Firstly, the good stuff.
Hackney Council have announced that the Stoke Newington LTN is to be permanent, after a successful trial. This is great news for anyone who lives in the area and wants to walk or cycle on a regular basis.
Elsewhere, but also in London, it has been announced that cyclists now outnumber motorists, with a 386% rise in their number since the late 1990s.
It is clear that the right policies can successfully change behaviour and be a positive boost for the environment.
Still in crisis
Unfortunately, there is still plenty of work to be done though.
New evidence of rising temperatures is appearing all the time. Next week a heat blob is forecast for Europe
whilst in the Arctic Sea, the winter ice peak has been recorded as the fifth lowest on record:
Then there is this graph (shared by @MrMatthewTodd on Twitter this week):
It shows clearly that, far from entering the new ice age we were once headed for, our planet is now hurtling towards average temperatures higher than they have been for millions of years.
And still the message is not getting across.
Despite reports that our rivers are now dirtier than they were during the Industrial Revolution and that global freshwater demand could massively outstrip supply by as early as 2030, Plymouth Council went ahead with felling over 100 mature trees this week:
There are even calls for an independent inquiry into what has gone on in Devon by dead of night (surely a sign that the Council knew their actions were dubious?).
How can we possibly deliver the changes we need - and quickly - when our own Councils are undermining efforts to be sustainable in this way?
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