If you were to google this phenomena in an English language search engine, there is little related information. And the Met office, government and media seem to avoid this subject like the plague. It is fairly complex science and I cannot pertain to state that I understand the process fully; in brief, the flood of freshwater from Northern countries, tundra melt water etc., flows into the Arctic where a process exists that the salt content from freezing sea water drops to the bottom of the Arctic ocean and effects northern hemisphere sea currents, which in turn effect the climate currents, the added freshwater changes this process and causes fluctuations and eventually distorts the currents completely. (check out section 3.2 on the green facts website)
Why is there this huge difference in public knowledge between France and the UK. Granted this is only based on my conversations and observations, but it is very apparent indeed. Hence the question is there a 'DA Notice' in the UK with regards this subject? An extreme and controversial question but I can honestly think of no other explanation.
The term global warming is still regularly brought up in UK media, but is increasingly used as a joke statement or used by some sources to predict that climate change will result in vineyards in the UK and a Mediterranean lifestyle.
I am a climate optimist, I truly believe that the science and technology that exists and is being developed, principally by industry can achieve an equilibrium in the future, (maybe I have to think this as I have a 7 year old son), and any feelings on the subject are not normally swayed or drawn into whether this is a man made climate change or natural as this argument simply delays action as we witness at the regular 'climate change' conferences held around the world. The argument that it is man made date back to Svante Arrhenius in 1896 and many of the greatest scientists of modern times refuse to acknowledge any other reason than that the incredibly rapid changes world wide climate is having is the result of human activity.
My opinion is shaped on this - In urban areas the recognised difference in temperature can afford exotic plants to be included in design schemes - therefore if heat can make such a difference then surely the invisible gases can. The atmosphere is very small as illustrated here below and as such it is inconceivable to believe that the
quantity of gases produced by human activities cannot have a bearing on the atmosphere.
The image on the left portrays the volume of water and the pink ball on the right is the volume of our atmosphere. Taken from the science photo library
However whatever stance you have, it cannot be argued that climate change does not have a dramatic bearing on the land based practitioner whose very living is based on climatic events? But without knowing what the reality is (or in real terms - without the government and media adopting a secure stance on a climate change model), what can the industry achieve to protect itself and indeed the environment in which it works?
Asides from many more days of being unable to work, which ultimately has to reflect in the pricing of all external work, it also has a indirect link to a responsibility to aid towards ensuring that in Northern Europe, all land based practitioners are armed with the correct knowledge to work towards meeting the effects of climate change by way of planting decisions - native Vs non native etc.,. In France a stance of increased planting of native trees as well as significant planting of suitable trees for future energy resources is the official recommendation - hence many landscapers looking at native trees to be included into modern garden design.
The questions we need the answers to at the moment are rebounded off a wall of conflicting and seemingly deliberately distorted information. The media contradict themselves regularly and enjoy a position of authority on an issue for which they are simply not qualified to take. In the meantime what do we do? Asides from adopting what many practitioners have done and aim towards the establishment of ecologically friendly, environmentally conscious sustainable gardens, which are increasingly becoming the final refuge of a UK sustainable landscape.
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