Time For Action

We spoke at our dinner table last night about the recent IPCC report on climate change, our three children went away from the table feeling worried and upset, that was not my intention, I should have held my emotions in check and thought through how I was going to approach the subject, but I was agitated and upset and angry and I guess that came across. There is hope of course, but there has been too much talk and not enough action. 

The time for talking is over and the time for action is here.

“A litany of broken climate promises, a file of shame, cataloguing the empty pledges that put us firmly on track towards an unliveable world, we are on a fast track to climate disaster.” 

UN secretary general Antonio Guterres, stated this week. He does not mince his words and delivered a damning verdict on the actions of governments and businesses that are not only turning a blind eye, but are simply doing the opposite of what they promise. 

This is a climate emergency.

How many times have we heard this before as governments gather to discuss the climate emergency, the biggest single challenge facing us on this planet today. How many times have businesses and heads of state paid lip service to the actions required whilst heading off and doing the exact opposite of what they have promised.

This simply does not cut it, it is not good enough, it is as always, profit before all else, it is putting the interests of powerful lobbying groups and naysayers above the truth the urgency and the facts.

There is little doubt and no question that now is our last chance, and it is refreshing to see the increased news coverage of this most recent report and the fact that the language communicating the urgency has changed.

“It’s time to stop burning our planet and start investing in the abundant renewable energy all around us” 

There has never been a better time, with more pressing reasons and with more urgency to transition away from fossil fuels. 

“If we are to limit warming to 1.5C then net GHG (green house gases) emissions must peak by 2020 and at the latest by 2025” The latest IPCC report stated.

Rapid and deep CHG emission reductions must happen by 2030 to 2050. Currently we are on track to a median global warming of 3.2C, which will render much of our planet unliveable by 2100. 

There could not be greater urgency, or a better time to meet our commitments as a community, country and planet.

It was this Monday and hearing the results of this latest report that we have finally decided that the time for indecision is over, we have a 11KW supply of solar panels on our roof but we are going to add a further 17KW in the next 2 months, the loan has been approved to fund the system and we are ready to go. We have committed, we aim to produce as much of our electricity here on our farm from the sun as possible.  We are also in the next couple of weeks announce a partnership with a tree planting charity and donate a percentage of all our sales to planting more trees here in Ireland.

Kenneth