https://www.humantruth.info/uk_environment.html
By Vexen Crabtree 2024
#climate_change #the_environment #UK #uk_and_the_environment #UK_environment
The UK comes 57th in the world in terms of its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is calculated from 7 data sets. The UK comes in the best 20 for its environmental performance1, its score on the Green Future Index2 and in energy to GDP efficiency3. It does better than average in its forested percent change 2000-20204 and in how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity. But, things still need to improve in The UK. The UK does worse than average when it comes to the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population5 and in annual meat consumption per person6. The climate activist Greta Thunberg criticizes "creative carbon accounting" that allows the UK to look like it is reducing carbon emissions despite "the UK's active, current support of new exploitation of fossil fuels - for example, the UK shale-gas fracking industry, the expansion of its North Sea oil and gas fields, the expansion of airports as well as the planning permission for a brand new coal mine - [it's] beyond absurd"7.
As a result of pollution, every one of England´s rivers fails to meet safety standards8 and it has the worst water quality in swimming sites in Europe9. In 2019 and 2020, there were 600,000 occasions where raw sewage was pumped into rivers, beaches and open waters10. The cause is deregulation by the UK's Conservative Party, who have been in power since 2010. The best political parties in the UK for the environment are the Green Party, the Liberal Democrats, and Labour.
#climate_change #the_environment
Compared to Europe (2023)11 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank11 | |
1 | Greece | 50.4 |
2 | Italy | 51.8 |
3 | Germany | 55.8 |
... | ||
15= | Hungary | 68.6 |
16 | Armenia | 69.5 |
17 | Slovakia | 69.6 |
18= | UK | 69.6 |
19 | Romania | 72.4 |
20 | Czechia | 77.2 |
21 | Georgia | 78.0 |
22= | Iceland | 78.6 |
23 | Bulgaria | 78.8 |
Europe Avg | 79.9 | |
q=43. |
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2023)11 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank11 | |
1 | Japan | 33.2 |
2 | Philippines | 45.0 |
3 | Uruguay | 48.0 |
... | ||
54 | Nigeria | 69.2 |
55= | Singapore | 69.5 |
55= | Armenia | 69.5 |
57 | UK | 69.6 |
58= | Slovakia | 69.6 |
59 | Ivory Coast | 70.5 |
60 | El Salvador | 71.8 |
61 | Romania | 72.4 |
World Avg | 85.7 | |
q=188. |
#biodiversity #deforestation #environmentalism #forests #over-exploitation #the_environment
Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better4 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Total4 | |
1 | Guernsey | 82.6% |
2 | Bahrain | 75.2% |
3 | Iceland | 64.7% |
... | ||
38 | Dominican Rep. | 8.5% |
39 | Greece | 8.4% |
40 | Réunion | 8.1% |
41 | UK | 7.8% |
42 | Martinique | 7.2% |
43 | Hungary | 6.8% |
44 | India | 6.7% |
45 | Costa Rica | 6.2% |
Europe Avg | 8.2% | |
World Avg | -0.1% | |
q=234. |
Forests are carbon sinks, mitigating against climate change12,13. Unfortunately, we are destroying over 70,000 km2 of forest each year14. In the last few thousand years, we've removed 30-40% of the Earth's forest cover15,13, mostly to clear space for agriculture, and for logging16,17. The produce from both is shipped from poorer countries to richer ones. Half-hearted government efforts and company obfuscation of supply chains makes it almost impossible for consumers to tell which foods and products are from sustainable sources, and which ones are encouraging irresponsible deforestation, meaning that there is little incentive for companies to relent.
The effects are catastrophic. 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions are the result of deforestation18,16. It brings soil erosion from wind and rain which, over time, can almost-permanently stop any hope of growing food19, and spreads desertification. Entire ecosystems are collapsing as a result, including ones that we depend upon20. The water cycle is driven by forests, and their loss reduces ordinary rainfall, increases flooding, removes an abundant source of water filtration, and contributes to a rise in water levels.21.
