Why news of reductions in carbon emissions is not good news

Carbon emission reductions are falling in the United States; in 2008 figures released by Celsias have indicated that as oil use fell by three percent and coal use fell by one percent, overall emissions fell by three percent. It seems that the United States is on course for further reductions in oil and coal use, [...]

Thoughts for Copenhagen

Around fifty years ago energy was relatively expensive and formed a large part of most people’s budgets. Then in the United Kingdom there were few homes with central heating and most homes had one light bulb for each room. Water was generally heated by an electric immersion heater (usually made of copper and un-insulated) and [...]

Vote for a steady state economy

Economic growth is assumed to be a Good Thing, by most economists but it is responsible for most of the environmental problems that affect us, because the growth is uncontrolled and rewards greed. Economic growth is presented as a benefit to society but it is actually a cancer infecting the environment which will ultimately destroy [...]

The Energy Bill

The United Kingdom Government has published its programme of legislation for this the last Parliament before A General Election. Many doubt whether any of the proposals will be enacted in law before Parliament is dissolved. Many of the proposals are simply window dressing but among the more useful pieces of legislation, if passed, will be [...]

Our meaningless emission reduction targets

I have been trying to understand the basis of measuring the United Kingdom’s carbon dioxide emissions. The country’s much publicised and apparently legally binding emission reduction targets depend upon these being accurately measured. If they are not accurately and consistently measured then they are not real targets at all, just froth and bluster. [...]

DECC misses the point on climate change

Mechanical Engineers are probably the most important engineers; civil engineers construct great and important building works, electrical engineers create things that work with electricity and in electronics but mechanical engineers concern themselves with the design and manufacturing of things, drawing upon the laws of physics and mechanics. They number in their ranks Archimedes, Ma Jun, [...]

Politicians need courage to deal with climate change

It is a bit like torturing yourself, listening to a politician talk about climate change. I inflicted some self torture when I watched and listened to Ed Miliband, the United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on Sunday morning.

Renewable energy: a prize for the Minister who actually answers questions

Last week in Parliament the Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change was asked how the £5.8 billion that the Government would spend on renewable energy over the three years ended April 2011 was broken down. 
It was a good question, asked by Greg Clark for two reasons;

Greenhouse gas emission statistics

When we talk about greenhouse gas emissions we do not always understand which greenhouse gases are most important and the sources of emissions. The following information comes from the World Resources Institute

Governments will not make hard decisions to protect the climate at Copenhagen

You will see headlines and hear news items to the effect that there is only so many days (just over a month now) to get a climate protection “deal” at Copenhagen. There the nations of the world will meet in order to try and reach agreement as to the best way to protect the climate [...]