Climate Thoughts with Brian

Category: climate

WMO: ‘Prepare for El Niño’

El Niño is coming- and we are not prepared. By Storm surge by David Baird, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=123271310 A new WMO El Niño/La Niña Update indicates an 80% likelihood of an El Niño event during June–August 2026. Probabilities for this to continue until at least November are near or above 90%. Although some uncertainty…
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A renewables revolution is an ethical and legal necessity for the UK.

We can be in no doubt that the climate crisis is here. The impacts are being felt around the world: from famines, flooding, dangerous heatwaves and global temperature records being repeatedly broken. We are already in a ‘brave new world’. With the news published today, that we are likely to witness an 80% likelihood of…
Read more: A renewables revolution is an ethical and legal necessity for the UK.
Consultation continues on Hope Moor Wind Farm Proposal

First steps in assessing the environmental impact for Hope Moor wind farm proposal taken in Yorkshire Fred. Olsen Renewables continue their public consultation on their proposals to build approximately 23 wind turbines on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, near to Richmond and Barnard Castle. This planned project would generate more than 150MW of renewable…
Read more: Consultation continues on Hope Moor Wind Farm Proposal
European heat records are broken by spring heat dome

Credit @Tomer Burg The UK has just set a provisional new May heat record with 35.0C recorded in West London, exceeding the 34.8C reached yesterday. France has also seen record breaking heat with 36C recorded in the country’s southwest on Monday as a heat dome sits across much of western Europe. Friederike Otto, Professor of Climate Science,…
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Review of ‘The Response: A Story of Fire and Flood in Britain’s New World of Extremes’, by David Shukman

‘We’re not remotely ready to deal with the worsening conditions that are confronting us now, let alone those still to come.’ David Shukman’s book ‘The Response: A Story of Fire and Flood in Britain’s New World of Extremes’ opens with the stark message that the UK is far away from being resilient to the rising…
Read more: Review of ‘The Response: A Story of Fire and Flood in Britain’s New World of Extremes’, by David Shukman
2024 global temperature record is consistent with model predictions

A new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences argues that the record warmth was entirely consistent with expectations on a warming planet. When accounting for human-caused warming alongside natural climate variability like El Niño and La Niña climate patterns, the 2024 temperatures actually showed that climate models today are capturing the…
Read more: 2024 global temperature record is consistent with model predictions
Politicians and public attend Climate Emergency Briefing in York

Credit Sophia Chen Chris Packham: ‘You must listen to the science. Because if you don’t, then things go wrong and lives are lost.’ A dynamic and purposeful viewing of the National Emergency Briefing took place in York yesterday to a packed Tempest Anderson Hall. Over 850 screenings have now taken place around the country, from…
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Review of ‘Climate Wayfinding: Healing Ourselves and the Planet We Call Home’ by Katharine K Wilkinson

Wilkinson’s book crackles with purpose and the potential of what might be possible. It reminds us that there is a ‘we’ at the heart of this journey and that we are bound and bonded by a common framework of humanity. ‘Climate Wayfinding’ is a book which encourages- even demands- time for reflection; time for strengthening…
Read more: Review of ‘Climate Wayfinding: Healing Ourselves and the Planet We Call Home’ by Katharine K Wilkinson
Review of ‘The Fate of the World: A History and Future of the Climate Crisis’ by Prof Bill McGuire

‘Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death.’ Shakespeare’s words, from over 400 years ago, seem shockingly relevant today, as we face an existential climate crisis, but we witness no…
Read more: Review of ‘The Fate of the World: A History and Future of the Climate Crisis’ by Prof Bill McGuire
Europe is warming more than twice as fast as the global average

European State of the Climate report provides comprehensive overview of climate indicators Findings released today from European Centre for Medium- Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) highlight key changes in climate indicators for the world’s fastest warming continent. A range of factors are addressed in the report ranging from cold environments,…
Read more: Europe is warming more than twice as fast as the global average