News review
Sustainable Research
Sustainable Awards
Study links wash-out summers
with melting Arctic sea ice
Dramatic retreat of sea ice could be to blame for unseasonable weather
By Anna Wright
new study offers an
A explanation for the
extraordinary run of wet
summers experienced by
Britain and northwest Europe
between 2007 and 2012.
The study found that loss of Arctic
sea ice shifts the jet stream south,
resulting in increased rain during the
summer in northwest Europe.
Dr James Screen from the
University of Exeter used a
computer model to investigate
how the retreat of Arctic sea ice
in?uences the European climate.
He found the pattern of rainfall
predicted by the model closely
resembles that of recent summers.
The study is published in
Environmental Research Letters.
Dr Screen said: “The study
suggests that loss of sea ice not only
has an effect on the environment
and wildlife of the Arctic region but
has far reaching consequences for
people living in Europe and beyond.”
Normally in summer the jet
stream lies between Scotland and
Iceland and weather systems pass
north of Britain. When it shifts
south, it brings unseasonable wet
weather to Britain and northwest
Europe, causing havoc for tourism
and farming.
The model suggests that while
summer rainfall increases in
northwest Europe, Mediterranean
regions will receive less rain. The
effects are not limited to Europe weather systems as far as North
America could also be in?uenced.
The annual average extent of
Arctic sea ice is currently declining
at about 500,000km² per decade –
equivalent to about twice the area
of the UK.
health and socioeconomic impacts
such as increased traf?c, impacts
on local infrastructure and worker
migration are considered
• Chemicals used in fracking ?uid
will be publicly disclosed and risk
assessed prior to use. It is useful to
note that any potential risk to
public health and the environment
from fracking chemicals will be
dependent on the route of
exposure, total amount and
concentration, and eventual fate
of any such chemicals. It is
expected that these aspects will
be considered as part of the
regulatory environmental
permitting process.
Dr Harrison added: “PHE
will work with regulators to
ensure appropriate assessment
of risk from all aspects of shale
gas extraction.”
Professor John Newton, Chief
Knowledge Of?cer at PHE, added:
“The report makes a number of
recommendations, including
the need for environmental
monitoring to provide a baseline
ahead of shale gas extraction, so
Sustainable Energy
LET IT SHINE
Latest data from DECC reveals
that nearly 460,000 homes
across the UK now have solar
panels, giving a combined peak
capacity of 1.3GW and making
domestic solar the largest subsector of the solar market.
Huge production volumes and
ef?ciencies in the UK industry
mean the cost of installing solar
has dropped rapidly. Prices for
the power generated have
plummeted by 65% since 2010,
but the Solar Trade Association
calculates that homes installing
a 4kW(p) system could still
expect returns of around 12%
and payback within eight years.
Wanted:
UK’s greenest
entrepreneurs
By GreenWeek staff
The UK’s top green entrepreneurs
are being asked to step forward
as The Sustainable City Awards
welcomes a new category.
For the ?rst time, those paving
the way in the sector will have their
efforts recognised as they compete
to lift the new Sustainable
Entrepreneurship Award at the
ceremony on March 27th 2014.
With sustainability as the Mayor
of London’s key theme for 2014,
the awards are looking for
innovative and determined
individuals who can create longterm value that will bene?t society,
the economy and the environment.
Businesses are invited to
nominate themselves for their green
projects, from the likes of creating
apps to ?nd the closest parking
space to setting up environmentfocused community groups.
Now in their 13th year and
named by the RSA as the UK’s
greenest awards system, The
Sustainable City Awards, organised
by The City of London Corporation,
have previously recognised the work
of the food and fashion industries.
Simon Mills, Head of Sustainable
Development at the City of London
Corporation, said: “As the need for
future sustainable businesses
greatens, we’re looking forward to
seeing the talent that this year brings
and acknowledging those with the
skills that will help shape our future.”
The deadline for nominations is
4th November 2013.
Sustainable Analysis
continued from page 1
shale gas extraction on the
environment and public health.
There should also be consideration
of the development of emission
inventories as part of the
regulatory regime
• Effective environmental
monitoring in the vicinity of shale
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