Siberia Signals Global Dangers
Siberia has seen record-breaking heatwaves so far this year, over 5ºC above average. The Arctic is warming considerably faster than the global average, and researchers found that this heatwave “would have been almost impossible without human-induced climate change”.
Heatwaves on average kill tens — perhaps hundreds — of thousands of people around the world. They have been systematically under-reported in Africa, where the toll is likely higher than in Europe.
Arctic heatwaves and warming are driving rapid disappearance of sea ice, extreme forest fires and thawing of permafrost. Permafrost is carbon-rich. Its thawing releases methane, a particularly potent greenhouse gas, thus bringing higher temperatures and yet more thawing.
Nationalise the Big Six
On 5 February (2017), Npower, one of the Big Six energy suppliers, hiked their electricity price by 15% for electricity and 4.8% for gas for customers on their variable rates. This is the largest single hike by any of the Big Six since at least 2013. If past experience is anything to go by, the rest of the Six will put their prices up too in the next few months.
Npower bosses argued this price rise was forced on them by the wholesale price of energy and “regulatory costs”. However this has even been questioned by government regulator Ofgen, who last month said there was “no justification” for a price hike. Indeed Npower made £67 million in the first half of 2016.
Offshore Energy and “Just Transition”
The environmental campaign groups Platform, Friends of the Earth Scotland, and Greenpeace have jointly published a report surveying oil and gas workers’ views about their working conditions, and the future of their industry in the context of the coronavirus pandemic and the climate crisis.
The report reveals an understanding amongst workers that their industry is unsustainable, but no confidence in either industry bosses or government to ensure a transition process that protects workers’ livelihoods.
43% of workers surveyed had been furloughed or made redundant since March. 81% said they were considering leaving the industry. More than 50% said that, given the option to retrain, they would be interested in jobs in the renewable energy sector.
