“Why doesn’t everyone LISTEN to Stephan Harrison!!”
That’s a quote from the comments book written by one of the audience at last nights talk by internationally renowned climatologist Dr Stephan Harrison at the Sand Bar in Praa Sands, West Cornwall. Using a variety of slides of graphs, pictures and photos Stephan took the audience on a rollercoaster ride through the current science and thinking on climate change. He explained why the climate change models aren’t as accurate as first thought, and that there is now much more concern about ‘rapid climate’ change. Most of the things we read about in the paper – even the recent Stern Report are based on these old models – research done in 2000 - 2001 and published in 2003 – are the latest published figures; but the science has moved on significantly since 2000. They just know loads more ………. and none of it gives us better news.
Stephan’s view is that even starting today we will be extremely unlikely to stop at the CO2 target of 550 ppm currently being set by the Government – he feels we will go above 550ppm and that in all likelihood we are looking at temperature rises of 3 degrees and above with 5 degrees being highly likely. He explained ‘forcings’ and ‘feedbacks’ to us – ice reflects light back into space, but when it melts dark water absorbs the heat thus heating the planet further. And he shared some of the speculative stuff – about the Gulf Stream, sudden rapid changes, rising acidity levels in the sea, just the whole unpredictability of it all. Another comment from the audience: “I didn’t realise how unstable the climate is, I didn’t think I would see any changes in our world in my lifetime, I was wrong! Thank you for opening my eyes to the biggest problem we face.”
All this in a fabulous venue overlooking the sea – a venue that if Stephan is right will be under water and maybe sooner than we realise. It was all very informal, drinks were had, food consumed – but as Stephan was talking you could have heard a pin drop – the barstaff said afterwards “I wish I could have stopped work and listened more.” Everyone got the chance to comment or ask questions as we bought our speaker a well-deserved beer – and to a one we all started our questions with what a privilege it was to have been there and listened to him in such a small and intimate gathering.
“We are doing this because we strongly believe that everyone should know this stuff,” said Mandy Milano, Director of j&m sustainable developers ltd. “It is important that we understand what we are doing and the consequences – then it’s up to all of us what we do about it. There are changes we can make ourselves, we can lobby our elected members, make consumer choices and really show that we are informed and do want something done by our government. Don’t get depressed, get informed and get active!”
Stephan is a Senior Research Associate, Oxford University Centre for the Environment and Senior Lecturer in Geography at the University of Exeter. He appeared on the David Attenborough BBC 1 series on climate change, he is a Director of Climate Change Risk Management Ltd which works with large organisations on understanding climate change, eg Lloyds of London, Zurich re, CBI etc……… and he is a seriously nice, very approachable man who is passionate about climate change.
Dr Harrison will be talking next at 8pm on Wed 6th December at Pippa’s in Newquay.
