‽istis ponders whether there is anything more important (weekending
March 25th 2023)
This weekending ‽istis seems spoilt for choice – so much to ponder
and wonder:
‽ comings and goings: the last show of a BBC R4 Saturday morning regular
presenter[i]; a
former Prime Minister of the UK in and out of gatherings that may or may not
have been ‘parties’ or essential for work - breaking the law, rules, guidance and/or
the trust of the British electorate[ii]?;
the unusual very highs and very lows of Spring tides
‽ a potential missed opportunity?: The Holy Land and Us.[iii] ‽istis
thought this a really important programme but also wondered how different it might
have been:
·
if the two main presenters (Rob Rinder and Sarah Agha)
and the families taking part in the programme had travelled together, in each
others’ shoes;
·
if they had listened and talked and shared their
stories, their thoughts and feelings – reflecting together before, during or
after the journeys of discovery;
·
if a relative of one or more of the influential UK and
UN ‘decision-makers’ had been involved, to provide another lens to view the
events of the 1940s and consider the implications – then and now!;
·
if the two programmes, produced as they were, had been
followed by a third part with Sarah, Rob and the families talking together about
the experience and the issues raised - past and present and, importantly,
considering ‘now what’ for the future;
·
if the very format and process of the programme had
tried to demonstrate that a better way forward founded in empathy and dialogue
might somehow be possible - lest by not being part of the solution, we are all
still part of the problem.
‽ a health uncertainty
‽ the implications of last week’s budget statement by the UK’s
chancellor
‽ the fate of the ‘Windsor Framework’[iv]
and whether ‘Brexit’ will ever actually be done
‽ celebrations for the turning of the Persian New Year, welcome 1402
‽ and, lest we forget, this was also the 56th week since
the start of Russia’s special military operation/war in Ukraine
But this week has also seen the
publication of the draft Synthesis Report of the IPCC Sixth Assessment
Report (AR6)[v] which ‘summarises the state of knowledge of
climate change, its widespread impacts and risks, and climate change mitigation
and adaptation, based on… peer-reviewed scientific, technical and
socio-economic literature’.
The full, finalised report will be
available soon but on the IPCC website currently there is the ‘longer version’,
‘Figures’, a ‘Summary for Policymakers’, ‘Headline Statements’, a ‘Press
Release’ a ‘Presentation’[vi]
and a ‘Synthesis Trailer’ film. So, no real excuse not to know about the issues
and the analysis, the ‘state of the art’ - or should that be the state of the climate,
or the state of humanity, or the state of all living things, or the state of
the planet…‽
‽istis is working through the
documents but makes no apology for picking out some bite-size nuggets from the ‘Headline
Statements’[vii]
that represent the ‘overarching conclusions of the approved Summary for
Policymakers which, taken together, provide a concise narrative’ - for despite the
many other things to ponder and wonder at (see above) perhaps, possibly, maybe
there is no more important read or issue‽
·
‘Human activities, principally through emissions of
greenhouse gases, have unequivocally caused global warming’ (A.1)
·
‘Global greenhouse gas emissions have continued to
increase, with unequal historical and ongoing contributions arising from
unsustainable energy use, land use and land-use change, lifestyle and patterns
across regions, between and within countries and among individuals.’ (A.1)
·
‘Human-caused climate change… has led to widespread
adverse impacts and related losses and damages to nature and people.’ (A.2)
·
‘Vulnerable communities who have historically
contributed the least to current climate change are disproportionately affected’
(A.2)
·
‘Current global financial flows for adaptation are insufficient
for, and constrain implementation of, adaptation options, especially in
developing countries.’ (A.3)
·
‘’Continued greenhouse gas emissions will lead to
increasing global warming…’ (B.1)
·
‘Every increment of global warming will intensify
multiple and concurrent hazards.’ (B.1)
·
‘Deep, rapid and sustained reductions in greenhouse
gas emissions would lead to a discernible slowdown in global warming within
around two decades…’ (B.1)
·
‘Climatic and non-climatic risks will increasingly
interact, creating compound and cascading risks that are more complex and
difficult to manage.’ (B.2)
·
‘Climate change is a threat to human well-being and
planetary health.’ (C.1)
·
‘There is a rapidly closing window of opportunity to
secure a liveable and sustainable future for all.’ (C.1)
· ‘Climate change development integrates adaptation and mitigation to advance sustainable development for all, and is enable by increased international cooperation including improved access to adequate financial resources, particularly for vulnerable regions, sectors and groups…[viii] (C.1)
And ‽istis wonders whether perhaps here is a way forward for the over-developed, developed-at-others’-expense nations‽ Possibly a restorative, post-colonial, de-colonising agenda of reparation and restitution‽ The legacy of empires maybe redeemed through following recommendations emerging from empirical research‽
·
‘Rapid and far-reaching transitions across all sectors
and systems are necessary to achieve deep and sustained emissions reductions
and secure a liveable and sustainable future for all.’ (C.3)
·
‘Feasible, effective, and low-cost options for
mitigation and adaptation are already available…’ (C.3)
·
‘Adaptation outcomes are enhanced by increased support
to regions and people with the highest vulnerability to climatic hazards.’ (C.5)
·
‘Many options are available for reducing
emission-intensive consumption, including through behavioural and lifestyle
changes, with co-benefits for societal well-being.’ (C.5)
·
‘Effective climate action is enabled by political
commitment, well-aligned multilevel governance, institutional frameworks, laws,
policies and strategies and enhanced access to finance and technology.’ (C.6)
These are the points that ‽istis
is going to try to remember, to keep thinking about and to strive to find the
best way to respond and behave[ix]
under their bright, clear, and very stark light.[x]
‘There
is a rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable
future for all.’
So ‽istis
wonders again whether there is anything more important to ponder this week and
each week…
© ‽istis
NB: further reflections and comments linked to this week’s theme and
past blog entries to be found on Twitter: replies, retweets (which don’t
necessarily indicate approval, sometimes the very opposite!) and ‘likes’:
@Pistis_wonders. ‘Follows’ and respectful comment and dialogue welcome...
[i] https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/mar/22/it-just-feels-a-bit-sad-the-rev-richard-coles-disappointed-at-rushed-bbc-radio-4-exit
[ii] https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/privileges-committee-investigation-boris-johnson
The privileges committee, perhaps apt for behaviour that possibly could be
considered hubristic, maybe exuding a sense of exceptionalism or entitlement…‽
[viii] ‘Adaptation outcomes are enhanced by increased
support to regions and people with the highest vulnerability to climatic
hazards.’ C.5)
[ix] ‘Many
options are available for reducing emission-intensive consumption, including
through behavioural and lifestyle changes, with co-benefits for societal
well-being.’ (C.5)
[x] Perhaps,
possibly, maybe the arguments behind which maybe we hide are shown up and
challenged. For example: ‘The science is contested’. ‘There
have always been changes in the climate.’ ‘Technology will sort it out.’ ‘What
about the nations that are currently the biggest polluters and want to keep
mining coal.’ ‘Global warming - after the winter we have had, you must be
joking.’ ‘It’s not my problem.’ ‘There is nothing that I can do.’
