-
Yesterday evening I took part in an event in Madrid which is part of a science week and the ongoing celebrations of the Charles Darwin´s 200th birthday . The event was organised by the British Council and I´d like to thank them (and especially Belen Fortea) for inviting me and looking after...
-
Yesterday I participated in a discussion in the European Parliament building about biofuel policy, and then afterwards attended a dinner to continue the discussion. In attendance were officials from the European Commission, MEPs from across the continent, farmers, academics and environmental organisations...
-
I found these two extracts of a speech by President Kennedy on 10 June 1963: Our problems are manmade; therefore, they can be solved by man. And man can be as big as he wants. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings. Man's reason and spirit have often solved the seemingly unsolvable, and...
-
This jet changes everything is the modest claim of an advert in the October issue of the Harvard Business Review. One of the things that I do to try to stimulate my brain (OK - maybe unsuccessfully!) is, every now and then, to buy a random magazine off a rack, one that I don't necessarily expect...
-
Another evening, another fringe event - and another opportunity to share a platform with Secretary of State, Hilary Benn. This evening's event was organised by Friends of the Earth and was about deforestation and agriculture. My speech was along these lines: Two hundred years ago about 14% of the...
-
A quieter day today but a good fringe meeting this evening with Tim Farron , Andy Atkins and Tom MacMillan . We discussed climate change, deforestation and agriculture. Tim Farron spoke well and I warmed to him despite his enthusiasm for the NFU's election manifesto (see yesterday's blog from...
-
Wellies, pop-up tents, skaggy jeans and portaloos are not not really my thing, but I've just enjoyed a weekend of festivals. Saturday, I journeyed far to the east of London. Well, just near Ipswich. It was for Harvest at Jimmy's . It's not hardcore festival, more a music and food funtime...
-
This evening I thought I was attending an event as a spectator and ended up as a speaker.The event was the launch of Climate Answers - an organisation set up by Stephen Tindale the ex-boss of Greenpeace and ex-advisor to ex-Environment Minister Michael Meacher and one of the (cynical but) good guys in...
-
This week was the first time I've been on a plane for over a year. Although it is possible to get to Northern Ireland by other routes, involving trains and boats, there certainly isn't a quick, cheap alternative to flying and so I flew. My share of the round trip flight was around 150kg of emitted...
-
A week ago I mentioned the book Sustainable Energy without the hot air by Cambridge academic David Mackay and said it ought to be compulsory reading for DECC civil servants and Ministers. Now it seems as though Professor Mackay is to be an advisor to Ed Miliband at DECC. Are you reading this blog Mr...
-
In this week's Farmer's Weekly there is a report that a Professor Crute says that farmers must stop squabbling over whether organic farming or conventional agriculture (why do we call it conventional?) is most environmentally friendly. Professor Crute says 'The notion that this is a case...
-
I've been reading a book for quite a while - some bits of it I've read about six times! Is this because the jokes are so good? or because I can't understand it? you might ask. The answer is closer to the latter suggestion because there really aren't many jokes. But the book is an absolute...
-
The Game Fair is not the place to be if you are a vegetarian! So it's a good job I'm only half way there at the moment! As you walk around the showground the smell of fried bacon, venison burgers and sausages assaults the nostrils. I like a nice bacon bap and I'd have to say that those provided...
-
Here's an idea - although I have to admit it probably wouldn't work with me - or Jeremy Clarkson! To encourage people to buy fuel-efficient cars why not make those that are most environmentally-unfriendly only available in ghastly colours? How many gas-guzzlers would there be on the roads if...
-
It's been a busy week for the relatively new Department for Energy and Climate Change, and its Secretary of State Ed Miliband, with the production of a Renewable Energy Strategy and a Low Carbon Transition Plan . We ought to see DECC as a kind of HM Treasury for carbon - setting budgets for other...