The Earth’s Corr: Leaders Still Unwilling To Do What’s Necessary – Shauna Corr

A wise man once said that he believed our three biggest environmental problems were loss of biodiversity, collapsing ecosystems and climate change and that within 30 years science could help us solve them.

But he was wrong.

“The main environmental issues are selfishness, greed and apathy and to deal with these we need spiritual and cultural transformation,” he admitted.

The words of US climate adviser Gus Speth are as true today as when he first spoke them.

Despite a myriad of warnings from scientists and the latest UN report showing that even if every country in the world delivers on its emission reduction promises, the global average temperature will rise another 2.7 degrees Celsius by the end of the year. century.

The increase is likely to worsen forest fires, droughts and extreme floods.

“The world is on a catastrophic path,” said UN Secretary General António Guterres.

But leaders around the world, including our own, still seem reluctant to do what needs to be done and what scientists say they need to do.

They continue to facilitate this insatiable urge of some for more wealth, more power and more resources and as far as the masses are concerned – thus, many just don’t seem to care or are so overwhelmed by their own struggles that ‘they don’t have the mental space to.

Here in good old NI, our public sector pension provider is still reluctant to opt out of fossil fuels altogether and a board that has recognized the climate crisis will not vote to push them due to concerns about their own retirement.

Our government is still considering petroleum licenses and has paid tens of thousands of public money for a report to investigate the viability of hydraulic fracturing here.

I welcome the review of the development of hydrocarbons announced by Minister Mallon and hope that he finds that the only way forward is an outright ban on any “development” of our fossil fuels – which should really be considered. a “destruction”.

But I have doubts.

Mines are in operation and on the maps, and quarrying continues at a steady pace, even when it inflicts enormous damage to the environment.

Meanwhile, our Agri-Food Minister intends to “green growth” as our fragile ecosystems are already collapsing under the weight of “seeking growth” and CCC says that’s okay. if the farmers here continue to release two megatonnes of carbon a year by 2050. because we are the meat factory of the UK.

So I understand when Greta says that promises from leaders around the world sound “blah, blah, blah” – because they do.

I also understand why more than half of the world’s young people think we are doomed and world leaders are lying to us about what they are doing to stop climate change, because many of them are doing it.

Governments always seem to be making decisions that put big business above all else with the frankly disgusting but never-ending drive to make more money, more profit, and grow, grow, grow.

We know the oil companies have lied about the impact of their actions on Earth – and yet they have been allowed to continue unabated.

Didn’t Charles Baudelaire warn us that “the greatest trick the Devil has ever pulled was to convince the world that he did not exist”.

Oil companies obviously had the same playbook.

But this cake-in-the-sky idea that we can continue with a few tweaks here and there, has had its day.

And we can’t keep shouting those who tell the truth like “green nuts” who ask too much of us.

I know it’s hard to figure out and sometimes I can’t see the wood for the trees because of all the greenwashing and misinformation.

All you need to know and accept is that the climate crisis is real and that we are not doing enough to prevent the worst of its impacts.

But I don’t think it’s my fault or yours.

Yes, we are the consumers, as they like to call us.

But surely the second biggest trick the devil has ever pulled, has been to put the blame on me and you for saving the planet when in fact we should blame the governments of the northern hemisphere, the richest 10%. and the 100 companies really responsible for the mess that we are. now in.

We need our leaders to change course and finally act against the global trade interests that will leave us all breathless for clean air.

So why not contact your MPs before COP26 and let them know what you think of their climate efforts.

We have seven heading to Glasgow from here.

The energy promise matches the bill on the hill

The legislation currently in force in Stormont could help restore the power of a certain energy production to ordinary people like you and me.

Sinn Féin MP John O’Dowd said his small-scale green energy bill “will force large electricity providers to pay a minimum price for the electricity they get from small generators. private greens ”.

He praised the fact that he passed his second reading in the Northern Ireland Assembly as a victory for families and the environment.

If approved, that means suppliers will have to source 5% of their energy from small-scale power generators.

“This means that homes, farms, small businesses, community groups and cooperatives will be able to generate electricity from small-scale generators such as wind turbines or solar panels and will receive a guaranteed minimum price when they will sell it to the network, ”added O’Dowd.

“Part of tackling climate change isn’t just about changing the way we produce energy, but also who produces it.

“This bill enables energy consumers to become energy producers, which will encourage the growth of small-scale energy production, reduce emissions, increase energy democracy and provide people with additional income. “

Well done our youth

I didn’t say it last week because my column was already missing – but hats off to all the young people in this little place who stood out in the cold and rain to make their views heard on the climate crisis heard.

Hundreds of thousands of young people around the world have taken to the streets to call to # uproot the system that delivered global warming to us.

In Belfast, their numbers were not in the thousands, but their message was equally clear: we need big changes and big promises that will be kept now.

It is their future that we are talking about and they should be commended for taking the only step possible to make their voices heard.

Shame on those who put them down and pretend it wasn’t real.

The kids will be on the right side of the story with this and they won’t.

A couple set up their stand for the environment

Husband and wife duo, Debra and Scott Telford of Newtownards, have some ideas for the little exchanges you can have around the house.

While I would never advocate bundling perfectly good things together and replacing them with more eco-friendly products – as that sort of defeats the purpose – if you’re short on something, donate. to these guys a goose.

The couple started their small, environmentally conscious business three years ago, before refill stores took off.

And they do everything from cleaning supplies to kitchenware and bathroom items online and through their traveling market stall.

Deborah told me, “We really like to shop because we can chat with people face to face, talk about the products and see them in real life.

“We would like to have a store one day, but we are still working full time. It’s really a secondary activity for us, purely out of passion.

“But we’ve seen a huge change in people’s attitudes since we started.

“People are so much more aware of environmental issues and want to make their own little changes. “

Check them out at earth-made.co.uk.

If you have a story on the environment, please contact us at shauna.corr@reachplc.com, @ShaunaReports on Twitter or https://www.facebook.com/ShaunaCorrJournalist