Heat flux forecast to enter Arctic early February 2025

Heat flux forecast to enter Arctic early February 2025

[ high temperatures forecast over the North Pole, click on images to enlarge ] The above image shows a temperature forecast for February 2, 2025 18z, run January 30, 2025 12Z.  The green color indicates temperatures above freezing point. The image below shows the temperature anomaly compared to 1979-2000, with the light pink color over … Read more

Why downplay the need for action?

Why downplay the need for action?

The 2024 global average surface temperature was 1.55°C above the 1850-1900 average, according to WMO’s consolidated analysis of six datasets.  [ click on images to enlarge ] Differences between datasets are mainly due to the ways temperatures are measured, e.g. ERA5 measures the temperature of the air above oceans, whereas NASA and NOAA measure the surface … Read more

Sea ice decline January 2025

Sea ice decline January 2025

Antarctic sea ice [ Antarctic sea ice, click on images to enlarge ] The above images, adapted from University of Bremen and ClimateReanalyzer.org, illustrate the decline in thickness (in cm) and of Antarctic sea ice between August 27, 2024, and January 9, 2025, and the sea ice concentration on January 9, 2025. The compilation image below shows … Read more

Did Curiosity Kill The Cat?

Did Curiosity Kill The Cat?

The title intrigued me – Did curiosity kill the cat or is it a vital skill to have in our ever-changing world?  The first speaker, Dawn Austwick (Chief Executive, National Lottery Community Fund) delved into where the phrase came from, that plagued many of us as children when asking too many questions of parents and teachers. Dawn … Read more

Sustainability and living a simpler life

Sustainability and living a simpler life

Making do, sustainability and living a simpler life July 12th is National Simplicity Day – a day to put technology away and get back to basics; reflect on the simpler things in life.  Claire reflects on how we can be more positive about sustainability and more aware of the benefits of living a more frugal life: I … Read more

Support the right to repair

Support the right to repair

At Solutions for the Planet we support the right to repair Why? · One study showed that between 2004 and 2012, the proportion of major household appliances that died within five years rose from 3.5% to 8.3%. · An analysis of junked washing machines at a recycling centre showed that more than 10% were less … Read more

One in Five UK children have never seen the Sea

One in Five UK children have never seen the Sea

Yet the young people that we work with @Solutions_for_the_planet in the landlocked cities of Bradford, Inner City London and Birmingham have a strong bond and passion towards the worlds oceans and how they can help to clean them of pollution. As Tom Franklyn a primary school teacher in Inner City said: “We’re never going run to out … Read more

Constructive Hope and Human connections

Constructive Hope and Human connections

Reflections after reading Sarah Milburn’s article on ‘Young People and Hope’ and Russell Brown’s article on LinkedIn – ‘Trust – building (and rebuilding)’. Although many young people think climate change is an important societal issue, studies indicate that pessimism, anxiety and fear is common. How do we communicate with young people around these issues? How … Read more

Analysis: Biden’s climate legacy

Analysis: Biden’s climate legacy

The policy framework, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), was engineered and passed through Congress by the Biden Administration with cross-party support. It has been hailed as the biggest and most significant policy framework ever approved in the US political system. As a result, when looking at outgoing President Biden’s climate legacy, this policy alone means … Read more

Aust breakthrough could transform solar PV

Aust breakthrough could transform solar PV

UNSW Sydney researchers have made an important breakthrough that could transform photovoltaic technology, making solar cells more environmentally friendly, cost-effective and efficient. The scientists, from UNSW’s School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering, managed to achieve a best-ever efficiency of 13.2% for high bandgap kesterite solar cells. While kesterite is a naturally occurring mineral, it … Read more