Our environment vs economic growth
Unfortunately, I’m going to have to begin with politics at home and abroad. First, as reported by The Guardian: Last week Rachel Reeves told those at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos that growth is more important than net zero – despite the UK having a legally binding target set in 2008 to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
This puts into context her commitment to expand Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton airports – against the recommendations of the Climate Change Committee. If the expansions go ahead, it shows that, for this Labour government, economic growth certainly does trump net zero. This is also illustrated by government plans to massively expand artificial intelligence capacity in the UK, seemingly with little regard for the huge water and energy needs it is predicted the industry will need. Farcically, when Reeves was asked by the Times whether she had a preference between bats and great crested newts, Reeves replied: “Neither, because I want growth.”
Abroad, with the return of Trump to power, America will exit the Paris climate agreement once more. Again, as reported by The Guardian: Even though the US is already extracting more oil and gas than any country has ever done in history, this isn’t enough, and more land and ocean must be drilled, including Arctic Alaska. “We will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it,” as Trump put it. “No one in American history has shown more disdain for the environment,” says Kierán Suckling, executive director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “His anti-environment agenda is overwhelmingly unpopular and truly a threat to life on Earth.” Coming on the heels of the hottest year ever recorded, having a man who calls the climate crisis a “giant hoax” in the world’s most powerful office is an ominous sign.
More than ever, we need to pray. But when it all becomes too much, as well as referring back to the last newsletter, you might want simply to go outside, into your own garden or maybe for a walk, and yes, look for the signs of spring, but take in the beauty of winter still: the bare trees against the sky, the subtle colours, the winter visitors (birds) like the redwings I spotted at the top of my road last week.
You might like to say this poem while you’re out there…
An Amazing Day
I thank You God for most this amazing
day: for leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes.
- E.E. Cummings