An unwelcome CO2 milestone – The Met Office is predicting that the annual average CO2 concentration will be 416.3 parts per million (ppm) between April and June 2021. This will be 50% higher than 278 ppm that existed in the late 18th century when the industrial revolution began. The Met Office says that It took more than 200 years for levels to rise by 25% and now just over 30 years to approach this 50% increase. The annual peak will (as usual) be followed by a temporary fall in concentrations as forests and other ecosystems absorb the gas during the northern hemisphere growing season. From September onwards, however, the CO2 level will resume its upwards trajectory. More detail here.
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Missing lynx – The UK’s largest landowner is helping fund a study of public opinion into the release of the lynx in parts of Scotland. Scotland: The Big Picture, a charity that promotes re-wilding is working with two other conservation groups, Trees for Life and the Vincent Wildlife Trust, says that lynx would help regenerate woodland by reducing the population of roe deer which browse on young trees, and stunt their growth. It is thought that there is enough suitable habitat and prey in Scotland to support about 500 lynx. More detail here of both support and opposition, and FAQs here.
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28 trillion tonnes of ice – Sufficient ice to cover the UK to a depth of 100 metres has melted from the world’s glaciers and poles since the mid-1990s, and the rate of loss is accelerating. The 28 trillion tonnes was lost between 1994 and 2017, and the annual melt rate has increased by 65% over that time. In the 1990s the rate was 0.8 trillion tonnes / year rising to 1.3 trillion tonnes / year in 2017. The increase in ice loss has been caused by a rise in the average temperature of the atmosphere [ +0.26C ] and oceans [ +0.12C ] since 1980. A report in The Cryosphere is the most comprehensive study of global ice loss, and was carried out by researchers from the Universities of Edinburgh, London and Leeds.
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The Economics of Biodiversity – the launch of The Dasgupta Review takes place on Tuesday 2 February, 1400-1515, hosted by the Royal Society. We’re invited to join Professor Dasgupta, Dr Venki Ramakrishnan and guests to hear about the Review’s findings and what they mean for economic decision-making. You can sign up for the event on the Royal Society’s website here. Audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions. You are encouraged to submit questions in advance – as well as throughout the event – on Sli.do here.
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UK Coal mining – There is controversy in government about the planning approval granted for a deep under-sea coal mine off Whitehaven which will produce coking coal for steel-making. Those responsible for COP26 are said to be embarrassed and angry, though there will be 500 jobs created in Cumbria. Whatever the carbon rights and wrongs of this it draws attention to inescapable issues: should we mine our own coal or import it? That is, should we bear the carbon cost ourselves or let another country do this? Should we perhaps stop making steel ourselves and just import what we need? This would reduce our carbon footprint significantly, but make no difference to the amount of CO2 released globally. It would export jobs though. Maybe we should we stop using steel altogether and get round the problem? Either way, environmental educators will surely welcome a real controversy – a wicked problem – to explore with their students.
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National Plant Monitoring Scheme – Do you know your buttercup from your butterbur? Plantlife says why not join volunteers across the country putting their botanical skills to use by taking part in the National Plant Monitoring Scheme and contributing to the government’s Biodiversity Indicators. This sounds like a great thing for schools to join in with. More detail here.
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Science education and the climate emergency – To mark COP26 in November, School Science Review is producing a special issue foregrounding the role science education in responding to the climate crisis. If you are involved in science education research or practice, we invite you to submit papers which might examine local and global dimensions of the climate emergency, the ways in which science education can help people anticipate and respond to the impacts of climate change, and the role science education plays in meeting UN sustainable development goal 13 (Climate Action) and the target of net zero by 2050. The deadline for submissions (of 3000 words max) is 1st September 2021, with a decision due by 28th October. All accepted articles will be peer reviewed and those accepted will feature a response from a youth panel. For more information or to submit, see this form or contact Lynda Dunlop (lynda.dunlop@york.ac.uk) and/or Lizzie Rushton (elizabeth.rushton@kcl.ac.uk).
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The latest ecological research – The British Ecological Society [BES] has a new series of free online talks on the latest ecological research. You can now register to watch the 25 minute talks live or catch up later on our YouTube channel. They will be broadcast on Zoom every Thursday from 4 March to 20 May 2021. BES and the Linnean Society are running an online conference for students on 4–5 March exploring career pathways, skills sessions and showcasing research. Tickets are available now and you can register today.
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WWT home learning hub – This has been designed to support both teachers and parents with key parts of the science and geography curriculum. You will find a learning programme, covering all science and geography topics relating to nature and wildlife at KS1 and KS2. There is also a range of shorter activities and quizzes that can be dipped into at any time. These include ‘make it activities’ with instructional videos showing how to make everything from a mini pond to a water cycle in a jar. The resources can be accessed here.
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Children and permaculture – There’s a new course for school & nursery teachers, forest school leaders, nature kindergarten teachers, parents and other educators to learn how to engage children in all aspects of permaculture, learning from nature with a child-led approach. This is led by Lusi Alderslowe and Nim Robins. Running over 3 sessions: Monday 22nd, Wednesday 24th and Friday 26th February 2021 0930 – 1330. Full details and booking here.
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The Rights Respecting Schools Award – The next DERC seminar is on Feb 9th when Sarah Hamilton & Frances Bestley (UNICEF) will assess the impact of the Rights Respecting Schools Award, the best known and biggest initiative promoting rights-based approaches in UK schools, with over 5000 schools involved. Human rights education expert Hugh Starkey (UCL Institute of Education) will then provide a response. This Zoom-based event is free to attend, but please register in advance here.
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Why ‘the environment’ can be a misleading myth – This is Stephen Sterling’s latest blog which you will find on his Re-thinking education for a more sustainable world website.