That was a fascinating, challenging and fact filled day, all about how to try to save our beautiful world in the face of the climate emergency. We didn’t get a chance to see the electric vehicles as we wanted to hear each talk. 
We heard about the experimental United Downs Deep Geothermal Power project which is tapping into the granite hot rocks; we heard what Cornwall Council are doing having declared a Climate Emergency some weeks ago – one of which is the wild flowers planting; we heard about wind turbines and solar power and we heard from Nikki Jones, one of the leading environment speakers about why this is an emergency. It was all engrossing.
Molly Scott Cato, Green Party MEP for our area, rounded of the day with an inspiring speech that left the audience in no doubt as to what needs to be done.
The following graph pleased me, not for the end result of the rise in Carbon emissions which is very worrying but for the way it shows how the trees breathe. When all the trees green up in Spring they absorb the carbon dioxide so the graph spike goes down and when they lose the leaves in Autumn they can absorb far less so the spike goes up. It might be called the Baldocchi effect but I didn’t quite catch what the speaker said. Anyone out there know?
The whole event was brilliantly organised by a group of committed people in a very small village, Chacewater, just a ten minute bus ride away from us.
skyeent
July 28, 2019 at 10:14 pm
I hadn’t seen the tree breathing graph before, I assume that’s because there is more landmass in the northern hemisphere? You may be interested in my (off topic) post on hiring an electric car on holiday last year in Cornwall: https://skyeent.wordpress.com/2018/10/12/bmw-i3-electric-car-review/
mybeautfulthings
July 29, 2019 at 1:09 pm
You may be right, more trees in the Northern Hemisphere . The CO2 graph is still scary . I’ve visited your EV review and found it very interesting. Certainly considering an EV in the future. 🙂
skyeent
July 29, 2019 at 9:10 pm
I’d love one, but they are just so expensive when I have other functioning vehicles. I’ve even looked at electric bikes, but I want some weather protection, and again these end up expensive. Maybe in ten years or so there will be enough second hand to bring prices down.
mybeautfulthings
July 30, 2019 at 7:11 am
Exactly our thinking. If the Government were truly serious about us changing from petrol etc, the subsidy should be much, much greater. I also read that simply changing vehicles is not a solution if your car now is functioning as the making etc of the new car will have a much greater carbon footprint than keeping your old car on the road. I shall stick with my beautiful Beetle a bit longer. 🙂
skyeent
July 30, 2019 at 8:12 am
We’ve never been convinced by the ‘trade in older vehicles and buy a new car at a discount’ as a green idea either. More like a sales boost for car makers! I do very little mileage, but that’s just why an electric vehicle would make sense.
mybeautfulthings
July 30, 2019 at 12:20 pm
I do only 3000 miles a year so like you perhaps a good idea but yes, trade in is a bit of a con.
Interesting point about subsidies too, hadn’t thought about that but I bet you are right.
skyeent
July 30, 2019 at 8:15 am
Subsidies actually put prices up I think. But more money into development of batteries and motors could drive the costs down. Far better than wasting it on developing self driving vehicles, but that’s a seperate rant!
utesmile
July 28, 2019 at 9:07 am
That sounds really interesting!
nrhatch
July 28, 2019 at 3:05 am
Glad you found the day inspiring. Here’s to a Greener Future!
mybeautfulthings
July 29, 2019 at 1:09 pm
Oh, I hope so.