What is Climate Change?

Top scientists agree – climate change is real, it’s happening and it’s time to take action to stop it. We use energy from fossil fuels for almost everything we do: for heating our homes, cooking our meals and powering our cars. Industrial processes use vast amounts of energy to make the products we buy for our homes. But the burning of fossil fuel energy is largely to blame for the climate changes we are now experiencing worldwide.

When we burn fossil fuels (oil, coal, natural gas, petrol, and diesel) for energy, carbon dioxide (CO2) is released. Like other greenhouse gases, CO2 traps the sun’s heat in the atmosphere, leading to global warming and climate change.
Alternative sources of energy exist – from bio-fuels in Brazil to wind farms in Wales – but the switch away from fossil fuels will not happen without significant Government intervention.

The Kyoto Climate Treaty is the first international sign of hope. It places the responsibility for action with the rich developed nations like the UK. This gives the UK an important role in ushering in a new low carbon economy. We need to see massive expansion in renewable technologies, greater energy efficiency and cuts in our energy demand. We can do this by taking action at home or work and by lobbying our MPs to press for change.

Power from fossil fuel is finite and climate change is just one of the worrying consequences of our society’s addiction to fossil fuel energy. Oil extraction in Ecuador, Nigeria and many other Southern countries has led to civil disturbances and wrecked local lives. Plans to build an oil pipeline from Baku in Azerbaijan to Ceyhan in Turkey have been met with outrage – it runs through sensitive environments and will displace communities. It will need military protection and still be vulnerable to terrorists.

Funding for fossil fuel projects often involves institutions like the World Bank and taxpayers’ money – absorbing funds that could otherwise be invested in renewables. Our cities are polluted by vehicle exhaust fumes which threaten the
health of thousands of people.

Vested interests
The big fossil fuel companies formed a lobby group, the Global Climate Coalition, to rubbish climate change science and protect their profits. After international pressure the coalition was disbanded in 2002, but many corporations (eg, oil, coal and car manufacturers) still try to sabotage action on climate change. Esso is the biggest oil company on the planet and spent millions encouraging the US to reject the Kyoto Climate Treaty. In contrast BP and Shell are working on renewable alternatives to fossil fuels.

False nuclear future
Champions of nuclear power say it is a way to reduce CO2 emissions. But there are still major problems with toxic waste including the danger of accidents, radio-active emissions and the threat of terrorist attack. The hidden costs are also enormous: during the 1990s the UK’s nuclear industry needed £9 billion in subsidies. Taxpayers are now also liable for most clean-up costs (this could be
more than £10 billion at today’s prices). Coal may be the most damaging of the fossil fuels, but a new generation of nuclear power stations would be folly.

Clean energy

The good news is that clean green power is no longer just for eccentric inventors. There are already places in Britain using renewable power from the sun, the wind, the waves and biomass (plants). Government grant schemes ensure that solar roof tiles are turning up on ordinary suburban  houses, and as the price goes down this trend looks set to continue. The first zero emissions housing development in South East England, known as BedZED, has already been built. Wave power and tidal turbines are starting to make headlines. Hydro power, especially small schemes, also offers reliable, clean and renewable energy. As renewable power becomes more mainstream it can be used to generate electricity which is then used to create hydrogen – an alternative heat and transport fuel. Leaders in the green energy race include Germany, Denmark and
Spain. Iceland, with its geo-thermal resources, is hoping to be the first country to free itself from fossil fuels by developing a hydrogen economy.

To find out what Sheffield Friends of the Earth has been up to, read the articles below, or select them from the index at the top of the page (click back to top link below)

London Climate Demo - December 2005

“Think Global, Act Local”… So we did. On 21st November, a Monday night when most of Sheffield was gridlocked thanks to a broken down bus, Sheffield Friends of the Earth forsook our usual monthly meeting in the Red Deer to join a Public Meeting "Challenging Climate Change" in the basements of the Arts Tower of Sheffield University. As well as some impassioned speeches from Dr Jillian Creasey (Sheffield Green Councillor), Phil Thornhill (National Coordinator, Campaign against Climate Change) and Maxine Bowler (Sheffield RESPECT) our own Steve Goodacre explained the FoE contribution – in particular “The Big Ask”, FoE’s climate change campaign.

There was time for a range of contributions from the audience, but most importantly there was an opportunity to get coach tickets to London for the forthcoming International Day of Action on Climate Change.

