The relentless rise of atmospheric CO2

Easy to get diverted by all the Tory shenanigans, but this is what really matters:

"Atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide are now comparable to where they were during the mid-Pliocene epoch, around 4.3 million years ago. During that period, sea level was about 75 feet higher than today, the average temperature was 7 degrees Fahrenheit higher than in pre-industrial times, and studies indicate large forests occupied areas of the Arctic that are now tundra."

And the rate of carbon dioxide release is accelerating...

How high above sea level do you live?

PS: did I mention methane?

 

In the sh..

The usual question is 'how deep?'  Whilst that can be difficult to answer, especially on a tidal river like the Adur, 'for how long?', insofar as 'stormwater' overflows are concerned, is much easier now thanks to the Rivers Trust (for its graphics based data presentation).  The Environment Agency has also improved its public data interface, showing just what was in the river when sampled: even more detail is available from the EA, but this much info tells you a lot!

As can be seen at a recent HDC meeting (at 1h17m), the cabinet member for Planning and Development was sticking to the 'we can't control such discharges' line, although recent legal advice to Lewes District would suggest otherwise to some extent.  Can some suitable words be levered into HDC's revised local plan?

'Predict and Provide' or 'Vision and Validate'

For many decades, UK transport planning has been based on the Predict (the new motor traffic growth) and Provide (the calculated new and improved roads and junctions) principle.  Not for any valid reason, just 'that's the way it's always been done'.  Mercifully, this is beginning to change, and rather than cutting and pasting from better authors, can I suggest a read of this opinion piece.

This is all very relevant to Horsham District, as the long awaited Local Plan should appear this coming November (Water Neutrality permitting) and it would make sense, given all the challenges ahead, to ensure that any strategic (ie significantly large) new housing developments have the vision to prioritise sustainable transport modes, rather than buckling under yet more private motor vehicles.

The snag, from a district councillor's viewpoint, being that WSCC Highways are a statutory consultee and, so far, their attitude to such matters is distinctly 'institutionally motorist'.  However, in the beginning it's a developer's site, and with encouragement, which ought to be in the new local plan, then sustainable transport routes should be prioritised.  A local test will be the potential Glebe Farm site east of the Steyning by-pass (for up to 265 dwellings, DC/21/2233).  Well within a 20 minute walk / 5 minute cycle ride to Steyning shops, but will it be easy and comfortable or difficult and dangerous?