This month we discussed the community screening of the public information film - "The People's Emergency Briefing for Climate and Nature". Its emphasis is on building awareness and understanding of what the climate and nature crisis will mean for ordinary people over the coming years. A recent webinar (click here) speculates about the potential impacts of the strong El Nino weather pattern in the Pacific, which is predicted to peak in December, bringing more windy and stormy weather to the UK. There is concern about the future of the UK's imported food supplies - Rice Krispies has changed its recipe because of rice harvest failures.
News that the controversial Jackdaw gas field has now been given the go-ahead to start production led to an interesting discussion of the 'pros and cons' of the recent decision. Group members who had at first been horrified by the prospect of more North Sea gas production accepted that UK-produced fossil gas has some economic, employment and energy security advantages over imports from the US and Gulf states. A new UK Energy Wealth Fund is being created to channel oil and gas tax revenues into the transition to cleaner energy.
Our 'Good News' - The UN Environment Programme says China's clean-air measures to cut coal use and industrial emissions prevented about 680,000 premature deaths between 2020 and 2025. On a smaller scale, the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street in London will make Xmas shopping more bearable by eliminating vehicle-generated air pollution.
The Marine Conservation Society has estimated that, since 2015, when charges were imposed for single use plastic bags, the numbers washing up on UK beaches has fallen by 80%. Targeted policies appear to be working. For example, from October 2027, customers will pay a refundable deposit for certain drink containers under the new Deposit Return Scheme. The deposit will apply to all single-use drinks containers that are made wholly or mainly from aluminium or steel, or PET plastic. Milk bottles and others made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) will not be included.
Please keep donating to support our Blister Packs recycling campaign - thanks to members we will have saved over 50 kilos of this mixed materials waste from landfill this year.
But do remember to remove all unused pills from the discarded packs before you bring them for recycling. Thank you!
Report by Kate Bailey