Saturday 3 December was chosen as International Day of Action on Climate Change to coincide with the Montreal Climate Conference and demonstrations around the world were planned to demand action from our governments and support for international treaties as the only way forward. Not sure what to expect when the day finally arrived, we made it down to Lincoln's Inn Fields to join over 10,000 demonstrators from every known environment group and a few unknown!

To the beat of the ever enthusiastic samba band, the march wound its way through the streets of London, taking in essential tourist spots such as the Esso headquarters (where a few friendly tigers were having their own small protest watched by a large crowd of friendly police), the Australian Embassy and Downing Street. We walked passed stationary traffic along the Embankment and through bemused but supportive Christmas shoppers, through Trafalgar Square and up Pall Mall, through Berkley Square and – after two hours banner-waving and sight-seeing ended up outside the American Embassy in Grosvenor Square.

Julie and Maureen had been handing out postcards for the Stop M1-widening campaign and we took the opportunity to put the banner up outside the Embassy (and get a few photos to prove we were there!). There were speeches from George Monbiot, Caroline Lucus and David Rovics, but we had trains or coaches home to catch and set off back through the Oxford Street Christmas shoppers, by now all heading home like the marchers…

After getting home, exhausted but proud to have been part of such a huge event (10,000 was the Sunday papers’ best estimate of numbers), we followed the Montreal negotiations with renewed hope.

A week later the BBC reported “Ministers at the climate change conference in Montreal have made a series of breakthroughs in plans to combat global warming.” On the conference's last day, Kyoto Protocol signatories agreed to extend the treaty on emissions reductions beyond its 2012 deadline. And a broader group of countries including the US agreed to non-binding talks on long-term measures. This means we still have a long way to go to reach the binding international treaties or US commitment that will be needed to turn some good intentions into reality. But climate change is the biggest man-made environmental threat our world has ever seen, so campaigning – both local and global need to carry on.

As well as supporting the international Campaign on Climate Change, Sheffield Friends of the Earth need to identify what we can do locally to raise awareness and encourage campaigning. So if you have any ideas or just want to join in do get in touch.

Stop Climate Chaos is planning a mass mobilisation in London in April 2006. Friends of the Earth would like to contribute towards a strong presence, so that politicians and the public know there is widespread support for policies to tackle climate change. Please let us know if you would be interested in attending such a demo so we can organise something in Sheffield. Hopefully we’ll be able to make it bigger and better than December’s demo in London.

Energy Saving Light Bulbs

Shaun Rumbelow reports on different types of energy saving light bulbs:

The most effective way to abate greenhouse gas emissions is to reduce the demand for energy. Despite substituting as many of my normal light bulbs with the energy efficient variety, I still had a number of energy guzzling spot lights which can’t accommodate the standard energy saving bulbs.

After a few trips to B&Q, Wickes and specialist lighting shops, it initially appeared that there were no solutions. However, after doing some research on the Internet, I managed to track down a number of energy efficient bulbs to work in spot lights. In particular, I had 6 x 50 watt GU10 halogen bulbs consuming a massive 300 watts in total. I replaced these bulbs with Megaman GU10 energy saving bulbs at a cost of £6.10 for each bulb.

Even though the cost of each bulb is expensive, they last much longer than the normal halogen bulbs, use less energy and produce less heat. 

I now have the same stylish bathroom ceiling with no light bulbs hanging down and no more guilt of wasting lots of energy.  I have a very brightly lit room (240 watts of actual light) for just 54 watts. A normal light bulb would use 100 watts.  

Because most people will not go to the trouble of researching light bulbs on the Internet and mail ordering them, I sent some short letters to B&Q and Homebase to ask if they would consider stocking a better range of energy efficient light bulbs.

B&Q replied with the following points:

“I can advise that I have forwarded your e-mail onto our buying department.  They advise that, at present, they do not intend introducing an energy efficient  range of the GU10's in the immediate future. This is because B&Q offer one of the largest ranges of energy saving bulbs and sell nearly a 100 different types

We would like to thank you for bringing this to our attention, as the buying team are constantly updating the range, to try and keep up with our customers demands, as well as market trends.”

Homebase responded with, “Our website is currently under development and as such only shows a limited number of home delivery lines, I am sure that your local store will carry a far more comprehensive range of such bulbs.”

I think Homebase missed the point I was trying to make and I’m not sure that B&Q sell nearly 100 different types of energy saving bulbs. At the moment I would recommend buying bulbs off the internet if specialist bulbs are required. The different formats available include GU10, R50, R60, R80, R63, PAR30 and PAR 38. LED light bulbs can also be purchased which use even less energy.