Some regions of the world are increasing their forest cover13; the best from 2000-2020 are Scandinavia (13.8% ), The Balkans (11.0% ) and Baltic States (7.6% )4. There is an overall trend that developed countries gathered their riches by using up their natural resources, and now, they pay poorer countries to use up theirs instead, whilst they can afford to slowly rebuild their natural environments. But it's not wholly that simple - some rich regions are still burning through what they've got. The regions clearing their forests fastest are Central America (-12.8% ), Africa (-9.1% ) and North America (-2.9% )4.
For more, see:
#climate_change #the_environment
Environmental Performance Higher is better1 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 20181 | |
1 | Switzerland | 87.4 |
2 | France | 84.0 |
3 | Denmark | 81.6 |
4 | Malta | 80.9 |
5 | Sweden | 80.5 |
6 | UK | 79.9 |
7 | Luxembourg | 79.1 |
8 | Austria | 79.0 |
9 | Ireland | 78.8 |
10 | Finland | 78.6 |
11 | Iceland | 78.6 |
12 | Spain | 78.4 |
Europe Avg | 69.6 | |
World Avg | 56.4 | |
q=180. |
“The UK is, however, very special. Not only for its mind-blowing historical carbon debt, but also for its current, very creative, carbon accounting.
Since 1990 the UK has achieved a 37 per cent reduction of its territorial CO2 emissions, according to the Global Carbon Project. But these numbers do not include emissions from aviation, shipping and those associated with imports and exports. If these numbers are included the reduction is around 10 per cent a year, according to Tyndall Manchester.
And the main reason for this reduction is not a consequence of climate policies, but rather a 2001 EU directive on air quality that essentially forced the UK to close down its very old and extremely dirty coal power plants and replace them with less dirty gas power stations. And switching from one disastrous energy source to a slightly less disastrous one will of course result in lower emissions. [...]
The UK's active, current support of new exploitation of fossil fuels - for example, the UK shale-gas fracking industry, the expansion of its North Sea oil and gas fields, the expansion of airports as well as the planning permission for a brand new coal mine - is beyond absurd.
This ongoing irresponsible behaviour will no doubt be remembered in history as one of the greatest failures of humankind.”
"No-One is Too Small to Make a Difference" by Greta Thunberg (2019)7
Energy to GDP Efficiency Higher is better3 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 20143 | |
1 | Hong Kong | 26.32 |
2 | Sri Lanka | 20.00 |
3 | Panama | 17.86 |
... | ||
11 | Denmark | 14.93 |
12 | Peru | 14.49 |
13 | Uruguay | 14.08 |
14 | UK | 13.89 |
15= | Costa Rica | 13.51 |
15= | Philippines | 13.51 |
17 | Luxembourg | 13.33 |
18= | Bangladesh | 13.16 |
Europe Avg | 09.80 | |
World Avg | 09.29 | |
q=119. |
#biodiversity #the_environment #USA
Convention on Biological Diversity Earlier is better | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Total Signed | |
1= | China | 1993 Dec 29 |
1= | Guinea | 1993 Dec 29 |
1= | Cook Islands | 1993 Dec 29 |
... | ||
58 | Luxembourg | 1994 Aug 07 |
59= | Georgia | 1994 Aug 31 |
59= | Egypt | 1994 Aug 31 |
61 | UK | 1994 Sep 01 |
62 | Chad | 1994 Sep 05 |
63 | Gambia | 1994 Sep 08 |
64 | Micronesia | 1994 Sep 18 |
65 | Malaysia | 1994 Sep 22 |
Europe Avg | 1899 Dec 30 | |
World Avg | 1899 Dec 30 | |
q=197. |
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was originally sparked from United Nations activity in the 1980s as a result of rising scientific alarm over the impact of human activity on natural habitats, including a rising awareness of extinctions and shifts in ecosystems that occasionally cause widespread disruption that is difficult (or impossible) to reverse.
