Two Degrees Cooler

38. Ordinary people have no idea how much progress we’ve made. Tell people at parties that UK carbon emissions in 2023 were at their lowest level since 1879, for example. Most developed economies are now reducing carbon emissions without lowering quality of life.

Here’s some more information about FAAM the flying laboratory, a very interesting topic for your daily rabbit hole ⬇️

2 posters containing a picture of an airplane laboratory, a weather person, the outside of a jet, a infographic containing a cloud from the Met Office, and the following text (cut off for character limit): Woodford's Leading Role In Climate Change Research (1/2) Research and education play vital roles in raising awareness about climate change, its causes, and its impact. We are pleased to say that an aeroplane converted at Woodford is playing a leading role. The FAAM Airborne Laboratory has a crucial role in advancing our understanding of climate change. Part of the National Centre for Atmospheric Science, FAAM operates a specialised aircraft equipped with state-of-the-art instruments to take all kinds of atmospheric measurements, gathering data that can be used to understand air pollution, climate change, weather systems and more. This research helps improve climate models, develop better weather forecasts, and inform policymakers on strategies for mitigating the impacts of climate change. Model Improvements Improved Forecast The aircraft operated by FAAM is a unique BAe 146-301 ARA, registered G-LUXE. This four-engine regional jet airliner was first flown in 1981 as the prototype BAe 146-100 (registration G-SSSH) but in 1986 its airframe was extended by 5m converting it to a stretched BAe 146-300 version. Acquired in 2001 for use by the Natural Environment Research Council and the Met Office, it underwent a three-year conversion to a flying laboratory and made its first science flight in 2004. It has a range of more than 2,000km, can carry up to 4 tonnes of scientific instruments and 21 scientists and crew. It flies as low as 50 feet over the sea and up to 35,000 feet high in the atmosphere with research flights lasting up to 6 hours. In 20 years of operation, it has flown research campaigns in more than 30 countries across 5 continents

It was awesome to learn about the FAAM Airborne Laboratory at Stockport’s Avro Heritage Museum this weekend! It’s a plane kitted out with instruments to take atmospheric measurements, gathering data for atmospheric air pollution, climate change, weather, and more!

Green sea turtle saved from extinction in major conservation victory - Oceanographic The green sea turtle has been rescued from extinction thanks to forty years of conservation and protection efforts, the IUCN has said.

Green sea turtles have been saved from extinction thanks to decades of global conservation action, including nesting beach patrols and hatchling releases to preventing accidental capture in fishing gear! #ConservationWorks

The path between here and a just and livable future is not a smooth curve of managed transition any more (if it ever was). It's white water, surprises, confusion, advance, retreat, learning, messing up, grieving, celebrating, experimenting, truth telling, pausing in the beauty.

Empathy + Action = A Better World

Thank you, Jane Goodall

Climate Ages Where Fossils and Climate Meet Climate Ages grew out of a love for science and a desire to keep sharing it in a way that’s accessible to everyone. After stepping away from academia, we found…

Who will inspire the next generation? 🌍

Storytellers once made me fall in love with nature & all its creatures
Now I want to do the same: share stories that spark wonder & care

That’s why I launched the Climate Ages YouTube channel.
I'd love it if you followed us!
🧪 #SciComm
buff.ly/kpGaXJc

Graphic which reads "Mayor of London / It was predicted to take 193 years to meet legal limits for air pollution in London/ We did it in 9"

I remember being told that it would take 193 years to reach legal limits for nitrogen dioxide.

I decided this was unacceptable.

Thanks to the bold policies we put in place, we've managed to do it in nine years - 184 years earlier than expected.

Picture of Jane Goodall, a white elderly woman with white hair, in the forest with the quote “The forest is for me a temple, a cathedral of tree canopies and dancing light.” Dr. Jane Goodall

Rest in peace to the wonderful Jane Goodall, who devoted her life to the study of chimpanzees, and conservation and humanitarian work 🕊️🐵🌳

Pope Leo Calls for Unity on Climate at a Divided Moment The pope invoked his predecessor, Francis, for whom the environment was a core issue, but stopped short of criticizing world leaders dismissive of climate change.

In his first significant address on climate change, Pope Leo called on Catholics and citizens of the world on Wednesday to carry on the environmental advocacy of his predecessor, Francis, and not to treat it as a “divisive” issue.

Climate Justice Coalition (@climatejusticeuk.bsky.social) The coalition organising to build the climate justice movement in Britain ➜ across the globe 🌎 climatejustice.uk/climate-justice-coalition

Apparently the body balm and shampoo bar pictured are raising money for climatejusticeuk.bsky.social, a network of groups and individuals committed to building solidarity and power for climate justice in Britain and across the globe. 75% of sale price is going to them!

Climate of change - We are Lush

Digital copy of leaflet ⬇️

weare.lush.com/lush-life/ou...

A display inside a lush store featuring multiple items on a plate: yellow sun shaped “Its Getting Hot In here” body balm with label, a pile of yellow disk shaped bath bombs, a sign with a QR code and the text “Climage of Change! Together! Scan the QR code to let us know your suggestions for individual or collective action to protect the world we love” and some A6 leaflets with the text “Lets create a climate of change. 12 ways to protect the world we love.”

