Today the UK’s Prime Minister, Gordon Brown has announced that action on climate change is urgent and that developed countries must lead the way in cutting carbon emissions.

Also today the UK’s Environment Secretary Hillary Benn has announced the launch of a “one-stop” energy advice service to help householders save on bills and tackle global warming.

Great News!!! You would think….….

However the Guardian Newspaper reported on Saturday that the “The government department spearheading the fight against climate change is planning an emergency package of at least £300m of cuts covering key environmental services. The frontline agencies tackling recycling, nature protection, energy saving, carbon emissions and safeguarding the environment are all being targeted in the package which is being drawn up by Helen Ghosh, the top civil servant at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.” Information source: The Guardian Newspaper

So although the first two announcements are positive and showing that the UK government is trying to help tackle climate change I am rather confused! As how can the government be ‘committed’ if it’s cutting funding for key environmental services within Defra.  This is extremely worrying and contradictory of the governments support for tackling climate change.

The Guardian Newspaper report also stated that “The cuts will impact heavily on nature conservation. Separate papers seen by the Guardian suggest that Natural England, the Defra body that protects places and wildlife, is expected to slash up to 30% from its budget for new conservation work.” Information Source: The Guardian Newspaper

I really do think that this is very sad news and suggests that the government is not truly committed to conservation and environmental issues. This combined with the government’s announcement of building 3 million more homes (which I reported in my Bills, Bills, Bills post means that there is a lot more work needed to be done to convince the UK government that we need substance and proper commitment from them in order to protect the environment – this includes essential funding!

I will be writing to my MP about my concerns over this and Defra. If you also feel disappointed and wish to show your support then I advise that you lobby your MP too, it is important that they know what the public think.

It is easy to be dazzled by science. Science is, well, cool. It is about discovery, knowledge, exploration, and the undeniable human compulsion to poke at the unknown. And, as with every cool thing in the universe–we should reject the poor and irresponsible attempts, in favor of recognizing and defending the good and the responsible. It is true for consumer products, true for laws and lawmakers, true for nonprofits, businesses, and initiatives. It is also true for science.

This is not to, er, poop on science. This is to call attention to the difference between responsible, sound science and, um, the alternative. There are numerous efforts to promote and defend responsible science, and here I call your attention to two:

First, DEFEND SCIENCE (www.defendscience.org). A letter to President Bush from over 6,000 scientists asking that scientific inquiry remain free from political, religious, ideological constraints. While policital, religious, and ideological views are important pieces of the human experience, they should not dictate, strangle or direct scientific inquiry.

Second, a more personal project, SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE SCIENCE in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. This pristine, remote, and highly protected archipelago is one of the last predator-dominated coral reef ecosystems on earth. Scientific research conducted in the public trust land and waters of these islands should be done in a way that supports conservation of the ecosystem and minimizes impacts of research activities. You can show US and Hawaii agencies that citizens around the globe care about the world heritage coral reefs in Hawaii, by signing on to the responsible science petition here.

Good, responsible and sound science is integral to envisioning and creating a better, greener world! Support the scientists and researchers that are doing this good work. I encourage you to take a few seconds in direct action–lend your voice and support and defend good science!

The WWF are calling for support in urging the government to strengthen the UK climate change bill.

Strangely the bill doesn’t include emissions from aviation and shipping and the government aren’t planning to include them. Does that make any sense considering they are two of the fastest growing sources of emissions?

WWF will be taking a giant paper boat and paper plane to parliament covered in the names of everyone who supports their request for a change to the bill. Visit http://getonboard.wwf.org.uk to find out more and sign their petition.

Thank you to all the GGG readers who signed the Wildlife Trusts ‘petition fish’ which I reported about in the ‘Cycling to save our seas’ post.

On Wednesday 10th October I joined my colleagues from the other 47 Wildlife Trusts in the UK to attend an event at the House of Commons, where we took with us a shoal of over 200 petition fish containing over 150,000 signatures showing support for the implementation of a Marine Bill.

At the event we met with MP’s to gain their support for the Marine Bill and also to launch the Wildlife Trusts new report ‘Marine Reserves – TLC for our seas and sea life’, which explains the urgent action needed to allow UK seas to recover from centuries of over-intensive exploitation, for everything from food to building materials and oil.

The UK’s seas are extraordinarily rich in wildlife, home to more than 44,000 animal and plant species – around 50% of the UK’s biodiversity. However shockingly less than 0.001% of our seas are protected. The Wildlife Trust and other members of the Wildlife & Countryside Link are calling for the Marine Bill to be mentioned in the Queen’s Speech next month. It is extremely important that we lobby the government to ensure that the Marine Bill comes to Parliament during the 2007-8 session. As mentioned in a previous post if the government do not deliver the Marine Act in the time frame needed – then we could lose a variety of marine species and our seas will begin to die. We really do need to provide TLC for our seas and marine life now!

On Wednesday 17th October, the Wildlife Trust and other members of the Wildlife & Countryside Link including the Marine Conservation Society will be taking their collected signatures to 10 Downing Street to demonstrate the level of public support for the Marine Bill. To show your support and demand the Bill then write to your MP and  email Gordon Brown. Also if you are a scuba diver then why not join the Marine Conservation Society on their Divers March at Westminster on Wednesday 7th November – for further details contact them.

I will keep you updated about the Marine Bill campaign.

Following on nicely from Andy’s article below about getting a career in the environment sector here’s a thought about environment in the classroom.

Lead by our good friend Tracey Smith from National Downshifting Week is a petition to the Prime Minister asking for lessons on how to lead a green and sustainable lifestyle to be incorporated into the national curriculum.

Here’s what she says about it:

“A nationally supported educational structure that raises environmental and sustainable awareness, would get all of our children on the right, green track before they step into adult life.

Elements should include:- how to compost, seasonal cooking from fresh (which should never have left the curriculum), basic fruit and vegetable cultivation, what’s in our hedgerows, better interaction via a revival of non-electric games, natural cleaning without chemicals, balancing your cheque book/living within your means, simple renewable energy and promotion of volunteering in our communities, amongst others.

Children are the leaders of the future and would benefit from proper ‘life-lessons’ offering real guidance – let’s take the ‘freaky out of eco’ by normalising and encouraging sustainable behaviour and lifestyles.”

So brilliant I can’t believe it hasn’t been done already!

If you agree petition our PM today!

This event is part of a public education series in Nottingham to raise understanding of climate change.

Date: Monday 30th April, 7.30
Venue: The Council House in Old Market Square
Speakers: Dr Alice Bows, Researcher at the Tyndall Institute for Climate Change Research and Jonathan Harris, Assistant Regional Director of Public Health and Head of Regional Partnerships at the Directorate of Public Health – East Midlands

Download the pdf for further details and booking information – Living within a Carbon Budget pdf Flyer

Future events include:

Climate Change with Oil and Gas Depletion – Wednesday 6th June, 7.30 at the Nottingham Mechanics on North Sherwood Street.

‘Clean Coal’ – carbon capture and sequestration – Provisional date is 4th July but this and the venue will be confirmed.

If you print off the pdf to display in your building then please make sure that you use 100% recycled paper as it says on the bottom of the flyer.

The Health in your Environment website (coming soon) will provide a programme for future events and more information. Visit http://www.hiye.org.uk/climatechange