General News
MO: The Met Office has released station temperature records for over 1,500 of the stations that make up the global land surface temperature record. This data is a subset of the full HadCRUT record of global temperatures, which is one of the global temperature records that have underpinned IPCC assessment reports and numerous scientific studies.
The data subset consists of a network of individual stations that has been designated by the World Meteorological Organisation for use in climate monitoring. The subset of stations is evenly distributed across the globe and provides a fair representation of changes in mean temperature on a global scale over land.
Press release ~ Land surface climate station records ~ Global-average temperature records ~ World Meteorological Organisation
MO: As world leaders gathered in Copenhagen for the UN Climate Change Conference, a new map was launched that highlights the importance of limiting mean global temperature rise to no more than 2 °C above those prior to the industrial revolution.
The Met Office map called ‘The impacts of a global temperature rise of 2 °C’ has been produced to complement a similar map that explored the impacts on a world if the mean temperature was allowed to climb to 4 °C above the pre-industrial climate average. The differences between the impacts of a global mean temperature rise of 2 °C and 4 °C are stark.
A rise of 4 ºC could result in a decrease in yields of all major cereal crops across most major regions of production. However, by limiting temperature rises to 2 ºC the production of some cereal crops could actually increase at mid-to-high latitudes, with negative impacts limited to regions where farming is already under threat, especially in semi-arid and tropical regions.
Press release ~ Met Office: The impacts of a global temperature rise of 4 °C ~ Met Office: The impacts of a global temperature rise of 2 °C ~ UN Climate Change Conference ~ EU Ensembles research programme ~ Met Office You Tube Channel
CRC: More & more rural communities are playing a strong role in tackling climate change − 129 communities across England are involved in the Transition Towns and Villages process to decrease their dependency on fossil fuels and invest in renewable energy.
The Commission for Rural Communities are developing a work programme to ensure that the needs of rural communities are taken into account in national climate change policy and that the opportunities for rural areas are realised.
ScotGov: Law enforcement agencies across Scotland are to get tougher with drink drivers this festive season and offenders face losing their cars as well as losing their licences. This year the campaign aims to highlight the risks & consequences of drink-driving and the message that Scotland has just got tougher on drink-driving.
New enforcement in Scotland means drivers caught drink-driving for a second time can have their vehicle taken away for good. Authorities have the power to seize & enforce forfeiture of the driver's vehicle under the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.
MoD: Festive food was on the menu for wives & families from 3 RAF Regiment squadrons who took part in a Christmas-themed Ready Steady Cook-style competition. 3 teams of forces families, helped by a military chef, were challenged to prepare & cook a 2-course meal fit for our troops using the 10-Man Operational Ration packs that are used by military chefs in Afghanistan.
It was organised to show families of troops serving in the RAF Regiment’s 2 Squadron, 15 Squadron and 27 Squadron the ingredients used by skilled military chefs and to get a flavour of the food that troops eat in Afghanistan. The winning team was lead by SAC Nathan Spin, who has recently returned from Afghanistan. His team produced a delicious chicken dish and made an apple & pineapple crumble.
Press release ~ Ten man Operational Ration Pack (ORP) recipe ideas ~
Newswire – EA: Water metering must form the basis of charging for water in England to help avoid future water shortages due to population growth and the effects of climate change the Environment Agency has said. Commenting on the publication of Anna Walker’s independent review of water charging & metering, the government’s environmental watchdog has agreed that the majority of consumers & businesses in England should pay for water based on the volume used.
Research has shown that households with a water meter use between 10 & 15% less water than those without. The UK is one of the few developed countries that have low levels of metering; currently only one third of households in England & Wales are metered. The average Briton currently uses 148 litres – some 260 pints – every day and the Government has an aim to reduce this to 130 litres by 2030 in England.
CQC: The Care Quality Commission has highlighted Oneplace, as the reporting website for Comprehensive Area Assessment, for those who pay for local services, those who provide them, and those who use them. It is intended to give an independent, expert assessment, of how well local public services are tackling the important issues in every area in England.
You can use the website to understand more about where your public services are doing well, and where they aren't, providing you with information to hold local services to account. It has been jointly developed by the Audit Commission, Care Quality Commission, HM Inspectorates of Constabulary, Prisons & Probation and Ofsted.
ScotGov: As Scottish Swimming launched its updated Corporate Plan, sportscotland demonstrated its own commitment to the future development of the sport by announcing an annual investment of over £1.3m for 2009-10. Scottish Swimming has adopted a regional approach to deliver swimming through its key partners, including local authorities & schools, to provide more opportunities for people to enjoy lifelong participation.
This complements sportscotland's move towards a regional & community focus, building on existing networks, facilities & expertise to create more & better access to sport at a local level across Scotland.
Newswire – NOMS: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) has launched 2 new recruitment campaigns– the Senior Prison Manager Programme and the NOMS Graduate Programme.
ACE: A new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed between the British Council and Arts Council England. The MOU defines areas in which ACE and the BC can work more closely to help artists build links internationally. It establishes a framework within which the 2 agencies can jointly develop & create programmes that are strategic, coherent and serve the interests of artists & audiences.
Over the next few months, ACE and the BC will work together on a number of programmes including Unlimited, Music Showcases, Cultural Leadership, Cultural Diplomacy Group, Points of Culture and the London International Festival Symposium (2012). The 2 organisations are also looking at previous artists development programmes, such as Artists Links and ACE’s International Fellowship programme, to see what lessons can be learned when creating future schemes.
