Green, ethical, energy issues in the news

Martyn1981

This is good news, not only that Japan is raising its target, but the fact that RE is no longer seen as a cost or growth problem.

Japan will become carbon neutral by 2050, PM pledges

Yoshihide Suga says dealing with climate change is no longer a constraint on growth as he sets out a bolder approach to the emergency

Japan’s prime minister, Yoshihide Suga, has said the country will become carbon neutral by 2050, heralding a bolder approach to tackling the climate emergency by the world’s third-biggest economy.

“Responding to climate change is no longer a constraint on economic growth,” Suga said on Monday in his first policy address to parliament since taking office.

“We need to change our thinking to the view that taking assertive measures against climate change will lead to changes in industrial structure and the economy that will bring about growth.”

Japan had come under pressure to strengthen its climate commitments after initially saying that it would achieve an 80% reduction in emissions by 2050 followed by carbon neutrality “as soon as possible” in the second half of the century.

The policy shift brings Japan into line with the European Union, which set itself a similar target last year, while China recently announced it would become carbon-free by 2060.

ASavvyBuyer

ASavvyBuyer said:

Found a new site that displays the UK energy mix, that I don't think has been posted here before.

https://www.energydashboard.co.uk/live 

The figures include estimated embedded generation, which I don't think all the other sites include.

Good to see the amount of current renewables generating;

Seems that the above site does not always load reliably. Have tried a few times and end up with an error message.

However, from the Octopus Agile forum, this link shows all of Europe (& beyond).

https://www.electricitymap.org/zone/GB

Shows how "green" Norway, Sweden, Iceland & France are.

Martyn1981

Push for the energy regulator to work towards net zero, and surprise, surprise Scotland is in the thick of it. I'm starting to wonder if we should just let Scotland plan and organise all this 'stuff' if we really want to get 'there' as fast as possible.

Ofgem 'must deliver on net zero'

UK network operators, trade bodies and supply chain companies have called on the energy regulator Ofgem to deliver on net zero in its final price control determinations.

The call in a letter to Ofgem chief executive Jonathan Brearley and chairman Martin Cave is for net-zero to be at the heart of Britain's regulatory framework.

The letter was sent as Ofgem, which regulates the companies who own Britain’s energy networks, concludes a round of open hearings as part of its consideration of their future business plans.

NigeWick

Martyn1981 said: Push for the energy regulator to work towards net zero, and surprise, surprise Scotland is in the thick of it. I'm starting to wonder if we should just let Scotland plan and organise all this 'stuff' if we really want to get 'there' as fast as possible.

It's political choices. Scotland's government can see the long term benefits of renewables, and I suspect, doesn't have the same amount of fossil fuel & nuclear energy lobbying cash influencing their decisions as UKGov Plc.

Pile_o_stone

NigeWick said:

Martyn1981 said: Push for the energy regulator to work towards net zero, and surprise, surprise Scotland is in the thick of it. I'm starting to wonder if we should just let Scotland plan and organise all this 'stuff' if we really want to get 'there' as fast as possible.

It's political choices. Scotland's government can see the long term benefits of renewables, and I suspect, doesn't have the same amount of fossil fuel & nuclear energy lobbying cash influencing their decisions as UKGov Plc.

You can see why the SNP are so popular in Scotland. It's just another example of why devolved localised government has the biggest and best impact on people's lives. I totally agree with your point about lobbying cash. With smaller governments there is less to be gained from large lobby groups of the type you see lobbying in the US, EU or even the UK governments.

Solarchaser

Pile_o_stone said:

NigeWick said:

Martyn1981 said: Push for the energy regulator to work towards net zero, and surprise, surprise Scotland is in the thick of it. I'm starting to wonder if we should just let Scotland plan and organise all this 'stuff' if we really want to get 'there' as fast as possible.

It's political choices. Scotland's government can see the long term benefits of renewables, and I suspect, doesn't have the same amount of fossil fuel & nuclear energy lobbying cash influencing their decisions as UKGov Plc.

You can see why the SNP are so popular in Scotland. It's just another example of why devolved localised government has the biggest and best impact on people's lives. I totally agree with your point about lobbying cash. With smaller governments there is less to be gained from large lobby groups of the type you see lobbying in the US, EU or even the UK governments.

There raison d'etre is gaining more traction week by week.
I think in a very broad general sense,  Scotland leans left of centre and England leans right of centre, and thats starting to be noticed by more and more people. (I get the feeling, though unquantifiable, that Wales is slowly moving to the left from the right)
Many people don't like the snp, and they are certainly not without flaws, but most can see that they are by and large, straight with the public in comparison with the current UK government.
(Despite a daily onslaught of propaganda from the main print and broadcast media)

There was a drive a couple of years ago to shame the snp for being unprincipled due to I think 3 of their MPs having other jobs, from memory it was something like a doctor and a dentist who worked every other Saturday and I think one who bought and sold houses (wasn't well received), but when you compare that to the top tiers in UK gov.... I start to hear trump shouting about draining the swamp.

Though it should be noted the opposition parties to the snp (con,lab,lib) are absolutely dismal up here, so you do wonder how much they are getting away with due to lack of decent opposition.... thinking on, same could really be said for UK gov also

Pile_o_stone

Solarchaser said:

Pile_o_stone said:

NigeWick said:

Martyn1981 said: Push for the energy regulator to work towards net zero, and surprise, surprise Scotland is in the thick of it. I'm starting to wonder if we should just let Scotland plan and organise all this 'stuff' if we really want to get 'there' as fast as possible.

It's political choices. Scotland's government can see the long term benefits of renewables, and I suspect, doesn't have the same amount of fossil fuel & nuclear energy lobbying cash influencing their decisions as UKGov Plc.