After a long period of international consultation involving hundreds of scientists and environmental ministers, the Convention was finalized and launched at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, and received 168 signatures over the subsequent year.
Part of the first wave of signees were a large number of small island nations, who are uniquely susceptible to over-exploitation by rich companies and countries, but simultaneously, are (as a group) the least responsible for driving global extinctions.
Data on when each country ratified the CBD forms part of the formula of the Social and Moral Development Index, with countries losing points for reticence (taking into account the foundation dates of newly independent countries). The USA stands alone in not ratifying it, but is the world's greatest driver for activities that cause biodiversity loss.
For more, see:
The UK is one of the most nature-deprived countries in the world and yet the government, over the 10-year period from 2010 to 2020 in which it promised to, did not move to protect endangered species, slow the degradation of land and natural habitats nor reduce agricultural pollution which devastates the natural environment (the opposite; water pollution is worse than ever now that the UK is not subject to EU monitoring). There has been a reduction in funding to protect biodiversity.22
“The targets [required] the UK government to make the public aware of the value of biodiversity, but the KNCC found that 'more than half of the UK public report no awareness of the threats to biodiversity.”
The Guardian (2019)22
Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better5 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2011 %5 | |
1 | Argentina | 78.3% |
2 | Greece | 77.6% |
3 | Brazil | 77.1% |
... | ||
122 | Netherlands | 23.0% |
123 | Finland | 22.9% |
124 | Congo, DR | 22.8% |
125 | UK | 22.6% |
126 | Malawi | 22.0% |
127 | UAE | 20.8% |
128 | Norway | 20.5% |
129 | Botswana | 20.4% |
Europe Avg | 33.6% | |
World Avg | 39.9% | |
q=145. |
#animal_rights #animal_welfare #diet #food #health #meat #veganism #vegetarianism
Meat Consumption Lower is better6 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2021 kg6 | |
1 | Congo, DR | 03.0 |
2 | Burundi | 03.5 |
3 | Bangladesh | 04.3 |
... | ||
147 | S. Korea | 81.5 |
148 | Dominica | 81.6 |
149 | Hungary | 82.1 |
150 | UK | 82.3 |
151 | Czechia | 82.4 |
152 | Bahrain | 82.8 |
153 | Qatar | 83.0 |
154= | Iceland | 83.6 |
Europe Avg | 71.1 | |
World Avg | 52.5 | |
q=185. |
Vegetarian diets have health advantages over carnivorous diets. Plant-based diets use much less water than carnivorous ones, to the extent that agricultural and water management scientists are urging governments to encourage people to switch23. Some vegetarians are morally opposed to the maltreatment of animals: some avoid meat products as an offensive against the meat industry. But there are problems with vegetarians, too. Some merely want to look good socially; some have accepted pro-vegetarian ideas that are plain wrong and misguided, and, some faddish vegetarian diets are harmful and dangerous. The countries that ate the least meat throughout the 2010s were Burundi, Congo, DR and Bangladesh6.
In the 2010s, meat consumption per person in the UK was well above the global average (of 49kgs per year), putting unnecessary strain on water supplies and the environment.6
#climate_change #energy #sustainability #the_environment
Green Future Index Higher is better2 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2023 Score2 | |
1 | Iceland | 6.7 |
2 | Finland | 6.7 |
3 | Norway | 6.4 |
4= | Sweden | 6.3 |
4= | Denmark | 6.3 |
6 | Netherlands | 6.2 |
7 | UK | 6.1 |
8 | S. Korea | 6.0 |
9 | France | 6.0 |
10= | Spain | 5.9 |
10= | Germany | 5.9 |
12 | Belgium | 5.8 |
Europe Avg | 5.6 | |
World Avg | 4.8 | |
q=76. |
The Green Futures Index (GFI) has been running since 2021, and looks at 23 data sets for over 70 countries, with a focus on effectiveness, policy and planning 'for a low carbon future. It is complementary to existing goals and frameworks for sustainable development'. Datasets include qualitative appraisals and quantitative measurements on carbon emissions across multiple sectors, renewable and nuclear energy, recycling capabilities, green technologies used in building and construction, transport, scientific and industrial green innovations and patent quantities, climate action and climate policies. Each country is then ranked by their final score.24.
