We must burn less coal for sake of planet
MIKE Maxwell says, in response to our letter, that he, and perhaps most people, would not know how to buy electricity from wind power.
If you have access to the internet, greenhelpline.com gives very helpful information on the environmental credentials of different electricity suppliers.
Most of the electricity used in Britain is from coal-fired power stations, like the ones we have in Yorkshire – Drax, Ferry Bridge, etc. Coal is the dirtiest way to make electricity, and creates the most CO2 emissions. Wind, solar and hydro power are, in comparison, virtually CO2-free.
The Government wants to build more coal-fired power stations, starting with one in Kingsnorth in Kent. We think the money would be better spent making CO2-free electricity, and encouraging the public to use electricity more sensibly. If we stop wasting electricity, and invest in more renewable energy so that we don’t need to burn coal, then we have a chance of bringing our CO2 emissions down to a reasonable level and will avoid climate catastrophe.
Mike Maxwell says that CO2 emissions have not been proved to cause artificial climate change. Quoting eminent scientists seems to be a waste of time, so we will just say, we hope he is right, but we fear he is wrong.
To answer Mike Maxwell’s question, four of our Steering Committee do not have a car. The other two find they cannot manage without one, for family or health reasons. This is about par for the course, as it is statistically proven that 20% of car journeys are unavoidable. We walk, cycle and take the train or bus as much as possible, but sometimes it just has to be the car.
They are both diesel cars, and suitable to be run on used chip oil. We are trying to organise this, as it is CO2-free, putting a waste product to good use, and saving it from clogging up drains. Unfortunately there is not enough chip oil for all the cars on the road. But please don’t be tempted to use other biofuels/agrofuels if you want to reduce your carbon footprint, as they have unpleasant downsides. Crops grown specifically for biofuels mean there is less food for people to eat. And rainforests are being cut down for biofuel production which, as Mike Maxwell agrees with us, is a recipe for disaster.
Kathy Clarke – Treasurer
Jane Gresham – Co-ordinator
Scarborough Climate Action Network
(formerly Scarborough against Climate Change)
Ryndle Walk, Scarborough
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Weather for Scarborough
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