You can see why the SNP are so popular in Scotland. It's just another example of why devolved localised government has the biggest and best impact on people's lives. I totally agree with your point about lobbying cash. With smaller governments there is less to be gained from large lobby groups of the type you see lobbying in the US, EU or even the UK governments.

There raison d'etre is gaining more traction week by week.
I think in a very broad general sense,  Scotland leans left of centre and England leans right of centre, and thats starting to be noticed by more and more people. (I get the feeling, though unquantifiable, that Wales is slowly moving to the left from the right)
Many people don't like the snp, and they are certainly not without flaws, but most can see that they are by and large, straight with the public in comparison with the current UK government.
(Despite a daily onslaught of propaganda from the main print and broadcast media)

There was a drive a couple of years ago to shame the snp for being unprincipled due to I think 3 of their MPs having other jobs, from memory it was something like a doctor and a dentist who worked every other Saturday and I think one who bought and sold houses (wasn't well received), but when you compare that to the top tiers in UK gov.... I start to hear trump shouting about draining the swamp.

Though it should be noted the opposition parties to the snp (con,lab,lib) are absolutely dismal up here, so you do wonder how much they are getting away with due to lack of decent opposition.... thinking on, same could really be said for UK gov also

I saw a report that said the Tories were worried about the lack of support Labour has in Scotland. That tells it's own story on how dismal Labour has become in Scotland (and outside). Hopefully Starmer can start making some progress. It's not good for Democracy to have a hugely dominant party and a poor opposition, even if you're a supporter of the dominant party.

Solarchaser

Pile_o_stone said:

Solarchaser said:

Pile_o_stone said:

NigeWick said:

Martyn1981 said: Push for the energy regulator to work towards net zero, and surprise, surprise Scotland is in the thick of it. I'm starting to wonder if we should just let Scotland plan and organise all this 'stuff' if we really want to get 'there' as fast as possible.

It's political choices. Scotland's government can see the long term benefits of renewables, and I suspect, doesn't have the same amount of fossil fuel & nuclear energy lobbying cash influencing their decisions as UKGov Plc.

You can see why the SNP are so popular in Scotland. It's just another example of why devolved localised government has the biggest and best impact on people's lives. I totally agree with your point about lobbying cash. With smaller governments there is less to be gained from large lobby groups of the type you see lobbying in the US, EU or even the UK governments.

There raison d'etre is gaining more traction week by week.
I think in a very broad general sense,  Scotland leans left of centre and England leans right of centre, and thats starting to be noticed by more and more people. (I get the feeling, though unquantifiable, that Wales is slowly moving to the left from the right)
Many people don't like the snp, and they are certainly not without flaws, but most can see that they are by and large, straight with the public in comparison with the current UK government.
(Despite a daily onslaught of propaganda from the main print and broadcast media)

There was a drive a couple of years ago to shame the snp for being unprincipled due to I think 3 of their MPs having other jobs, from memory it was something like a doctor and a dentist who worked every other Saturday and I think one who bought and sold houses (wasn't well received), but when you compare that to the top tiers in UK gov.... I start to hear trump shouting about draining the swamp.

Though it should be noted the opposition parties to the snp (con,lab,lib) are absolutely dismal up here, so you do wonder how much they are getting away with due to lack of decent opposition.... thinking on, same could really be said for UK gov also

I saw a report that said the Tories were worried about the lack of support Labour has in Scotland. That tells it's own story on how dismal Labour has become in Scotland (and outside). Hopefully Starmer can start making some progress. It's not good for Democracy to have a hugely dominant party and a poor opposition, even if you're a supporter of the dominant party.

Yeah Labour are a lame duck up here, i say that as I sit in what was once known as Labours safest seat.
As the saying used to go, put a rosette on a turd if you want, we still vote labour, have to, need to keep whats left of our industry going.
Those days are gone (and so is most of the industry). 
The Scottish branch of Labour are about to kill off their 6th leader this decade, thats how dismal they are.

The tories, who haven't been voted into power in Scotland in over 60 years are now in a clear second place, as Labour are doing so badly.
There is only one labour mp in Scotland and he seems to spend an awful lot of his time defending tories 🤯
Its not that the tories are good either, they have their 3rd leader in the last 2 years, and by the polls, he won't last long either.
The tories get a boost from hard line union supporters as they have been most staunch in their unionist credentials while Labour have flirted with both sides. (40% of current Labour voters favour Scottish independence)

Starmer has been more of a disappointment than corbyn so far tbh, he was supposed to be at least a great speaker, and he couldn't have a weaker opponent than Johnson. 

I feel bad for England tbh, especially the Northern towns, but then again, England voted in the tories with an 80 seat majority, so I should probably take my Scottish sympathy and shove it where the sun dont shine.🤔

Pile_o_stone

The thing I don't understand with the Scottish Nationalists is that they desire independence from a UK that is moving towards a devolved model so they can hand powers over to an EU that is moving towards greater integration and centralisation of powers. 

Solarchaser

Speaking for myself only, from 2014 we were promised more devolved powers that never arrived, and promised that everything that came back from EU would go to Scotland rather than the UK and that hasn't happened.
The internal market bill is further stripping of devolution. 

So in short when the UK gov tells us about more devolution coming, I straight up dont believe them, as the actions point in the other direction.

The EU, im a fence sitter.
What I'd like to see is an independent Scotland inside the EU for maybe 5 years, and then an in/out referendum, because I just dont know if its a positive or negative thing.

If brexit has taught us anything, its how much the media and the current government lies to us from bendy bananas, to £350m to the NHS and even no control over our borders.

As the wee nyaf said in that film "I want the truth"
And its crystal clear we will never get that with the current government