Considered by many as the greatest
comedy film of all time Billy Wilder's masterpiece starred Marylin
Monroe, Jack Lemon and Tony Curtis and has one of the best and
witty screenplays ever written.
People may wish for the climate to be 'HOTTER' and 2023 has been
confirmed by several international climate services as the hottest
year on record with average global temperatures exceeding 1.5
degrees C above pre-industrial levels for the entire year. Remember
this is the target agreed at the Paris Agreement in 2015 (COP21)
where 196 countries (including the UK) entered a legally binding
treaty to keep around this target mainly though reductions in
greenhouse gas emissions (largely generated through burning fossils
fuels).
It is true that the natural climate heating effect of El Nino over
the last few months has not helped in this man-made climate crisis
but scientists are also concerned by the 'astonishing' recent rise
in surface sea temperatures.
So how might these global temperature rises affect us here in
Devon? Warmer air carries more water so the chances of even more
severe storms and heavy rain causing flooding and disruption here
are becoming greater.
But would you 'Like it Cold'? There is evidence from organisations
such as the IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change) that as a
consequence of increasing air and water temperatures that the
currents such as the Gulf Stream that bring warm water from the
Gulf of Mexico to us here in Northern Europe are weakening. If they
do collapse, as some scientists predict, then we would be looking
at the COOLING of our climate here in England by as much as 5 to 10
degrees over the next few decades. This would make it far harder to
grow our own food and heat our homes and generate a whole range of
other detrimental effects on our lives.
So what can we do here in Crediton to help alleviate these
catastrophic scenarios? Driving less, flying less, making our homes
more energy efficient, regenerating our natural habitats and eating
less meat would be good places to start!
Alan Murray, Sustainable
Crediton Climate Action Team