“The antidote to climate anxiety is action!”

A cool display inside Lush stores shows what individuals can do to “create a climate of change”. I like how they’re not pulling punches about cooperate/government responsibility but coming at it from a collective action perspective.

Details 🧵⬇️

A beautiful data comic on the Paris climate change conference ⬇️

Zooniverse The Zooniverse is the world's largest and most popular platform for people-powered research.

My daily reminder for anyone who wishes they could be part of a scientific discovery - zooniverse is a platform that allows volunteers to help with data on a range of science projects! It’s really as easy as a few clicks. As a former astrophysicist, I love it :) www.zooniverse.org

People signing the Global Pledge for Healthy Indoor Air at the UN

Yesterday, history happened at the UN: For the first time hundreds of orgs signed a global pledge declaring that healthy indoor air is a human right.

Healthy indoor air is a key tool for preventing pandemics, building climate resilience, and increasing health equity. We need it everywhere!

“Even if the diagnosis is dire, the window of cure is still open.

Failure is not inevitable; failure is a choice.

A choice that must and can be avoided.”

World’s oceans fail key health check as acidity crosses critical threshold for marine life Scientists call for renewed global effort to curb fossil fuels as seven of nine planetary boundaries now transgressed

The world’s oceans just failed a key planetary health check.

For the first time, ocean acidity crossed a critical threshold for marine life – directly impacting marine organisms throughout the food chain, from oysters to salmon to whales.

That relatively rare moment of finding a healthy hard coral above 50ft/15m. #scuba #scubadiving #underwaterphotography #marinelife #roatan

Today is International Orangutan Day!

A close-up of a large orangutan with reddish-brown fur and distinctive cheek pads, sitting against a background of green foliage. The UN Environment Programme logo is in the top right corner.

Today is #OrangutanDay 🦧

Orangutans, the “people of the forest,” play a key role in keeping forests healthy. But all three species - Bornean, Sumatran, and Tapanuli orangutans - are critically endangered due to habitat loss and illegal trade.

Learn more: wildfor.life/species/oran...

Chasing Coral taps into the collective will and wisdom of an ad man, a self-proclaimed coral nerd, top-notch camera designers, and renowned marine biologists as they invent the first time-lapse… Chasing Coral | FULL FEATURE | Netflix

Chasing Coral is a documentary about the wonder of coral, how they contribute to the health of our planet & the threats they face, told by passionate people who work hard every day for their survival. For stunning videography & heart wrenching testimony, check it out on YT ⬇️ or Netflix

2 photos of the same coral reef after a mass bleaching event caused by global warming. The coral on the left photo is varied and vibrant. The coral on the right photo is white and brown. Photo credit: New Scientist, Danielle Claar, Kevin Bruce

Coral is suffering extensively due to #GlobalWarming. For an ecosystem, it’s less like a heatwave and more like a fever - even 2C is eventually fatal. Coral bleaching is a stress response before death. It’s the animal trying to kill its own micro algae to save itself, not knowing heat is responsible

Cold water coral 🪸 is most commonly found in the deep waters of Scotland, but it lives in may other places. The Bailiwick of Guernsey in the channel islands features cold water coral ⬇️
www.alderneywildlife.org/wildlife-exp...

Plankton, a character in the show Spongebob. He is an anthropomorphic zooplankton with a pill-shaped green body, a yellow single eye, 2 antennae, folded arms, and a displeased facial expression.Credit: Nickleodeon

A copepod, a type of zooplankton. It has a translucent body coloured light blue and yellow, and 2 long antennae. Credit: NASA.

Coral is not just a tropical plant - the UK is home to a class of coral called 'cold water coral'. It's a special type of coral because it doesn't have it's own microalgae; the polyps feed by extending their tentacles to catch plankton, krill and other small crustaceans floating nearby.

Several coral of different colours and shapes in an aquarium. Credit: Qui Nguyen https://unsplash.com/@quinguyen

What we think of as coral is thousands of polyps making up one organism. Each shape is a different species. Coral has a symbotic relationship with an internal colony of microalgae (AKA phytoplankton) which photosynthesise and provide a food source.

Coral reef in bottom right 3/4 featuring a diverse, colourful range of coral with hundreds of small to medium fish swimming above. ocean in top left corner. Credit: Francesco Ungaro, https://unsplash.com/@francesco_ungaro

We’re starting off the month of ocean conversation with Coral Reefs. Not many people know that #coral is an animal rather than a plant, and a #reef is an ecosystem of many different coral animals as well as rocks, fish, and other sea animals.

The issues I’m going to spotlight this month are coral reefs, plastic pollution, fishing, and rising seas. There’s a lot more we could discuss when it comes to oceans but I hope this sparks some interest and action, and encourages you to dive deeper into any topics you feel drawn to 🌊

Picture of Petit Bot beach in Guernsey from the cliffs, primarily of the ocean and the cliffs. Steps are in the foreground. Credit: Nicole [last name unknown], https://virtualbunch.com/the-best-beaches-in-guernsey/

August’s spotlight is Ocean Conservation 🌊 This is an important topic to me as I grew up on an island - I actually got my powerboat license before my driver’s license! The #ocean is an essential part of our ecosystem but it’s facing many threats. Join me this month to hear more and what we can do.