'Step up to Red Alert!'...'Sir, are you absolutely sure, it does mean changing the bulb?' May go down in history as one of the most comical quotes of all time.

This quote from none other than Red Dwarf, that space aged comedy with Lister, Rimmer and the gang. Now I could go all in with this reference from the episode 'Legion' and reference the connections between like minds, sums of power and the irony of living on a space ship because of radiation but no...lets keep it simple pimple!

 

In rediness

I need to write this! It was a very long, very hot week last week. More hot weather is expected with various predictions between 30° and 45° all over the shop. We are now at a point of reduced school hours and home working, ironic somewhat given that the World Cup has allowed exactly that! An observation not a complaint by the way! We are now nationally contemplating actually changing school holidays and even the daily timetable to accommodate a Spanish like siesta (midday break) typically taking place between 14.00 and 17.00.

I will say it again, when we looked at this four years ago it was said: 

'I can genuinely see decisions being made or circumstances arising that will restrict out natural freedoms as a result of climate change or actioning a very fast, very needed and very urgent need to fight this.'

Was this the Red Alert bulb that extinguished itself through all the constant warnings or lack of maintenance? 

I remember learning about climate change in my Geography lessons. I was aware of it but thought, rather foolishly it turns out, we'd have it in check. The governments and those around us, our adults and superiors would have helped us make the changes. That was in 2008.

Last week felt different - it was hot. Spicy hot. Tempers frayed, little sleep and thunder and lightning. I don't think we have seen the worst of it yet according to some predictions. But can we live with this?

The record for the hottest June day broken three times consecutively. May also had the hottest month on it's record. In fact of all twelve, six have been since 2019 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_weather_records). There is this heat dome, the El Niño and the comparison to 1976.

So what is going on?

'By and large, the weather patterns, especially the summer temperatures, are not influenced by El Niño, but are instead influenced more by natural climate variability in the Atlantic. On this occasion though, the rapid attribution analysis by the WWA (World Weather Attribution) has once again shown that a heatwave of this magnitude in June, would have been impossible in a natural climate.' So climate change?

How is it different to 1976?

'Put simply, the heatwave in 1976 was remarkable in its duration. Maximum temperatures exceeding just over 32 degrees Celsius persisted for more than two weeks in parts of the UK.

And yet, its peak temperatures and the geographical extent, were comparatively mild in relation to the present heatwave. Two independent rapid analysis by the World Weather Attributor and the University of Reading, both conclude that the heatwaves in present-day climate are about three degrees Celsius warmer compared to the corresponding event in 1976. And this additional heat is thanks to the human-induced warming.' (https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/news/2026/rapid-reaction-why-are-we-seeing-record-breaking-heatwaves-europe-and-uk)

Then there is the suggestion, according to various sources that 'the UK faces a severe water crisis. By 2055, England's public supply could face a shortfall of 5 billion liters daily. This deficit, driven by climate change and growing demand, threatens taps and river health.' This is known as 'Water Bankruptcy'. So new reservoirs and desalination plants are planned. Crisis averted?

There are unintended consequences to ignoring where we are now.

 

Reddish

But...is there still something I'm missing. Green peace posted this rather amusing post to Facebook in response to a tweet commenting on a 2056 weather map of the UK. The comments section is alive with support but also very insightful and fascinating information to be looked up on medieval climates and roman vineyards. It's all quite convincing: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Bhw4P2VGv/

Then we come back to the central point. Regardless of this being man made climate change or not - is just doing these things, recycling, less driving and such like, just good lifestyle choices and good for the human race in any case?

 

Redolution 

The timing couldn't be more perfect. A new prime minister. A new way of thinking and a new approach. There is a chance that to make Ed Miliband Chancellor will mean going all in on Net-Zero - or it may be the biggest own goal if not.

Drill Baby Drill! Is the mantra from across the pond and here at home by some key politicians - choosing to side that way. The influence and push from Oil companies being too great to shy away from. Low hanging fruit may be easier and a quick win but means avoiding bigger problems that would ultimately, in overcoming them, bring higher long-term rewards. I think the survival of people on the planet is a big long-term reward.

We have had the opportunities to push on sustainable living. The Iran War (this is not the end of it by the way - new found power of the straight and all that) and the rising petrol prices should have been the moment. Indeed the disruption seen just on Friday with a local festival with associated traffic was evidence we haven't got it. It's not too late and the circuit breaker, if it is referring to the climate in part or in full must be embraced and supported.

Could we even have our Red Letter Day. A date given, the day the UK wakes up and says - today we change the world?!

Than what do we do, free travel for childern exteded indefinitely? Extra funding for bus services again? Investment in tracks and signalling capable of handing higher temperatures? As someone put it well, rowing back from 'reaping the rewards of greed' of privatisation. I also acknowledge the Norway comparison - I urge you to look back at our Facbook group and here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FiHR5vUGw/

 

Training the mind

So I count a few references to red - Red Dwarf, Red Oil, Red letter day, what next...

This is a transport group so let's keep it relevant. 

Let's say the bulb has been changed - it's LED and energy efficient.

What we have before us is a track with a landslip, melted cables, hole in the line...whatever! Point is, there are disasters ahead if we don't scan the line ahead, report, listen to advice and get a clear understanding of what we need to do, we hit disaster. We are the drivers of our and everyone else's destiny. Problem is of course - 'We wunt be druv' - so YOU will need to do the driving.

So...imagine you're the train driver. What do we do? We inform passengers we are waiting at a red signal. We take advice, speak with the signalman and we don't move.

We stop drilling, we stop using our cars for unnecessary journeys, use the bus, train, legs whenever we can, we turn off lights, turn off the unnecessary and we embrace the fact we may need to be patient. We look out for our fellow passengers. The economy, that need to get the idea too - confidence in the green revolution - the money should be there, and not in the oil, if we allow it.

I will not be glib and say that we are all doomed or that we need to change trains or walk the track, in this analogy leaving the train is the very last resort - we have failed to stay on the train - end game, finished!

We need to fix the line ahead before we get the green light. So this is the only advice I can give:

DO NOT RUN THE RED LIGHT!