What is a climate emergency

[Lord Tyrion]

There are a number of councils rushing to declare one of these. Some MP's are going to raise it as an option as well, it is the current go to fashion statement. What I can not work out is what is the practical aspect of declaring a climate emergency? Is it similar, and equally as pointless, as cities declaring themselves nuclear free zones back in the 80's?

Anyone up to speed on this?

 

[Hacker Khan]

I'd argue that trying to do something about the state of the planet is not a complete waste of time, you never know, the kids may well thanks us one day. But I'm sure someone will be along shortly to say it's all a waste of time as China is doing all the polluting, Labour is behind it so it must be bad as Corbyn spoke to a terrorist once and Abbott can't add up etc etc.

Anyway, as ever, the internet is your friend. https://www.wired.co.uk/article/climate-emergency-vote

 

[Deleted member 18645]

Or it could be a way for under-performing councils to try to detract from their failings.

A Cynic, News at Ten.

 

[Lazkir]

A combination of bandwagon jumping, vote fishing and distraction techniques.

 

[Hacker Khan]

A combination of bandwagon jumping, vote fishing and distraction techniques.

Some bandwagons are probably worth jumping on, I suspect the Greens have got the eco vote sewn up anyway plus after sod all of any use happening politically for 2 years due to Brexit I'm quite happy for some kind of distraction. If only we put as much political time, effort, opinion and anger into ensuring we have a decent climate and environment to pass on to future generations than we have leaving the bloody EU the world would be a much better place. IMHO.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I'm happy for improvements to be made but the phrase strikes me as grandstanding. It is dramatic and headline catching but I was interested to see what was actually behind it. There is no doubt an awful lot of govt policy is contradictory relating to climate change, lots of new house builds, why not have solar panels on every roof? A new runway at Heathrow, couldn't pollute much more than that. There are simple changes the govt do to general policies rather than the very simple 'beat the motorist over the head', which seems to be about the depth of its efforts so far.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

What I fail to grasp, is why diesels are now demonic because NOX is the new death gas, but diesels produce a fraction of the CO2 that petrol/ hybrids do and CO2 is globally a problem but NOX isnt?
NOX isn't causing global warming and harm, but CO2 is so pressure groups in the UK now see diesel as more harmful?

If the World powers came forward with a global plan and ideas it would be easier to follow and agree with, instead of the peacemeal, local vested interests that currently lead the debate.

 

[Hacker Khan]

I'm happy for improvements to be made but the phrase strikes me as grandstanding. It is dramatic and headline catching but I was interested to see what was actually behind it. There is no doubt an awful lot of govt policy is contradictory relating to climate change, lots of new house builds, why not have solar panels on every roof? A new runway at Heathrow, couldn't pollute much more than that. There are simple changes the govt do to general policies rather than the very simple 'beat the motorist over the head', which seems to be about the depth of its efforts so far.

Probably because the vast majority of government policy is very heavily influenced at the very least by lobby groups and lobbyists. And there are some industries with very deep pockets with a vested interest to not take measures to help the environment. It isn't as bad as the blatant stuff that Trump does on behalf of the polluting industries in the US where he has as good as been bought off by them in terms of votes they can bring or financial contributions, but still not great.

 

[Hacker Khan]

What I fail to grasp, is why diesels are now demonic because NOX is the new death gas, but diesels produce a fraction of the CO2 that petrol/ hybrids do and CO2 is globally a problem but NOX isnt?
NOX isn't causing global warming and harm, but CO2 is so pressure groups in the UK now see diesel as more harmful?

If the World powers came forward with a global plan and ideas it would be easier to follow and agree with, instead of the peacemeal, local vested interests that currently lead the debate.

I know, if only we were in a very large union that had the power to influence government's actions in this area then it just might work

And CO2's main impact is to trap the heat in the atmosphere, not good, causes global warming. NOx causes health problems/breathing difficulties in urban areas at ground level and it is arguably easier to see the direct impacts of large levels of NOx. Again not good.

 

[Hacker Khan]

I'm happy for improvements to be made but the phrase strikes me as grandstanding. It is dramatic and headline catching but I was interested to see what was actually behind it. There is no doubt an awful lot of govt policy is contradictory relating to climate change, lots of new house builds, why not have solar panels on every roof? A new runway at Heathrow, couldn't pollute much more than that. There are simple changes the govt do to general policies rather than the very simple 'beat the motorist over the head', which seems to be about the depth of its efforts so far.

Because transportation along with industry are the main polluters.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Because transportation along with industry are the main polluters.

There is more to it than that though, blame the motorist is too blunt. Air travel is bad, ocean vessels are bad, cars are bad, only cars really get walloped.

Not only are cars being walloped it is happening before genuine alternatives are available. It's a smokescreen to increase tax revenues.

Sections of industry are bad. Steel production is horrific but the govt chucks huge amounts at steel makers whenever a plant is threatened. They allow huge imports of steel.

It's not joined up, it's selective.

 

[Beezerk]

There is more to it than that though, blame the motorist is too blunt. Air travel is bad, ocean vessels are bad, cars are bad, only cars really get walloped.

