Until It Matters

Nothing matters until it matters. This is especially true about climate change.

Frankly if we produce rather good sparkling wine in England and enjoy slightly warmer summers I am not too worried about climate change. It won’t happen for ages … something for the next generation to deal with. Do I think about the Bangladeshis? Yes, their lot is not a happy one. 80% of the country is a flood plain about a metre above sea level and it floods most years. In 2007 nine million people were made homeless. Other far away countries are subject to natural disasters too and I get compassion fatigue.

Of course I do not speak for you. Now climate change is on our doorsteps, so to speak; even flowing through our drawing rooms rather more often than desired in the UK and Europe. My household contents insurance has gone up by about 30% in two years.

I have had dinner with Nigel Lawson more than once (that means twice) and lunch with Matthew Ridley at least once. Both are bursting with brains but full of nonsense about global warming. Like them I was a sceptic as recently as ten years ago. Now I know it matters.

Hammersmith Bridge re-opens for pedestrians and cyclists today. A reason for its closure last year was structural defects caused by high temperatures. It will be 30C this weekend so we will see how robust the dear old thing is.

Ocado has stopped delivering in Barons Court – glad I sold my M&S shares.

I have withheld something from you. Walnut, the peregrine Falcon chick, went missing about three weeks ago. She may turn up but she may have met with an accident – like flying into a window.

On the other hand the canna is doing well. Hitherto they only grew in the tropics but climate change …