For more details see the following web sites or search Google:

Manufacturer of light bulbs

www.MegaManUK.com

Suppliers of light bulbs

www.bltdirect.com

www.BuyElectrical.co.uk

www.ebulbshop.com

The Big Ask

More than 200 MP's have said they support our Climate Change Bill. That's great. But we still need more MP's to sign up. Please help by asking five of your friends or family to take action at www.thebigask.com or send a letter such as the one below to your MP (Please don't copy it exactly)

Dear MP

EDM 178 - The Climate Change Bill

I am writing as a constituent to ask if you could sign Early Day Motion 178, which has been proposed by Michael Meacher and sponsored by Norman Baker.

All parties have recognised the importance of tackling climate change, which the Chief Scientific Advisor has said is the greatest threat the planet faces. Yet despite this, carbon dioxide emissions have risen recently. 

Although all parties support long-term targets for cutting carbon dioxide, I am worried that without more regular milestones and much more detailed reporting and scrutinising of progress, we will drift further and further from these targets.

EDM 178 supports the Climate Change Bill, which was presented by a cross-party group of MPs just before the general election, and would require annual reductions of 3% in carbon dioxide emissions, regular reporting and provide mechanisms that would correct failing policies.

I do hope you will sign the EDM and support the Climate Change Bill.

Yours sincerely

G8 Meeting: Africa Needs Water Not Climate Change

Derby witnessed the largest police presence since the miners’ strike with two-thousand police officers on duty at a cost to the tax payer of over two million pounds.  The police operation was mounted to protect the environment and development ministers at the G8 meeting at Breadsall Priory located on the periphery of Derby. On the agenda were issues such as Africa, climate change and logging of timber.

Friends of the Earth groups were planning to walk to Breadsall Priory to deliver bottles of clean water to the ministers with the message, “Climate Change: Africa needs water not oil” but this had to be cancelled when Charles Clarke, the home secretary,  banned the walk.

Instead, Shaun and Chris from the Sheffield group  joined forces with other FoE campaigners and People and Planet groups to protest in Derby city centre.

The protest was covered by the local ITV news stations, the BBC,  Derbyshire radio stations and newspapers. The message FoE projected to the media was that our right to peaceful protest had been denied and climate change means that 63% of the world's population could face significant water stress by 2025. Friends of the Earth is calling for industrialised nations to stop pumping our money into environmentally and socially damaging projects, such as new oil developments, and instead start investing in a sustainable future .

Later in the day, when most other environmental protesters had gone home, Friends of the Earth and People and Planet managed to gain exclusive access for five campaigners to visit Breadsall Priory for a photo shoot and the slim chance of meeting Margaret Beckett. Both Shaun and Chris from the Sheffield group volunteered and so too did Anna from the Sheffield branch of People and Planet.

This was a major achievement as the Guardian newspaper later reported that journalists and even some of the delegates attending the meeting experienced major hurdles trying to penetrate the tight security.

In Derby city centre, the protesters boarded a police van before making off to the 5 mile exclusion zone. In addition to numerous road blocks, steel fencing had been erected around the priory and a metal road had been laid for fully staffed riot vans to patrol the perimeter. Before getting to the main entrance of the priory all protesters were given a full body search before the remaining journey could get under way.  While being searched, it was noticed that the local church had draped a large “Make Poverty History” banner from the steeple.  A resident of Breadsall demonstrated  his support for the campaign by shouting something along the lines of  “well done lads, you’re doing a good job”

Once at the main gates, the five protesters had to wait in the van while the police formed a defensive line to prevent campaigners making a run for the priory. A photographer from the Guardian newspaper took several pictures of the protest before being returned to the city centre by the police.

For more details and pictures see the following links:

The Guardian article

BBC article

Derbyshire newspaper article

Sheffield Friends of the Earth Photographs

BBC Picture Gallery

Kyoto & Electric Car Stall - February 2005

Sheffield Friends of the Earth united with Greenpeace and the Sheffield Green Party on Saturday 19th February 2005 to highlight the inauguration of the Kyoto Protocol and to raise public awareness of climate change.

A total of 141 countries have signed up to the Kyoto Protocol, but the US and Australia have abstained for economic reasons. The protocol requires a 5.2% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2012 with each country having its own targets according to its pollution levels.

The Kyoto stalls on the top of Fargate were used to collect hundreds of signatures from the public calling on Sheffield City Council to improve energy efficiency and reduce green house gas emissions. Representatives from the three green groups will present the petition to the council in March.

