Yesterday evening I attended a zoom meeting with Medact Scotland discussing plans for COP26 UN Climate Change Conference hosted by UK in Glasgow for 1st -12th November this year. It was a good meeting where clinicians are concerned over the health effects of Climate Change already being seen.
I decided to take a look at the COP26 explained pdf on the COP website with this challenge the PM on the 10 point plan cited and facts cited therein: COP26
Lets take a closer look at the UKs leadership on climate p.11.
1. It is said that climate action can go hand in hand with economic growth. There is an inference that this has been happening between 1990-2019.
So my challenge is to supply the data to support this claim. We have had a poor economy with job losses and austerity cutbacks. We have had inefficient & insufficient housing. There has been higher incidences of flooding with communities devastated by homes ruined and no insurance cover with incidence of floods. Urbanisation does not seem to have been planned with the impact on climate in mind.
2. It states that we were the first major economy to put into law net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
So my challenge is to define net zero carbon.
How will the UK achieve this?
What are the plans for the interim period?
What changes are going to be made to industries & communities?
3. UK is the largest offshore wind energy in the world.
I ask where is the data to support this claim. How are turbines manufactured and where? Are they totally Green. Why not wave kinetic energy given we are a collection if Isles surrounded by sea?
4. We will end support of fossil fuel overseas.
My challenge what of our drilling off shore and our inshore fracking.
5. Doubling finance to developing nations to £11.6bn over next 5yrs.
My challenge given the present debate on reducing international aid will this pledge be honoured? Can you provide data on the planned use? How will benefit nations and where? Can you #showusthespreadsheet?
6. UK announce end of new petrol & diesel car sales by 2030.
My challenge what is the plan for the interim period and how will infrastructure be designed to new powered cars. What type of roads, how powered and charging stations.
7. To spend £3bn climate funds on nature based solutions plant trees over 30,000 hectares.
My question define and clarify nature based solutions. Where will the hectares of trees be planted. What of existing forest destruction in developing land projects. What nature based solutions planned for urban and inner city areas. can you #showusthespreadsheet?
8. Announce plans that put farmers at the forefront of reversing environmental decline & tackling climate issues.
My question How? What support will farmers get?
9. UK to make climate disclosures mandatory across economy by 2025. Most required by 2023.
Questions How will you ensure this? What will be the assessment measures & tools for this? Will this include NHS & Private care facilities, schools, universities, airports & other transportation hubs?
10. It states that the UK provides 460,000 jobs in UK now. Ambition is for 2 million green jobs.
Question: please list and define the jobs in existence now. Also define the jobs for future? Will those jobs be UK based or will they be part supported in EU?
Can Zac define cleaner technology? How will you achieve the said goal of greener, safer more prosperous future? Will the prosperity benefit all both nationally & globally. The world citizens need life dignity.
Acting quickly and developing resilence: what plans are in place for UK as High Tides and more coastal erosion is apparent on the British Isles. We are somewhat vulnerable in our geographical location!
As I was part of a group of health professionals tackling health issues from the climate changes, I need to ask why was there no mention of poor health from climate pollution and extremes. Will there be resources for clinicians to help the sick from air pollution, extreme heat, extreme cold, flooding and the mental stress of climate crisis.
There also seems to be no point plan on plastic pollution. This also needs addressing.
