Global Warming - Strategy v Gesture

We all need to be deeply concerned about climate change and to seek to address this by reducing emissions of carbon dioxide. But that does not mean that we should just adopt any ineffectual scheme, even if it is to the detriment of our living environment.

Negligible Effect on Climate Change

The proposed hydro scheme at the Torrs upper weir will reduced carbon emissions in New Mills only by a factor of about 0.1% (1/1000th) - that is merely by the amount of carbon produced by just 6 households.

On balance, this small benefit of carbon reduction does not justify the adverse effects of a hydroelectric scheme on the focal point of our unique Torrs park.

Politics and posturing form a significant part of the reason a hydroelectric scheme is being pushed forward for the Torrs, in the face of the obvious arguments against.

All the political parties and environmental groups want to appear to be doing something, even if it is patently ineffectual and actually detrimental to the broader living environment. Instead of signing up for a political gesture they should push the development of a strategy that will have some real effect.

Need for a Broader Strategy

A local strategy is needed to assess all aspects of carbon reduction in New Mills, through energy saving and renewable energy generation. When we have a prioritised list of projects, then will be the time to act and make a significant impact on our contribution to climate change. It may well then be apparent that spoiling a key beauty spot with industrial equipment is inappropriate and unnecessary. The Torrs Hydro project has failed to place the scheme in the context of such a strategy.

"We have some difficult choices to make if we are going to get serious about reducing the impact of climate change on the natural environment. But these need to be well informed choices. A strategic options assess-ment would enable us to get the cleanest energy into the most appropriate locations." Sir Martin Doughty, Natural England, on Severn Barrage

 

Facts about Carbon Emissions UK consumers use products and services with a combined carbon footprint of 600 Million Tonnes. That is equivalent to an annual average of about 10 Tonnes CO2 per person for everything we do. The 10,300 people of New Mills parish probably emit around 100,000 Tonnes CO2 per year. So compare the 115 Tonnes per year saved by the hydroelectric proposal - we will need 870 such hydroelectric plants to offset our carbon, as one generator only saves about 0.1% of our total emissions. The proposed hydro plant will only offset the carbon emissions from just 6 average households. (Figures are rounded to memorable values)