The Sheffield Friends of the Earth stall was also used to distributed more  energy saving light bulbs to the public as a way to engage people in thinking about saving energy at home. For people unsure about the causes and impacts of climate change we handed out simple to understand booklets.

Although the petition and distribution of  energy saving light bulbs had been a success, the real star of the show was Maureen’s new electric car. It managed to attract the attention of the public as it is very easy to park and is exempt from road tax. If that’s not good enough, it costs less than 1p per mile to run and emits no polluting gases when being driven around Sheffield. As Maureen’s energy supplier is using renewable energy sources such as wind power, it causes no pollution when re-charging the battery. With a price tag of only £6,000  many people expressed an interest in purchasing one for work and shopping trips.

The only downside to the electric car is its limited range of around 40 miles and a top speed of 40 mph.

For anyone interested in purchasing a new electric car, or just to find out more details, visit the website www.GoingGreen.co.uk

Switch to Green Energy

Shaun Rumbelow reports on how easy and cost effective it can be to switch to green energy:

I’m already a low energy user because I have an efficient combination boiler, energy saving light bulbs and switch things off when not in use. However, the electricity I use most likely comes from polluting fossil fuels or nuclear power.

As I’m not happy with these methods of generating electricity, I recently produced a spreadsheet to work out the costs of the different energy suppliers and actually discovered that green energy companies are in fact very competitively priced and in some cases cheaper. As a result of my comparisons, I have switched my gas and electricity from British Gas to RSPB Green Energy. It’s really very simple—you just give them a ring, tell them which company currently supplies your energy, and give them your bank details. They do the rest such as cancelling your old contract.

So how much does it cost? By switching to RSPB my electricity for a full year will be £9.97 cheaper. My gas bill will reduce by £13.90 a year (RSPB gas is cheaper in winter when I’m paying a standing charge and lower unit prices, but slightly more expensive than British Gas in the summer when the standing change makes it more expensive due to very few units of gas being used). Combining these figures, I will make a saving with RSPB energy of £23.87 a year but I now forego the dual-fuel discount of £13.32 which makes RSPB energy £10.55 per year cheaper.

Also, RSPB get a £20 lump sum on joining and a further £10 each year whilst I’m still using RSPB energy. This money is used to purchase and manage more nature reserves.

I’m sure most people would agree that saving money, helping to fund RSPB’s work and using wind, hydro and landfill derived energy is a win win win solution.

To find more details about the green energy companies and how to access their web sites, click on the link below:

http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/climate/press_for_change

/choose_green_energy/index.html

After writing this article, it has been discovered that RSBP energy (Scottish & Southern Energy) is not the best green energy supplier. An article appeared in the June edition of the Ecologist magazine identifying the green energy companies that have invested the most money in to new renewable energy schemes. Please click on the link below to view the article from the Ecologist magazine.

http://www.ecotricity.co.uk/acrobat/JeremySmith_articleJune05.pdf

In summary, the best suppliers based on 2004 figures are as follows:

 Source: The Ecologist June 2005

Loscar Wind Farm

Plans will be submitted soon for a small wind farm consisting of three turbines at Loscar Farm near Harthill, Sheffield. The development is a joint effort between Npower Renewables and the owner of the farm, John Wilks.

Each turbine will be capable of generating 1.3MW of electricity - enough for 2100 homes. This form of generating electricity will offset 8,000 plus tonnes of green house gasses from the atmosphere.

If this scheme gets the go-ahead, it will help to meet the Government’s target of generating 10% of all electricity by renewable sources by 2010. The Yorkshire and Humber region has a target of 304 MW of power from on-shore wind by 2010. In the past

11 years only 25MW have been installed -less than 1% of the target.

The wind farm will secure much needed income for the farmer, thus securing his business and the treasured landscape of the area.

Both local villages (Hathill and Thorpe Salvin) turn their back on the wind-farm site with the majority of the properties facing the village centres. This means that the visual impact of the turbines won’t be too bad.

Research by Npower Renewables has concluded that the noise and flickering (sun shining between rotating blades) are not real grounds for concern. Access to erect and maintain the wind mills should not impinge on the residents of the near-by villages as alternative routes have been planned.

Sheffield Friends of the Earth will be supporting this development by writing a letter of support to Rotherham Council. For more details of the planning application see the council’s web site www.rotherham.gov.uk and select the environment section and then planning.

We would urge local members to write letters of support and send us copies of any letters you receive.

Rusholme Wind Farm

Please see information relating to Rusholme Wind farm proposal located close to the Drax power station near Selby.  The planning process currently has 150 letters opposing the wind farm and only 6 letters in favour.  I would urge you to send the attached letter to the planning department at Selby District Council in order to support the planning application.

