Facing up to environmental breakdown

By Darcy White Despite the wealth of science widely available on all aspects of environmental breakdown, outright denialism still exists. I have followed the science for years and appreciate how bad things are. Add to this the deepening energy crisis, and the scale of the problem can start to feel overwhelming.  While scientists try toContinueContinue reading “Facing up to environmental breakdown”

Challenging Reform nonsense in the Sheffield Star

I’ve had two letters in the Sheffield Star recently. The first was in reply to K Martin, whose long pro-Reform letter is at the foot of this post. Dear Editor Sadly, K Martin has accepted the propaganda being pushed by Nigel Farage and his billionaire friends in the oil industry about the climate crisis.  (SheffieldContinueContinue reading “Challenging Reform nonsense in the Sheffield Star”

Climate Conscious Home Improvements

by Rosalind Dean “Retrofit is really hard”, says Jonathan Hind, Founding Director of SY Ecofit.  So what is retrofit, and why should we care? Retrofit is turning older houses into comfortable, healthy homes that are cheaper to run, emit less carbon and stay cool in a heat wave.  Simple in theory, but complicated in practice,ContinueContinue reading “Climate Conscious Home Improvements”

Sheffielders join lobby of Insurance Conference, concerned about the Climate Emergency.

By Heather Worden Interested Sheffielders travelled to Manchester on Wednesday, 13th May, to the British Insurance Brokers Association annual conference, to engage with delegates, and to raise questions about the role of insurance in fueling the climate emergency, and related issues. This article focuses on the significance of insurance to climate and nature. Commercial insuranceContinueContinue reading “Sheffielders join lobby of Insurance Conference, concerned about the Climate Emergency.”

Why drilling the North Sea won’t fix our energy bills — and what might

By Julian Briggs The argument sounds like common sense. Britain has oil and gas under the North Sea. We’re paying a fortune to heat our homes. So why not drill more of it and bring our bills down? It’s the kind of logic that’s hard to argue with over a pint. And over the pastContinueContinue reading “Why drilling the North Sea won’t fix our energy bills — and what might”

Solar Power for Africa

by Rosalind Dean Climate change and biodiversity loss are global problems that need global solutions.  A great swathe of the world around the equator has huge potential for generating solar power.  The cost of solar power generation plummeted by around 80% in the decade after 2013.  Can we, as a world, bring these two thingsContinueContinue reading “Solar Power for Africa”

The censored report on the national security implications of climate breakdown, biodiversity loss and global ecosystem collapse must be released.

I have sent the following Freedom of Information request to see the uncensored report by the Joint Intelligence Committee about our national security. See Jonathon Fuller talking about this here. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CKT5hV7pB Jonathon says, “If there was a grave threat to life, would you expect Government Ministers to keep it to themselves (and protect their ownContinueContinue reading “The censored report on the national security implications of climate breakdown, biodiversity loss and global ecosystem collapse must be released.”

What sort of growth do we want?

by Rosalind Dean As the year turns, we start to think about new growth. Already, I can see snowdrops poking through.  But growth also depends on replenishment, the previous year’s growth rotting into the soil to create the nutrients for next year’s growth.  We need to make sure that the growth we celebrate can continueContinueContinue reading “What sort of growth do we want?”

What we need to do on climate also makes Britain safer and more resilient.

by Graham Wroe What was a Lieutenant General doing speaking at a climate change meeting? At the recent National Emergency Briefing in Westminster Hall, every aspect of the climate and nature emergency was addressed to inform the parliamentarians and other leaders present. And one of the most important aspects is the threat climate change posesContinueContinue reading “What we need to do on climate also makes Britain safer and more resilient.”

Jonathon Porritt in Sheffield for the Love, Anger and Betrayal book launch.

by Graham Wroe Jonathan Porritt visited Sheffield on Monday, 8th December, to launch his new book, Love, Anger and Betrayal. Jonathon was influential in my joining the Ecology (now Green) Party back in the early 80s, and his first book, Seeing Green, cemented my belief in the green manifesto. Since then, Jonathon has gone onContinueContinue reading “Jonathon Porritt in Sheffield for the Love, Anger and Betrayal book launch.”