September 2016 Newsletter

A round up of news and views

Air Quality - Town Councillors have said that they support TM's initiative to improve air quality in Marlborough and share our concerns about the overall impact on the health of residents.  They have suggested a 'step approach' to achieving what they say are the 'bold aims' that are contained in our Community Action Plan, which could benefit from further research and monitoring, together with short term and achievable milestones along the way (e.g. encouraging bus drivers to turn off idling engines).  The Town Clerk and the Planning Committee Chair have suggested that a meeting between Wilts Council, Town Councillors and TM to discuss these issues could help to move things on in terms of WC’s own Air Quality Plan which is waiting for Marlborough’s input as an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA). Hopefully this meeting will take place within the next few weeks.

Last session of the 2016 Permaculture Course - This session was on 'low energy living' and was held on board Gary's houseboat, which is currently moored on the Kennet-Avon canal, near Melksham.  Gary's boat runs entirely on solar power, though he does have a tiny wood burning stove to provide warmth, which utilises bits of wood that has been discarded around the tow-path. He also has a solar cooker, a manual washing machine, an electric bike and uses a 'night soil arrangement' to dispose of his human waste. Gary's carbon foot-print is practicaly zero and we were inspired to start planning how we could change our own life-styles in order to become more energy efficient, though we will probably stick to more conventional toileting arrangements! 

Next year's course will begin in March 2017, write to permaculture@transitionmarlborough.org to book your place.

Climate Change news - To deliver the Paris climate change agreement, which the Prime Minister announced would be ratified by the UK this year, over 80% of known reserves of fossil fuels need to remain unburned. This ‘carbon bubble’ has the potential to leave over $2 trillion worth of assets ‘stranded’ – a major financial risk to pension holders. This position has been endorsed by leading economists and financiers, including the Governor of the Bank of England and the World Bank.

Here are the key findings and recommendations from the recent OILCHANGE Report:

The Sky’s Limit: Why the Paris Climate Goals Require a Managed Decline of Fossil Fuel Production

Key Findings:

• The potential carbon emissions from the oil, gas, and coal in the world’s currently operating fields and mines would take us beyond 2°C of warming.
• The reserves in currently operating oil and gas fields alone, even with no coal, would take the world beyond 1.5°C.
• With the necessary decline in production over the coming decades to meet climate goals, clean energy can be scaled up at a corresponding pace, expanding the total number of energy jobs.

Key Recommendations:

• No new fossil fuel extraction or transportation infrastructure should be built, and governments should grant no new permits for them.
• Some fields and mines – primarily in rich countries – should be closed before fully exploiting their resources, and financial support should be provided for non-carbon development in poorer countries.
• This does not mean stopping using all fossil fuels overnight. Governments and companies should conduct a managed decline of the fossil fuel industry and ensure a just transition for the workers and communities that depend on it.

Please read the report and let our M.P. Claire Perry, know of your hopes and concerns.

Thanks

The Transition Marlborough team