Climate Change Action

Wind power myths and spin.

noreply@blogger.com (Calvin Jones) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 11:01:06 PST

Wind power is the cheapest form of renewable energy. If we dont want to take the nuclear option and associated risks then our current best chance at reducing carbon emissions and dependence on volatile fossil fuel prices is to use wind power.On the down side, wind turbines are not a reliable form of energy. In a diverse energy grid this isn't a major issue but it is an issue that critics of wind

New Directions for Climate Action: 9th-10th July

noreply@blogger.com (Calvin Jones) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 12:01:33 PDT

At the Common Ground meeting in June we got together to continue some of the discussions around radical climate action that were started at Space for Change. The conversation is progressing with lots of discussion around identity, structure, how to organise non/anti-hierarchically, how to keep a radical perspective and more.A follow-on meeting, ‘New Directions’ has been planned for the 9-10th of

Validity of Studies on Economics of Shale Gas

noreply@blogger.com (Calvin Jones) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 11:48:37 PDT

The 2nd of July 2011 issue of new scientist reports that Thomas Kinnaman of Bucknel University in Lewisburg (PA) has examined six studies of the economics of shale gas extaction. Kinnaman reportedly "found that they all contain flaws that exagerated the benefits of shale gas extraction to local economies". Most of these studies also use a model called IMPLAN which makes significant

Coal Action Scotland Update

noreply@blogger.com (Calvin Jones) — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 16:10:52 PST

Here's a brief update of what's been going on with Coal Action Scotland and what's coming up. There's a week to go before the Autumn Gathering and lots has been happening! New THWAC! short film (Finished so Omitted) THWAC Gathering 6th-10th November Coal Action Scotland October Newsletter Action Roundup Recent News 1. New THWAC! short filmA short film about the Happendon Wood Action Camp and

Camp for Climate Action: 2010 Edinburgh

noreply@blogger.com (Calvin Jones) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 08:29:49 PDT

Hello again - haven't done this for a while

noreply@blogger.com (THROBGOBLINS INTERNATIONAL.) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 10:56:33 PDT

I hope you don't mind the intrusion after so long. Maybe we could all do with a laughThese cartoons originally appeared in either Ethical Consumer magazine or the New Internationalist magazine.For more cartoony goodness please visit the NEW WEBSITE

Forget aid: just stop robbing us!

noreply@blogger.com (Calvin Jones) — Thu, 13 May 2010 16:54:27 PDT

British oil company Tullow & UK Embassy push disputed deal that could cut Congo's revenues by $10 billionConfidential oil contracts held by UK companies Tullow and Heritage in the Democratic Republic of Congo were leaked today, revealing the danger of economic rip-off and rights abuses in one of Africa's most unstable countries.The Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs) are accompanied by a legal

Climate Justice Action: Join the planning, support the day.

noreply@blogger.com (Calvin Jones) — Thu, 13 May 2010 14:16:20 PDT

Climate Justice ActionPlanning meeting: Bonn, Germany, 29-31 May 2010Climate Justice Action : Call for a day of action October 2010Human-induced and capitalist-driven climate change caused by CO2 and other green house gases is an imminent threat to the planet as we know it. It is happening now and it is happening fast. Centuries of exploitation and destruction have passed. It is the world's poor,

New Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change: Chris Huhne

noreply@blogger.com (Calvin Jones) — Wed, 12 May 2010 14:28:09 PDT

Chris Huhne (1,2) is the new Department for Energy and Climate Change head.8th of May 2007 (url)Chris Huhne proposes several climate change policies:That this House calls on the Government to set targets for carbon emissions informed by science and not political convenience which will help to hold global warming to within two degrees of pre-industrial levels; recognises that the best current

Note on CCS Policy

noreply@blogger.com (Calvin Jones) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:11:24 PDT

There are limits to what you can say in 140 charachters so here is a quick note on my thougts about CCS. I`m not an expert but it is a topic that i have been looking at for some time.I started out enthusiastic about CCS and annoyed with environmentalists who where against the technology. My positions was due to my concern about the development of China and India and the potential for shifting

'Green' reception to 2010 budget.

noreply@blogger.com (Calvin Jones) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:09:45 PDT

MORE ROADSRT @cpre £285m for motorways "Mr Toad rubbing his hands with glee" but "not the right priority" for carbon-cutting or rural communitiesMINI-INVESTMENT BANKRT @james_randerson : Richard Gledhill at PwC says green bank "very small beer compared to the scale of new investment required" #budgetUSING THE BANKS WE ALREADY OWNRT @globaljusticeuk : WDM says RBS should go green otherwise

UK Budget 2010 : Climate Change Aspects

noreply@blogger.com (Calvin Jones) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:13:55 PDT

This years budget is not likely to surprise to many people but there are a few interesting proposals and a couple of delayed measures that we are reminded are about to come into force.The new measures:Up to £60 million "for the development of port sites to support offshore wind manufacturers looking to build new facilities in the UK"This is superficially similar to a Lib Dem proposal for

