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COP26

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  1. chdot
    Admin

    I know it’s a year away (and in Glasgow), but -

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-49650909

    Posted 5 years ago #
  2. chdot
    Admin

  3. chdot
    Admin

  4. chdot
    Admin

  5. chdot
    Admin

    O’Neill, under her Twitter handle of @COP26President, wrote on Friday evening: “Very sad that the role I was offered by Boris Johnson last year has now been rescinded as Whitehall ‘can’t cope’ with an indy COP unit. A shame we haven’t had one climate cabinet meeting since we formed. Wishing the COP team every blessing in the climate recovery emergency.”

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jan/31/former-energy-minister-removed-as-un-climate-talks-chair

    Posted 4 years ago #
  6. chdot
    Admin

  7. LaidBack
    Member

    Claire O'Neill is not entirely blameless.
    According to Richard Dixon at FoE Scotland she made no attempt to get ScotGov on board at announcement.
    Also FoE Scotland not invited to launch in London. ScotGov having a twin COP26 launch today in the host city. Meanwhile the planet warms...

    From twitter...
    "BBC News - #COP26: Sacked president accuses Boris Johnson of leadership failure https://t.co/s08Fj7wz4P < Claire O'Neill commendably calls for a role for @NicolaSturgeon and a ‘4-nations’ COP. Some irony for woman who came to Glasgow to announce COP without telling @scotgov"

    Posted 4 years ago #
  8. chdot
    Admin


    “Unless we take urgent action, we will get 3C hotter,” the prime minister told a gathering of climate experts, business leaders and civil society groups at the Science Museum in London on Tuesday morning. “As a country, as a society, as a planet and as a species, we must now act.”

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/feb/04/boris-johnson-promises-urgent-climate-action-after-stinging-criticism

    Posted 4 years ago #
  9. mgj
    Member

    That action of course means flying 90,000 delegates to Glasgow from all over the world to have a pointless talking shop. We know what needs done, we just don't have the will to do it.

    Posted 4 years ago #
  10. chdot
    Admin

  11. chdot
    Admin

    Johnson must also do more to show the UK’s leadership in cutting emissions, beyond the promise to reach net zero by 2050, he said. “It’s very important that the UK has domestic policies in place that allow them to inspire confidence in other countries,” said de Boer.

    One long-time observer of COPs, who asked not to be named, said Johnson’s handling of the launch, at which he failed to set out clear stepping stones to a successful outcome for COP 26 or domestic policies to reduce emissions, had hurt his standing among world leaders on the issue. “There was nothing there, it was a mess,” they said. “It made me angry.”

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/feb/07/mary-robinson-attacks-unhelpful-uk-over-cop-26-climate-talks

    Posted 4 years ago #
  12. CocoShepherd
    Member

    Cop must be value for taxpayers' money.

    Of course, situating the houses of Parliament and Lords in Central London, refurbishing Westminster, purchasing second homes for MPs etc and funding their every request in the name of representation of the people (ha ha) is a shining example of providing value for taxpayers' money.

    Posted 4 years ago #
  13. chdot
    Admin

  14. chdot
    Admin

    UK Prime Minister
    @10DowningStreet

    The Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP @AlokSharma_RDG has been appointed Secretary of State @beisgovuk

    He will also be Minister for @COP26

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alok_Sharma

    Posted 4 years ago #
  15. chdot
    Admin

    Surprise choice has poor record on Commons votes affecting the environment

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/13/alok-sharma-appointed-chair-of-cop26-climate-conference-in-reshuffle

    Posted 4 years ago #
  16. chdot
    Admin

  17. chdot
    Admin

  18. LaidBack
    Member

    "Alok Sharma can make Cop26 a success – but does he have the will?"

    Normal way to get Cop26 going in the right direction might be to talk with the administration of the country where it is taking place?
    Will he have words with Tories here about their support for the establishment of a Scottish National Investment Bank but with dilution of climate targets (along with SNP sadly)?
    Will he tell RBS (soon to be NatWest) to disinvest in companies that damage environment?

    Personally I think he will do none of these.

    Posted 4 years ago #
  19. chdot
    Admin

    The Treasury has been considering a hike in fuel duty both to raise revenue and to bolster the government’s green credentials in a year that the UK is hosting the Cop26 summit about the climate.

    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/feb/25/red-wall-tory-mps-warn-chancellor-against-raising-fuel-duty

    Posted 4 years ago #
  20. acsimpson
    Member

    Given the increase in large less efficient models of cars on our roads since last time fuel duty was changed I think we all know what needs to happen.

    Posted 4 years ago #
  21. LaidBack
    Member

    As we are now dealing with the Brexitory Party I expect they will do nothing of note. They are deeply conservative and fairly irrational and wedded to a love of adversity. Each time the climate kicks back they will kick harder in the other direction cheered on by their media chums.

    They will leak ideas to press to appear to be 'mindful' of COP but will settle back down to rewarding driving.
    Parts of England going underwater will not make people change transport approach other than temporary use of boats to get around some streets. In fact I think sales of larger, higher, heavier vehicles able to go through floods will be a theme - particularly for business users. Bicycles do work too especially if you have a higher model with bottom bracket 80cm off the ground.

    What of electric vehicles in floods? Some comments...
    Most web stuff is PR with Tesla claiming that one of their vehicles can float.

      "The battery pack of an EV is on the underside of the car and due to its weight/size, it’s fairly low to the ground. So the fact that the BMW i3 can go through a fairly deep 9.8”/26 cm level of water is positive and again suggests that the battery pack is sealed off."

      "Lithium-ion batteries that make up an electric car’s battery pack can be dangerous if damaged by water, with explosion a real risk. Similarly, the high voltage electrical motor can also be dangerous if it’s water-damaged."

    26cm of flood water is not 'fairly deep' when you have a climate meltdown?

    Posted 4 years ago #
  22. chdot
    Admin

  23. chdot
    Admin

  24. chdot
    Admin

  25. chdot
    Admin

  26. chdot
    Admin

  27. Morningsider
    Member

    Hmmm - I think Alastair has got that one wrong. Relying on people feeling self conscious about making trips by car seems unlikely to produce a reduction in car travel. A combination of carrots (better public transport, comprehensive network of safe cycle lanes etc.) and sticks (taxation, charges, reallocation of road space) is what works.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  28. chdot
    Admin

    “Relying on people feeling self conscious about making trips by car seems unlikely to produce a reduction in car travel.“

    Yep

    Time for more sticks - at least financial ones that address the (relative) reductions in the costs of motoring.

    Certainly time for noticeable increase in fuel tax at a time when (officially) ‘the future is electric’.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  29. Adnerb
    Member

    Assuming the security is even more in-your-face than for the Commonwealth Games active travel will be strongly discouraged by the closure of key routes and river bridges...
    (Glasgow correspondent)

    Posted 3 years ago #
  30. chdot
    Admin


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