The planet could descend into 'conflict and chaos' if Cop26 fails, UN chief warns
Hysterical nonsense. The planet warmed one degree in the last 100 years amid a huge overall surge in prosperity and wellbeing. Another degree in the next 100 years will at least do no harm
The sheer dishonesty of the cry below is shown by its prophecy of food shortages. Global warming would open up vast areas in Canada and Siberia to food production. Warming would produce a food GLUT, not a shortage
The planet could descend into 'conflict and chaos' if world leaders fail to tackle climate change following the Cop26 summit in Glasgow next week, the UN's top climate official has warned.
Patricia Espinosa, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, insisted global security and stability could break down if countries fail to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
In an interview with The Observer, she described a bleak future of general anarchy caused by climate catastrophe, warning of migration crises, food shortages and an increase in terrorism and violent crime.
'We're really talking about preserving the stability of countries, preserving the institutions that we have built over so many years, preserving the best goals that our countries have put together. The catastrophic scenario would indicate that we would have massive flows of displaced people,' she warned.
'It would mean less food, so probably a crisis in food security. It would leave a lot more people vulnerable to terrible situations, terrorist groups and violent groups. It would mean a lot of sources of instability.
'We know what migration crises have provoked in the past. If we were to see that in even higher numbers - not only international migration, but also internal migration - [it would] provoke very serious problems.'
It comes as Boris Johnson prepares to welcome global leaders to Scotland for the Cop26 climate summit next week, where he wants countries to commit to slashing carbon emissions.
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UK: Budget backlash as Chancellor of the Exchequer cuts cost of flying and driving days before pivotal climate summit
Rishi Sunak has been accused of undermining the UK’s response to the climate emergency, after his Budget included measures to make it cheaper to take internal flights and drive polluting cars.
The moves – branded “astonishing” and “retrograde” by Friends of the Earth – were unveiled just days ahead of the crucial Cop26 global warming summit in Glasgow, at which Boris Johnson will plead with the international community to cut carbon emissions.
And they came just a day after the government’s own Climate Change Committee told the prime minister that his administration’s net zero strategy had “nothing to say” on aviation and must take further action to discourage people from flying.
https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/budget-flight-tax-cut-cop26-b1946258.html
***********************************************The Queen has sent her apologies to the farcical Cop26 conference, wouldn't it better for the planet if everyone else did as well?
As usual, Her Majesty's instincts are correct. When in doubt, pull out. The Queen has sent 'her regrets' and won't be attending Cop26 in Glasgow this weekend as she adheres to doctors' advice and sticks to 'light duties' no further away than the drawing room.
I'm sure there's nothing a 95-year-old would have enjoyed more than a round of cocktail parties with pompous heads-of-state fresh off their carbon-spewing private jets mouthing glib promises about how to save the planet.
Especially as Her Majesty has been a recycler all her life; still using those sad little Tupperware containers at breakfast time and steadfastly rotating her unique collection of couture hats and coats from half a century ago, much to the admiration of fashionistas now trying to embrace a new mantra of climate concern.
With only a few days to go before the giant kick-off, Cop26 is starting to look like a B-list event.
Delegates from over a hundred and thirty countries are going to turn up in their thousands (mainly young and committed), but - without the Queen, will the A-listers and the power brokers be taking it seriously?
The citizens of Glasgow are in two minds about the whole shebang. With 30,000 visitors expected, if you own a sofa, or anything that resembles a bed, you'll be making a fortune renting it.
All hotels are fully booked, as are two cruise liners moored nearby and AirBnb rates are off the scale.
Currently, over two thousand attendees have nowhere to stay. Let's just hope they don't try napping on the street since Glasgow's legendary rats were in the news this week for biting refuse workers.
The SNP council leader acknowledged there had been 'one or two incidents of very minor contact' with rodents, claiming this was 'normal' in most cities.
Adding to this toxic mix, 1,500 council workers including refuse collectors, catering workers and janitors are going on strike for better pay for the duration of Cop, as are RMT train staff.
Scores of roads are closed along with five schools. Major museums and galleries have shut. Instead of using public transport to get to the city centre, delegates will be ferried by car, in specially designated traffic lanes, forcing ordinary commuters to cram into a single lane - producing more fumes, no doubt.
Cop, with it's green devotees will be good news for vegan restaurants, bars and clubs. But is it going to benefit the environment?
In terms of PR, the lesser Royals will be flying the flag for Britain's world-beating eco credentials. William and Kate and Charles and Camilla will be doing the rounds, but they got the E message years ago.
Once, we laughed when Charles said he talked to his plants, now he's revered for his concern about the environment. (Always easier when you have an army of servants to wash up, recycle, do your pressing, peel all those home grown vegetables, and book the Royal train).
We applauded Kate for recycling that beautiful one-off dress to the James Bond premiere - but don't dwell on what it cost in the first place . . . and it wasn't exactly made of recycled washing up bottles.
On balance, the Royals will make a good show of sending messages of concern about the imminent danger to planet Earth. It's a message that's harder to sign up for if you're an ordinary person who bought a diesel car when politicians told us to, who now faces a whopping surcharge of £12.50 a day to drive from your own doorstep in inner London.
And what about the Cop 26 guest list? The politicians and industrialists who carry the real power to change the rules or - to quote our leading climate change balladeer, Boris - stop everyone 'swaddling our entire planet in a tea cosy of toxic stuff'.
Will Cop26 succeed where 25 other Cops seem to have failed? Levels of greenhouse gases have reached an all-time high, in spite of endless treaties, protocols, and targets all aimed at preventing exactly that happening.
In spite of decades of high profile get-togethers in luxury hotels over sumptuous banquets and endless toasts in Paris, Kyoto, Mexico, Copenhagen, Dubai and South Africa, we are still on course to fail to stop global warming in the very near future.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, even if current pledges to cut emissions drastically from the UK and 50 other countries are honoured, we still face a 2.7% temperature rise by 2100.
Some countries, like Saudi Arabia and China claim they can only achieve zero emissions by 2060.
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Australian PM promises to protect coal mining jobs
Coal miners will not be legislated “out of a job” under the Coalition’s plan to reach net zero emissions by 2050 through “ultra low cost” solar and the rapid commercialisation of new technologies.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison formally commited Australia to the climate target on Tuesday, drawing a line under the intense debate and bitter disagreement within the federal government on net-zero.
“(The plan) will not shut down our coal and gas production or exports,” Mr Morrison said. “It will not increase electricity bills. It’s not a revolution, it’s a careful evolution.”
Mr Morrison said new modelling showed Australia was on track to reduce emissions by 30 to 35 per cent on 2005 levels by 2030 – far above the government’s 26 to 28 per cent interim target.
The commitment also came with a guarantee every Australian would be $2000 better off in 2050 than they would have been if no climate action was taken, and the regions would gain an extra 62,000 jobs in the heavy industry and mining sectors.
Mr Morrison did not present the modelling behind the plan, instead saying it was to be released at a later date.
The $20bn technology roadmap to get to net zero emissions by 2050 relied on emerging technologies like hydrogen and carbon capture and storage becoming viable.
Regional NSW was central to the net-zero plan, with areas like the Hunter Valley identified as a site for “further indirect job opportunities” including manufacturing of wind turbines and hydrogen electrolysers.
The Hunter could also benefit from “value-adding manufacturing” like the production and export of green ammonia and hot briquette iron.
“The construction boom associated with new renewable energy generation to support hydrogen production could support up to 13,000 new, permanent jobs by 2050 across Australia, especially in regional NSW and Queensland,” the government’s report said.
The PM said investing in technology would also enable Australia to help other major polluters reduce emissions, which was critical to limiting global temperature increase.
“If you really want to deal with this problem, it’s not good enough to tax people in developed countries and think that fixes the problem,” Mr Morrison said. “China’s emissions will keep going up. If we want to solve the problem, then you need scale, afforable, low emissions technologies.”
Under the plan a “significant proportion of gas” would still be needed by 2050, while all energy technology options remained on the table, including small-scale nuclear reactors.
It is expected electric cars would reach cost-parity with petrol vehicles by 2025, with the gradual take up potentially delivering a 15 per cent emissions cut.
Exports of critical minerals could be worth $85bn in 2050, up from $12bn, helping offset a 35 per cent decline in fossil fuel production.
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce told parliament regional jobs would not be destroyed by government laws. “I am making absolutely certain that we don’t legislate the coal miners out of a job,” he said.
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My other blogs. Main ones below
http://dissectleft.blogspot.com (DISSECTING LEFTISM )
http://edwatch.blogspot.com (EDUCATION WATCH)
http://pcwatch.blogspot.com (POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WATCH)
http://australian-politics.blogspot.com (AUSTRALIAN POLITICS)
http://snorphty.blogspot.com/ (TONGUE-TIED)
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Jim Hansen and his twin
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