Not only are cars being walloped it is happening before genuine alternatives are available. It's a smokescreen to increase tax revenues.

Sections of industry are bad. Steel production is horrific but the govt chucks huge amounts at steel makers whenever a plant is threatened. They allow huge imports of steel.

It's not joined up, it's selective.

I remember seeing a tv program last year about cruise liners, iirc one liner gives out the same amount of harmful gas per day as 5 million cars

 

[User20204]

I have no idea what it is, what I'm fairly sure is, mankind is destroying the planet and we will be the lucky ones as we will likely all be gone to not have to endure it.

 

[Beedee]

There is more to it than that though, blame the motorist is too blunt. Air travel is bad, ocean vessels are bad, cars are bad, only cars really get walloped.

Not only are cars being walloped it is happening before genuine alternatives are available. It's a smokescreen to increase tax revenues.

Sections of industry are bad. Steel production is horrific but the govt chucks huge amounts at steel makers whenever a plant is threatened. They allow huge imports of steel.

It's not joined up, it's selective.

Not only are cars being walloped it is happening because there's no genuine alternative available. The tax system was based on emissions. Emissions drop - yay. Tax take drops. So the government changes the rules so that emissions are virtually irrelevant - increases tax on lowish emission cars and adds the jealousy tax. Absolutely nothing to do with the environment - just on finding a way to hide more tax increases.

 

[USER1999]

Something I don't get. ULEZ, in London, due to be expanded out to the North Circ any time soon.

Mate of mine runs a diesel fiesta, road tax £0, ULEZ charge £12 per day.

Me, 5.5 petrol v8. Road tax is mental. ULEZ £0.

Not sure how that works.

 

[Tashyboy]

Think it is a combination of vote winning policy and the in thing at the moment. Don't get me wrong and even if some one wants to argue the Toss on here. I actually think there is a case for saving the planet.

But this is the thing that grips my poo. Nottingham county council wants to be the greenest city in the country. Now that statement, that target is a thing of beauty. It is something all Citys should aspire to be. The greenest. However the Notts City council has just voted for the drilling of gas next door to Rufford country park. All gas found will be burned off until it can be bottled. So as long as the City is clean, the countryside burns. But this is the bit that really grips my poo. Every Labour councillor abstained from voting. The vote to drill was passed by 2 votes. What am trying to say is that what politicians and councillors say and what they do, do not go hand In Hand.
Don't even get me started on that Tosser who owns INIOS.

 

[Hacker Khan]

Think it is a combination of vote winning policy and the in thing at the moment. Don't get me wrong and even if some one wants to argue the Toss on here. I actually think there is a case for saving the planet.

But this is the thing that grips my poo. Nottingham county council wants to be the greenest city in the country. Now that statement, that target is a thing of beauty. It is something all Citys should aspire to be. The greenest. However the Notts City council has just voted for the drilling of gas next door to Rufford country park. All gas found will be burned off until it can be bottled. So as long as the City is clean, the countryside burns. But this is the bit that really grips my poo. Every Labour councillor abstained from voting. The vote to drill was passed by 2 votes. What am trying to say is that what politicians and councillors say and what they do, do not go hand In Hand.
Don't even get me started on that Tosser who owns INIOS.

Small point of order but it's Nottinghamshire County and Nottingham City, 2 separate authorities. As I am sure you are aware, try saying 'Notts' Forest to a Forest fan and see what you get back in return.

It's the county council that have approved the drilling next to Rufford. As for the politics of it all then if the environment is going to be debated on party lines then essentially we are all screwed. If we go down the lines of the tories think something is a good idea so Labour must automatically oppose it and vice versa then we really will get nowhere fast. As I'm not sure air pollution, flooding and droughts specifically target Tory or Labour voters.

 

[Crazyface]

I don't understand why it is that we here on our tiny island seem to get so worked up about such things. Bluddy hell, (yup the China thing) LOTS of other countries do far more polluting than we EVER will. The plastic in the seas in some countries did NOT come from here. Just what are they doing about it all. NOTHING! Yet we give them BILLIONS not MILLIONS to help them and they just hiss it away. When those MASSIVE countries come to the table and agree to sort this problem, then why should we bother? Please don't give me the conscience thing either.

 

[GaryK]

But I'm sure someone will be along shortly to say it's all a waste of time as China is doing all the polluting

I would go as far as to say that it is a waste of time, but the UK is a mere drop in the ocean compared to China, USA, Russia, etc. We really should heed the warnings and take serious action, but we need the whole World to take action and I'm not very confident that it will do so.

There is so much more to this than simply pointing the finger at CO2 emissions.....we are killing our planet in many, many ways. Deforestation, polluting the oceans with plastic and other harmful waste, ever growing population that is already putting a significant strain on the natural resources of the planet, the constant need for growth - the list goes on and on.

I am very afraid for the future of my children and future generations.

 

[GaryK]

When those MASSIVE countries come to the table and agree to sort this problem

It certainly doesn't help when the orange idiot over the pond is clearly in denial that the problem exists!