#Brexit_Party #British_National_Party #climate_change #environmentalism #Reform_UK #UK #UKIP
Taking into account the long-term costs of climate change, it is the Green Party in the UK that are pushing for the most sensible policies on combatting climate change. Equally unsurprisingly, closest to them are the centrist Liberal Democrats. Unfortunately, these two parties do not enjoy a great many voters. Although the Labour Party do have some good policies, it's the Conservative party, which has been in power more than any other party in recent decades, that sets the rules. They are held back by leadership that lacks an ethical framework, and, a large number of climate skeptics. Many of its politicians are influenced directly by fossil fuel contributions to the party and some of these congregate in the backwards "Global Warming Policy Foundation", members including climate idiots such as Nigel Lawson and Steve Baker25.
The Conservative Party, in power since 2010, have presided over the missing of almost all of the last batch of 10-year climate targets set in 2010. It is 'failing to protect threatened species, end the degradation of land, reduce agricultural pollution or increase funding for green schemes, [... and] is not ending unsustainable fishing"22.
Even worse than the Conservatives are the UK's true denialists, who can be found in fringe parties such as UKIP26, the racist British National Party (who describe the global evidence for climate change as a 'left wing conspiracy')26 and Reform UK (a rebranding of the Brexit Party). Thankfully these parties have little influence.
#public_health #sewage #UK #UK_public_health #uk_public_services #water
The UK has regained its status as 'the dirty man of Europe'; every single one of England´s rivers now fails to meet safety standards8 and we have the worst water quality in swimming sites in Europe9. In 2019 and 2020, there have been 600,000 occasions where raw sewage was pumped into rivers, beaches and open waters10.
The cause is deregulation. Conservative Environment Secretary from 2014 (Liz Truss) cut £24m from sewage monitoring8 and they've removed legal safeguards8,10. "Raw sewage dumps have doubled since those cuts", say Greenpeace, and the Environment Agency "found that 90% of sewage monitors at seasides are broken [or] not installed"8. Despite public uproar, the Conservatives rejected the Environment Act 2021 amendment "that would have introduced a legal obligation to bring down sewage dumping progressively"27 and the 2023 Water Quality (Sewage Discharge) Bill that would "increase penalties for water companies and others who fail to adequately monitor sewage discharges, impose fines and binding targets for such events"28.29. Labour, the Liberal Democrats, and the Green Party, are simply powerless to force the Government to act.
As long as our population and waste products continue to increase, and climate change makes rain events more extreme, we need to invest more in preventative measures. These include re-funding and empower environmental agencies such as the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales and OFWAT and setting legal requirements to make improvements before profits are used as bonuses. Water companies can afford it - bosses are "taking home gigantic pay packets and gifting themselves obscene bonuses"30 and have given a whopping £72 billion as shareholder dividends since privatisation27. Those responsible for failing to stop sewage polluting public water need to be held to account more strictly, regardless of their political ties to government.
We need to improve building standards and add green measures such as waterbutt capturing of roofwater for use in cisterns and gardens. We need more protected natural areas around built-up areas to replace the woodlands and natural features that were previously excellent at soaking up groundwater, preventing sewerage systems from overflowing; likewise, we need to discourage gardens that are homogenous expanses of low-biology lawn or tarmacked over. In short, we need both low-level behaviour changes, and top-level engagement from Government. If all of these things are pursued, the UK should be able to reduce the amount of sewage entering our rivers and waters.
For more, see: