Here’s an article posted last Friday by John Nightingale on Sustainable Dittisham’s website.
Afternoon all
There have been some very positive things happening this week but I’d like to start with my favourite which is that scientists from Oxford University have developed a cost-effective way of producing jet fuel from carbon dioxide, achieved by using an inexpensive iron-based catalyst. So at last we won’t just be able to fly to lush tropical destinations without feeling guilty, if it helps to use up carbon, we may have to!
France has been in the news this week after Greenpeace, in hand with other French conservation groups, won a case in the French courts which ruled that the state had failed to take proper action to tackle the climate crisis. The decision makes France legally responsible for its commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and therefore liable for “ecological damage” linked to global warming. Yeees! Get those lawyers over here and let’s force our government to fulfill their obligations.
Animal welfare has definitely come onto the French radar too with the announcement of plans to phase out mink farming and ban the use of wild animals in circuses as well as dolphins and orcas in theme parks. Parc Asterix has announced the closure of their sea lion and dolphin aquarium. At the same time the Paris City council has decided to shut down the ‘cruel and archaic’ live bird market that has operated since time immemorial in the city centre.
I find it extraordinary and exciting that we’re now witnessing the death of the internal combustion engine and can enjoy watching the behemoths of the oil world scrabbling to get onto the renewables wagon. BP’s oil and gas production is expected to start shrinking by at least one million barrels of oil a day and it plans to cease exploring for oil and gas in new countries. BP’s intention is to shrink its carbon footprint to net zero by 2050 by cutting more greenhouse gas emissions every year than is produced by the whole of the UK.
BP bought the electric vehicle charging network Chargemaster a couple of years ago and Shell have just acquired Ubitricity, a European wide charge points provider. ‘Green forecourts’ eh? We like the sound of that.
Electric Vehicle technology has just done a huge jump with the unveiling last week of a new electric car battery that can be fully charged in five minutes. That is a game changer for EVs and will definitely speed up the disappearance of petrol and diesel vehicles.
Jumping to the other side of the world, three jaguars, a mother and two cubs, have been released into Iberá National Park in North Eastern Argentina in an attempt to rewild the local ecosystem. It’s 70 years since jaguars have been seen in the Iberá Wetlands, after being hunted to local extinction, and the hope is to re-establish a healthy population of over a 100 jaguars in the area.
And as for tiny creatures, we don’t get much smaller than this –
Brookesia nana, a species of chameleon, has recently been found in the rain forests of northern Madagascar and is the smallest adult reptile ever described. Just two specimens have been found, one male and one female. The female is 29mm long from nose to tail while the male is considerably smaller at just 21.6mm, making him the smallest adult reptile ever described. He makes up for his diminutive size however, by having enormous genitals which, when ‘flexed’, account for nearly 20% of his length. I’ve attached a picture of the little guy although luckily there’s no flexing going on!
Have a great weekend everyone,
John
🙂
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