Archive for the ‘Environment’ Category
How many people work in the UK Government’s climate adaptation team?
May 18th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
Thanks to the “Guardian” newspaper, we have the revelation that the number has been cut by the current Goverment from 38 to just six. Globally we have to act decisively to slow down and then reverse CO2 levels in the atmosphere but, in the meanwhile if we do not act to mitigate the impacts of [...]
Posted in British current affairs, Environment | Comments (0)
The rise and rise and rise of CO2 in our atmosphere (2)
May 10th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
Ten days ago, I did a posting warning that we were in danger of recording shortly a level of CO2 in the atmosphere of 400 parts per million. Today we have the news that this symbolic level has indeed been measured. We are creating a terrible legacy for our children and our grandchildren and we [...]
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The rise and rise and rise of CO2 in our atmosphere (1)
April 30th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
Levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in our atmosphere have been rising inexorably for the last two hundred years. At the start of the industrial revolution, CO2 was around 280 parts per million (ppm) of the atmosphere. Sometime in the next few weeks, that level could pass the 400 ppm mark – see report here. Global [...]
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Ever heard of the tuatara?
April 13th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
During our recent visit to New Zealand, we came across a creature that I had never heard of before: tuatara. It is a most unusual animal. It is rare and can be found only in New Zealand. It looks like a lizard but comes from a distinct lineage going back 200 years million which means [...]
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The things that I’m learning about water
November 28th, 2012 by Roger Darlington
It is now eight months since I was appointed the independent Chair of the Customer Challenge Group at South East Water which supplies drinking water to 2.1 million customers in Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire. I’m paid to do a day a week, but obviously the actual workload varies from week to week. This week, I [...]
Posted in Consumer matters, Environment, My life & thoughts | Comments (0)
How shale gas will massively impact the world of geopolitics
November 16th, 2012 by Roger Darlington
Ever since the end of the Second World War when the United States emerged as the pre-eminent world power, one of the givens of geopolitics has been that the American economy – the world’s largest – was substantially dependent on energy imports, largely from the Middle East. This has required the US to support authoritarian [...]
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Riding high in post-Olympic London
September 19th, 2012 by Roger Darlington
Earlier this week, I saw my good friend Jen with her baby boy James who is almost two and therefore just a few months older than my granddaughter. At Jen’s suggestion, we went on the Emirates Air Line cable car which opened just before the Olympics and it was terrific fun with great views of [...]
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Is humankind causing global warming?
July 30th, 2012 by Roger Darlington
The evidence convinced me long ago, but there have still been sceptics, some of them American scientists. But a leading climate change sceptic is now completely persuaded. In an op-ed piece in the “New York Times”. Professor Richard Muller writes: “Our results show that the average temperature of the earth’s land has risen by two [...]
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What proportion of Britain is built on?
June 29th, 2012 by Roger Darlington
The answer may surprise – and reassure – you. Check it out here.
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My water appointment gathers flow
June 22nd, 2012 by Roger Darlington
It is now almost three months since I started my new appointment as Chair of the Customer Challenge Group at South East Water. It’s been a fascinating time in which I’ve learned so much and met many dedicated people. The company arranged a comprehensive induction for me with four days of discussions with the most [...]
Posted in Environment, My life & thoughts | Comments (2)