The Environment

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-climate-change-arctic-idUSKCN25A2X3

'Canary in the coal mine': Greenland ice has shrunk beyond return, study finds

Scientists studied data on 234 glaciers across the Arctic territory spanning 34 years through 2018 and found that annual snowfall was no longer enough to replenish glaciers of the snow and ice being lost to summertime melting.

That melting is already causing global seas to rise about a millimeter on average per year. If all of Greenland’s ice goes, the water released would push sea levels up by an average of 6 meters — enough to swamp many coastal cities around the world. This process, however, would take decades.

The new study suggests the territory’s ice sheet will now gain mass only once every 100 years — a grim indicator of how difficult it is to re-grow glaciers once they hemorrhage ice.

In studying satellite images of the glaciers, the researchers noted that the glaciers had a 50% chance of regaining mass before 2000, with the odds declining since.

“We are still draining more ice now than what was gained through snow accumulation in ‘good’ years,” said lead author Michalea King, a glaciologist at Ohio State University.

So who watched Extinction last night? Bleak hour of TV but lots of chatter at work today about it, seems to of shocked a few but not sure how that then turns in to postive change

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/sep/15/every-global-target-to-stem-destruction-of-nature-by-2020-missed-un-report-aoe

All rivers in England have failed to meet quality tests for pollution amid concerns over the scale of sewage discharge and agricultural chemicals entering the water system.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/sep/17/rivers-in-england-fail-pollution-tests-due-to-sewage-and-chemicals

Data published on Thursday reveals just 14% of English rivers are of “good” ecological standard. There has been no improvements in river quality since 2016 when the last data was published, despite government promises that by 2027, 75% of English rivers would be rated good.

Aren't they planning on changing the criteria to help them meet that target. Sure I read a story recently.

I just watched it and once again feel like it's time to reconsider what i consume and where my money goes. I've targeted a lot of areas in my life (diet, clothes, transport, energy use etc) and now i'm beginning to struggle with the material consumption that dicking around with bikes brings.

I see Schwalbe inner tubes are now 100% recyclable so maybe that's the first of the long list of parts i need to re-evaluate.

Is it worth moving money away from the big banks (eg Barclays) towards the co-op or some other relatively low effort bank? Does it make a difference? I'm thinking about savings but also who I buy insurance from, for example.

Haven't seen it yet but want to.
Unnecessary clothes and books are still a weakness. And cheese.

We signed up to Ethical Consumer and the Co-Op came well recommended for its transparency and ethical stance.

Barclays and HSBC are at the top of the shit list for there investment into fossil fuels. My two banks are further down the list but i'll be looking to do a swap to Co-op.

Due to ongoing connections issues my partner switched form Plusnet to Sky which i wasn't overly pleased about. Given how bad the changeover experience has been i think we're gonna go with these guys as we're still within the cancellation window.

https://www.greenisp.net/

New movie, looks interesting

https://kissthegroundmovie.com/

Thanks for this

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/03/dramatic-plunge-in-london-air-pollution-since-2016-report-finds

Exclusive: Number of people living with illegal pollution levels has fallen by 94% since Sadiq Khan became mayor

good news ? or dodgy figures

https://www.bikeradar.com/features/cycling-environmental-impact/

Interesting article over on Bikeradar comparing the CO2 emissions of different modes of transport.

A subtle bit of hypocrisy here:

In a statement, the prime minister called on other nations to join Britain in its ambition to protect 30% of the world’s ocean by 2020. He said: “We are in danger of killing our seas. We are warming them up, making them more acidic and every day we fill them with turtle-choking, dolphin-poisoning plastic that is turning our ocean into a vast floating rubbish dump.

“We need collective global action if we are to bequeath a world that is every bit as wonderful and magnificent as the one we inherited.”

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/nov/13/tiny-atlantic-island-takes-giant-leap-towards-protecting-worlds-oceans

No mention of fishing, especially deep-sea trawling, which is incredibly damaging. Whaling should also get a mention, although Britain doesn't have a part in the latter, so it might not be too diplomatic.

No mention of the UN's International Maritime Organisation which is holding a virtual summit of its Marine Environment Protection Committee next week.
Instead of doing their job and protecting the marine environment, many countries are quietly planning to adopt a piece of fake CO2 regulation that has had all enforcement mechanisms systematically removed by industry lobbying.

It is entirely voluntary greenwash designed to not require any changes from the industry, and not reduce CO2

This proposal will allow the shipping sector's 1 billion tonnes of annual CO2 emissions to keep rising for the next decade or longer.

Funny how all of this has been made necessary by COVID-19, eh? (Everyone doing what they would have done, anyway, only under cover of the virus.)

It'll certainly be interesting how they're going to spin the greenwash under Biden.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/25/atlantic-ocean-circulation-at-weakest-in-a-millennium-say-scientists

Decline in system underpinning Gulf Stream could lead to more extreme weather in Europe and higher sea levels on US east coast

Fun fact about the gulf stream: London and Moscow are at about the same latitude. Without it London could hit -20 through winter.

.https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/08/the-river-lea-is-plagued-by-pollution-it-is-no-place-for-a-swim

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2021/apr/07/escaping-the-pandemic-east-london-secret-paradise-sophia-evans-in-pictures

Fucking 'ell

So much crap in old undersea dumps:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/27/up-to-25000-barrels-found-at-suspected-ddt-dump-off-california-say-scientists

Likewise no place for a swim.

Dumb fucking humans. A time machine would be really handy...

.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/may/26/britain-net-zero-targets-environmental-issues

.https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jun/01/uk-ranked-last-in-europe-for-bathing-water-quality-in-2020

Should we strip mine the ocean floor to achieve net zero
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/29/is-deep-sea-mining-a-cure-for-the-climate-crisis-or-a-curse