Climate Change – What we Now Know
This topic “Climate Change – What we Now Know” is all good solid science. Predictions indicating what might happen in the future vary. We are now absolutely certain the 1.5 degree target has already been breached.
Climate change is disrupting stable and ancient weather patterns.
There are some striking things happening in our UK environment. For example Ospreys nationally have had an appalling season, unable to feed young as fishing very difficult and beset by bad weather. Many nests have completely failed.
Bats this year are starving and will suffer a population crash. They are unable to feed due to lack of insects. This is partly bad weather, but significantly river pollution with sewage is a major factor. Insects in general are having a bad time year on year due to habitat destruction, herbicide and pesticide use and poor weather.
Of course we will have good and bad weather years as part of the natural cycle. Climate change is not natural. However, our environment is not resilient any more because we have destroyed so much natural habitat. This is especially the case in the UK. One of the most wildlife depleted countries in the world.
A consequence of this is that our insect life cannot recover. Our bees are in crisis because they are dependent on one queen bee surviving the winter. So the population will vary from year to year. Early spring flowers like dandelions and others need to be left alone. Do not use herbicides, do not mow your grass or at least not all of it. Seed banks in soil can last several years but not forever. We tidy up too much. We cut down dead trees then stupidly use them as firewood. Please let them decay slowly.
For example, our local council in Harrogate now leave uncut areas to let wildflowers grow. An applaudable strategy, but the seeds are not there. So it looks untidy, we can help. Put some seeds back, its easy.
No mow May is commendable, but it should be no mow summer.
So where do we go from here on Climate Change?
