricity is now coming from Green sources.

this is where my cynicism kicks in, though, despite all this progress our govt appears to be doing absolutely nothing to regulate that the economy of using green energy is passed down to consumers rather than to larger profits for energy suppliers.

Absolutely - I am no fan of the way energy markets are structured at all. Not just the UK but in Europe and North America. It leaves too much room for people to make profits from doing nothing. We saw that a year or so ago when profiteers made off like bandits.

It is one area where a place like Preston, with its excellent local government approach, could lead the way with community-based electrical grids. They are the way forward, IMO.

 

[raefil]

Absolutely - I am no fan of the way energy markets are structured at all. Not just the UK but in Europe and North America. It leaves too much room for people to make profits from doing nothing. We saw that a year or so ago when profiteers made off like bandits.

It is one area where a place like Preston, with its excellent local government approach, could lead the way with community-based electrical grids. They are the way forward, IMO.

The way that feed in tarrifs were drastically reduced smacked of governments favoring corporate profits well above consumer savings.

 

[Sepp Blatter]

Just saw this on the news and it is exactly the sort of project I love:

Somerset river reconnected to floodplain following three-year project

The newly created wetland will help tackle the impacts of climate change, including flooding and drought.

www.ealingtimes.co.uk

Far better than dredging and big concrete barriers all over the place which usually just redirect floodwater elsewhere and move the problem.

 

[raefil]

Just saw this on the news and it is exactly the sort of project I love:

Somerset river reconnected to floodplain following three-year project

The newly created wetland will help tackle the impacts of climate change, including flooding and drought.

www.ealingtimes.co.uk

Far better than dredging and big concrete barriers all over the place which usually just redirect floodwater elsewhere and move the problem.

Didnt they do something similar with the Ribble at Long Preston some years ago?

 

[Sepp Blatter]

The way that feed in tarrifs were drastically reduced smacked of governments favoring corporate profits well above consumer savings.

It is a tough balance - one of the problem with high feed-in tariffs is that someone can export electricity but they don't contribute anything towards maintaining and upgrading the grid. What tends to happen is that the large utility-scale renewable plants make huge profits at everyone else's expense (they were one of the worst offenders during the recent energy crisis). You also risk oversaturation and more renewable energy than the system can handle (you need a lot of infrastructure, control technology, balancing systems, and energy storage to support unpredictable renewables).

How do you solve that? Standing charges to cover operations and maintenance? Making grids publicly owned so it isn't an issue? Subsidies for smaller producers/homeowners? There are ways of doing it, but they all have pros and cons. For me, community-based grids that produce local power are the eventual answer - systems are going to become more decentralised anyway.