2nd UK Coal Mine Occupation in Two Weeks

noreply@blogger.com (Calvin Jones) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 02:56:48 PDT

A press release sent ouy by activists occupying Blair House Open Cast Coal Site says that the latest occupation started last night:"Last night twenty five activists occupied the site of the Blair House OpenCastCoal Site in solidarity with near-by communities and in directintervention ofthe environmental destruction that it will cause."The other recent site of occupation is the Defend Huntington

Stopping Coal Power in The UK : How's it going?

noreply@blogger.com (Calvin Jones) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 12:58:51 PDT

An update on coal power in the UK:Coal power without ccs would have been ruled out if Labour rebels, Lib Dems and Torries had sucesfully passed an emissions performance standard. The EPS fell six votes short.Hunterston energy plant is planed to have some CCS Ayrshire Power, owned by Peel Energy Ltd. Planning permission is likely to be submitted to the scottish govornment shortly. This 1600MW

UK Renewable Energy Support and Information

noreply@blogger.com (Calvin Jones) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:22:05 PST

Ed Milliband has just announced the govornment's latest energy efficiency plan for homes, and it is reported to include long term energy efficiency loans that are fixed to the building rather than the person taking them out. This approach allows a 'pay as you save' approach wherby the income generated from the feed-in tarrif and from energy savings allows householders to see a net reduction in

Emissions Performance Standard for Fossil Fuel Plant

noreply@blogger.com (Calvin Jones) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 07:20:10 PST

I`ve just noticed that the Tories and Lib Dem's are supporting an Emissions Performance Standard in the current energy bill. An emissions performance standard is basically a limit on how pollouting a given application can be; in this case we are talking about power plants but similar regulations can be placed on cars or other vehicles.In the case of Cars there does seem to be a certain sense to

My thoughts on the Beauly to Denny transmission line.

noreply@blogger.com (Calvin Jones) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:37:28 PST

Today's news has been dominated by the Scottish Government's approval of a major piece of electricity transmission infrastructure. The Beauly-Denny line is a 135 mile long high voltage (400Kv) electricity line that passes through some of the most scenic areas of Scotland including part of the Cairngorm National Park (CNP) . I live some miles away from the power lines track, but still within the

UK aviation policy and climate change.

noreply@blogger.com (Calvin Jones) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 09:50:40 PST

A quick update on aviation and climate change. Two relavent reports came out at the end of 2009. Most importantly the Committee on Climate Change report on aviation, but also, the Transport select committee report.1. Committee on Climate Change Report "Meeting the UK Aviation Target"2. House of Commons Transport Select Committee "The Future of Aviation"More globally we have a policy measures

My favourite recent links.

noreply@blogger.com (Calvin Jones) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 17:14:49 PST

Three of my favourite website finds of recent months.Have an investment cost from 1980 and wondering how much that is in todays money? Ask this website.Wondering how much power is being generated by the national grid, how much reserve is present and what the costs are? Check out national grid.What interesting sessions (video) took part while the politicians bickered in Copenhagen?

HoC Hearings on the future of the UK's Electricity Grid

noreply@blogger.com (Calvin Jones) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 15:53:57 PST

The new Department of Energy and Climate Change oversight committee sitting in the House of Commons has been looking at the future of the UK's electricity grid "The Future of Britain’s Electricity Networks".1st April: Dr Michael Pollitt Electricity Policy Research Group (EPRG); Professor Goran Strbac, Imperial College London; Dr Jim Watson, Sussex Energy Group 22nd April: National Grid,

Copenhagen update from climate campers.

noreply@blogger.com (Calvin Jones) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:27:24 PST

Climate campers in Copenhagen just sent over a few interesting links.Here is their photopool. Here is a video from the spait of mass arrests. Here is a video by visiononTV from a demo called 'system change not climate change'.There is also this blog post about the emotions involved in just getting there.

2C or not 2C

noreply@blogger.com (THROBGOBLINS INTERNATIONAL.) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 02:22:57 PST

Copenhagen: Context and Controversy

noreply@blogger.com (Calvin Jones) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:07:37 PST

The latest round of UN climate talks are under way in Copenhagen. Pressure for an agreement is growing as those living with climate impacts become ever more vocal and the risks of 'business as usual' greenhouse gas emissions become better understood. Seventeen years of negotiations with rising global emissions is enough to convince some that 'business as usual' is now an accurate way of

Climate Talks the New 'Business as Usual' ?

noreply@blogger.com (Calvin Jones) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 06:37:03 PST

During the first couple of thousand days of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change there may have been a few dreamers. But now, in 2009, 6000 days after the Rio Earth Summit where this whole process began, the UNFCCC has become positively hostile to hope. You see, dreamers like to imagine a better world and a world of possibilities. The UNFCCC was setup to achieve a dreamt of

Day 3 - odds and evens

noreply@blogger.com (THROBGOBLINS INTERNATIONAL.) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:17:55 PST

For those too busy/jaded/depressed/ etc to trawl through acres of small print, and for those who would like it kept pithy and to the point, our digested day three round up available here as pdf and below as jpg.