The Dead Sea is dieing and the River Jordan becoming a small stream

The shores of the Dead Sea are the lowest part of dry land on this planet. The sea itself has no life, apart from some forms of bacteria that can live in its salinity. Salt constitutes about a third of its water content and as a result the Dead Sea is buoyant. When I was [...]

Uses for the autumn leaves

This is a glorious time of the year in many parts of the temperate zones; the leaves turn brown and golden before they fall off the deciduous trees, which are leafless in winter. Leaves form a valuable resource; they can be mulched and used to fertilise land as leaf mould, which is a high quality [...]

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;

The United Kingdom’s crisis of confidence

A few people, including Mr Alan Sugar, see to think that journalists ought not to talk about and report the recession. I expect as a “trader” Mr Sugar understands the importance of confidence particularly consumer confidence, and knows that when consumers lack confidence they stop spending, and therefore traders cannot trade as much as they [...]

Taxes on plastic shopping bags in Wales

There are just under three million people living in Wales where they have a degree of self governance with the Welsh Assembly. The Assembly is trying hard to undertake environmental and climate protection measures, although not all of their measures will be successful. However, they seem to be doing more than England, where there [...]

Energy and Emissions Policy of the Conservative Party – the missing bits

If the Conservative Party form the next government of the United Kingdom what will be their specific environmental and climate change policies? So far the Conservatives have not published a cohesive strategy, neither have they provided details on their likely energy policy, and energy policy will be an essential part of their climate protection ideas. [...]

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

The need to fail at Copenhagen

“It is realistic to say that in Copenhagen we will not be able to conclude a treaty,” said Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany recently. She is right to be realistic. Should we be depressed by her pessimism? I do not think so. A climate change treaty concluded in the next few months would hardly be [...]

Can you be dismissed for believing in Climate Change?

Many large companies have “sustainability” or “environmental departments. For example the large supermarkets and all of the oil companies have such departments which they see as an important part of their corporate governance and social responsibility. However, the first responsibility of a company is to its shareholders. There are many ways in which all of [...]

Summer lingers longer – evidence of a changing climate

On the last day of October this year I took this picture of an oak tree in a London Park. Oaks usually seem to be among the first trees to shed their leaves, but the autumn has been gently with no frost and little wind, so the mighty oak has most of its leaves still [...]