Helena Horton
An influential thinktank that has led the backlash against the government’s net zero policy has received funding from groups with oil and gas interests, according to tax documents seen by the Guardian and OpenDemocracy.
Though the Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF) has always said it is independent of the fossil fuel industry, the revelations about its funding will raise questions over its campaigning.
The thinktank has always refused to disclose its donors, but tax documents filed with US authorities reveal that one of its donors has $30m (£24m) of shares in 22 companies working in coal, oil and gas.
Country basically run for benefit of angry drivers – thedailymash.co.uk
The Daily Mash 28th April 2022
BRITAIN is governed with the sole aim of appeasing red-faced drivers with high blood pressure, it has been confirmed.
Both the Conservative and Labour party have a tacit agreement that any legislation they propose to tackle congestion or climate change must be toothless enough not to annoy Britain’s car owners in any way.
Tory MP Norman Steele said: “We want a greener future, cleaner air and safer roads for the sake of our children. We even want more pedestrianised areas for scum who can’t afford an Audi.
“Obviously we can’t have any of those things because it would antagonise Britain’s most important demographic, angry drivers who swear a lot, especially at cyclists. And who can blame them? I hate those sneaky little worms with their helmet cameras.
Excess traffic to blame for delays to emergency services, study finds transportxtra.com
Deniz Huseyin 03 May 2022
Too many vehicles rather than traffic calming measures is the most likely reason for delays in ambulance and fire engine response times in London, concludes a report by climate action charity Possible.
Its analysis of the 2020 Covid-19 lockdowns found that 999 London Ambulance Service average response times to the most serious medical emergencies fell by 47 seconds, and by 2 minutes 39 seconds for serious emergencies where patients were conveyed to hospital.
E-bikes trialled at Bristol hospital to deliver goods – BBC News
A new e-cargo bike scheme to deliver hospital goods in Bristol is to be trialled.
Goods and services have been previously been transported using diesel vans but now the West of England Combined Authority has invested £920,000 on using e-bikes instead.
The trial will monitor the carbon savings of the bikes in comparison to the vans using a GPS tracker.
A year-long trial will take place from June for 12 months.
Sam Willitts, one of the trial participants from the Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI), said the e-bikes offer a greener solution.
He said: “It is a massive shift away from fossil fuels, it’s reducing our carbon emissions and its cleaner air.
“We really don’t want to be contributing to the health impacts of transporting things around the hospital sites.”
Recent estimates suggest e-cargo bikes deliver about 60% faster than diesel vans and cut carbon emissions by 90%.
There is no ‘war on cars’ in London, but perhaps it is time for one (part 1) I londonsociety.org.uk
The London Society
Here, Jon Burke formerly a Hackney Councillor, and the Cabinet Member for Energy, Waste, Transport and Public Realm, argues that on environmental, medical and social grounds, drastic action has to be taken against the motor vehicle in London. Part 1 (below) looks at the scale of the problem, and part 2 addresses what we need to do. You can download the whole article here (PDF).
Car is still king… but more want to start cycling, research I transportxtra.com
Deniz Huseyin 03 May 2022
More than half of UK adults (55%) agree there is too much traffic congestion in their local area while just 23% disagree, says a new survey by Ipsos.
However, 71% feel they need a car to suit their current lifestyle, rising to 86% among those who have access to one. The survey found that while 21% agree it is less important to own a car nowadays some 59% reject the notion.
Seven in ten (71%) say they support actions to encourage more people to walk or cycle instead of driving a car to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions. Some 65% would support encouraging more people to use public transport rather than driving a car, and 57% would support actions to encourage greater use of ‘car-pooling’.
E-scooter sales will require approval, Shapps tells MPs I transportxtra.com
Transport secretary indicates legislation on electric scooter sales and regulation of pedicabs will be in Queen’s Speech
28 April 2022
The government could allow the sale of electric scooters that can be used on roads in England, transport secretary Grant Shapps has told MPs.
Legislation enabling retailers to sell approved e-scooters could be introduced in the Queen’s Speech on 10 May.
Despite being only legal for use on private land, e-scooters bought by members of the public are currently being used illegally on streets and pavements.
“I want to crack down on the private market and make it illegal to sell…
Current extreme heatwave in Pakistan & India…shows max value exceeding 62°C (land) – ADAM Platform – Twitter
@PlatformAdam
The current extreme #heatwave in #Pakistan and #India as seen today, on the fourth intense hot day, by #Copernicus #Sentinel3 LST (Land Surface Temperature, not Air!). LST collected on April 29 shows max value exceeding 62°C/143°F. Gaps due to cloud/snow/nodata. #ClimateEmergency
Car sharing: is now the time to give up owning a vehicle? | Motoring | The Guardian
More people are saving money and helping the environment by using shared or hired vehicles
Miles Brignall
It has been two years since Richard Scarborough ditched his ageing diesel vehicle in favour of using car clubs, and the 60-year-old graphic designer from Hackney says he can’t see himself ever going back.
In Oxford, Emily Kerr is part of a carshare in which 20 households share seven neighbour-owned vehicles. She is so delighted with the way it has gone that she has started helping others set up similar schemes.