Please sign and address the letter.  Please use the additional comments section in the letter to identify the fact that the wind farm will have no negative impact on noise or vibration in the area.  Also mention the 12 wind turbines are a far more attractive site on the landscape than an old and highly pollutive coal fired power station.

Please pass this letter to anyone else who would be prepared to support the proposal, every positive letter is really important.

This is a copy of the letter sent on behalf of Sheffield Friends of the Earth.

Matthew Parkinson

Planning Services

Selby District Council

Civic Centre

Portholme Road

Selby

North Yorkshire

YO8 4SB

2nd September 2004

Dear Mr Parkinson

Rusholme wind farm proposal

I am writing on behalf of Sheffield Friends of the Earth to support the Rusholme wind farm proposal.

Climate change is probably the greatest threat to the future of humanity. The Government’s Chief Scientist, Sir David King, has stated that climate change is a greater threat than global terrorism. The Government has committed us to challenging targets to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide we produce. To do this we need a substantial increase in the amount of power generated from renewable energy sources, such as wind farms. This can only be done if we are prepared to support the development of projects like the Rusholme wind farm.

Unlike the nearby Drax power station, the wind farm will not emit any pollution or contribute to the gases that cause climate change. It will not leave any legacy of environmental damage for future generations to deal with. This should be an important factor in making planning decisions. We have a duty to consider the potential impact of our decisions upon future generations.

Concerns have been raised about the visual impact of the wind farm and noise levels. Many of us feel that wind turbines are quite elegant structures with a positive visual impact - certainly compared to power stations. Noise levels are minor compared to the noise of traffic that most residents of the UK are exposed to. There is also no evidence of any adverse health effects associated with wind farms, whereas the health impact of climate change will be devastating.

Please register my support for wind power and my support for Rusholme Wind Farm.

Yours sincerely,

Steve Gooadcre

Energy Challenge Day of Action

Sheffield Friends of the Earth held a stall on the Moor - 5th June 2004 to mark World Environment Day. The stall was used to encourage people to consider switching to green energy companies using renewable technologies such as wind and wave power. Every member of the public taking away our leaflets and signing the pledge received a free energy saving light bulb. We managed to give away 80 light bulbs so this will result in 8000 Watts per hour of energy being reduced to1600 Watts per hour. The stall was also used to encourage members of the public to sign a letter to the council asking for better doorstep recycling facilities.  

Pictures of the event can be seen by clicking here.

Throughout the year, we will be giving away more free energy saving light bulbs when people sign up to consider looking at green energy companies. Why not visit us at a general meeting or at one of our stalls throughout the year and receive a free light bulb.

Green Fair Stall - 2004

Sheffield Friends of the Earth attended the Green Fair at St Mary's Church on Saturday 17th July. Apart from raising money for the group we also promoted our green energy campaign by handing out more free energy saving light bulbs and leaflets for green energy companies. We also handed out about 50 water saving bags for toilet cisterns. These bags save 1 litre per flush which equates to around 2000 gallons of water saved per year for an average family. As we gave away 50 bags this is around 100,000 litres of water per year.

We have plenty more to hand out at future stalls.

Contacts for Green Energy

This month we feature an article on Mike Grigg and his own solar thermal house in North Cornwall. You can read all about Mike's contribution to reducing his own climate impact here: http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/climate/

news/solar_heating_cornwall.html

Did you know that as well as a network of energy efficiency advice centres around the country there are also five renewable energy centres? You can find out if one of them is in your area here: http://www.saveenergy.co.uk/renewables

advice/eeac.cfm
They provide impartial free advice to householders, community groups, local authorities, schools and business.

The Community Renewables Initiative also offers advice to groups interested in setting up renewable energy schemes - find out more by contacting your local centre: http://www.countryside.gov.uk/NewEnterprise/Economies/

localsupportteamcontacts.asp

Climate Campaigns

• What is Climate Change?

• London Climate Demo

• Energy Saving Lights

• The Big Ask

• G8 Meeting: Water not Oil

• Kyoto & Electric Car Stall

• Green energy

• Loscar Windfarm

• Rusholme Windfarm

• Energy Day of Action

• Green Fair

• Energy Contacts

• Energy Training Day

Climate Solutions

Click here if you would like to use our interactive map for discovering solutions to tackling Climate Change.

Oil & Petrol Issues

What to know more about fuel prices, the real cost of motoring and the future for oil? If so, click here.