Blue Desert / End of the Line

Earlier this week one of Wales' growing band of ecologically aware Doers made an impassioned plea for common sense: George Monbiot, writing in the Guardian, talked of the desolation caused by scallop dredging in this fine article, in which he also mentioned The End of the Line, the new film based on the book by Charles Clover that describes the impacts of practices such as scallop dredging on a whole ecosystem and industry. I watched a preview of the film last month, and would encourage anyone concerned about nature, common sense or their own health, to go to see the film, soon.

1000 and counting

One of the goals that came out of Hay on Earth was to get 1000 community climate champions in place in Wales by Christmas this year. The first organisation that I spoke to about it, the Countryside Council for Wales said they'd work out a way of offering volunteer time for their staff (who already know what needs doing and why) to spend time working on community support projects where they live. There are a lot more environmental organisations, water-related businesses and renewables companies who could help too; they're next on the list. 1000 people in 1000 communities. 700 days to get into carbon descent. 5000 days to take 80% of the CO2 out of our economy. Lots to Do, hence the Do Lectures.

Deja Vu again, or again?

 The US-based CERES organisation have produced an important report on levels of financial disclosure from top global companies. It makes for pretty stark reading...

"Based on review of over 6,000 10-K filings spanning more than a dozen years, the report finds: “Despite the clear imperative for prudent oversight, the SEC has failed to protect investors from enduring inadequacies in corporate disclosure concerning the material risks and opportunities posed by climate change.”

The full report is available to download here.

One good step to take is to push your local politicians, members of parliamentm insurance companies and pension funds for solid answers for their level of preparation for the events mentioned in the Ceres document. In our experience, and from the majority of conversations at Hay on Earth, most businesses, councils and politicians have little preparation for the following:

1. Peak oil
2. The need to reduce carbon by 3%, 6% or the 9% a year of CO2 that's needed
3. Food security

More than ever, now is a time to an activist investor, citizen and employee. It's a time for Doversity.

Business as (un)usual

MIT's new research is sobering reading for anyone who thinks that we can continue along the current business as usual, there's an uncomfortable scale of challenge:

"The new projections, published this month in the American Meteorological Society's Journal of Climate, indicate a median probability of surface warming of 5.2 degrees Celsius by 2100, with a 90% probability range of 3.5 to 7.4 degrees. This can be compared to a median projected increase in the 2003 study of just 2.4 degrees"

More information on the MIT website here

Wales is still working hard to take a global lead, where there are some genuinely exciting things happening, including one organisation, the Countryside Council for Wales, committing to a 6% per annum CO2 reduction and the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing, Jane Davidson, talking publicly about the need to consider 'CO2 reduction rates as high as 9 or 10% per year'. Strong stuff - ans we're building the action plans to help make this a reality.

Influencing the political game

One of the most important games in town is to influence the way that our politicians  develop, plan and deliver their programmes of work through local and national politics. Anyone who has run a business knows that you never get the most out of people by complaining, and that constructive feedback that ends up with the other person feeling good, is the most effective way to get change (unless people are breaking the law / fiddling expenses etc).

Over the years, I've worked hard to influence strategy and context awareness for most of the main UK political parties - keynote speaking for Labour, coaxing Conservatives, hosting liberal leaders and, most recently, speaking and Q&A at a Plaid Cymru (the national party for Wales) sustainability strategy event. The proceedings of the event give a good insight into the ways that party politics responds to the stimulus for change. Plaid are certainly keen to engage and listen to good people, and that makes a good start. Their Sustainable Spring document is available here...