Climate change and us
The news that the current resident of the US White House has decided to pull out of the Paris Agreement on climate change comes as no surprise to those of us who have seen the man’s work for decades in New York. The idea that his golf courses in the UK and his beloved Mar a Lago resort in southern Florida are already seeing the effects of global warming appears to not have moved him either. Never mind – I personally believe that the rest of world will get along without him, and this includes several states in the US, some of which are larger than many nations. As usual, New York is one of the states that is saying it will comply with the Paris agreement (thank you, Governor Cuomo). And, we are seeing other leaders emerge globally, all of whom realise the truth about climate change and the human race and the need to work together in these troubling times, rather than foment dissent and disunity. It is heartening.
Dairy is on the frontline of climate change, as usual. Its farmers are the first ones to feel the effects of warming temperatures, particularly in emerging nations. However, it is not waiting for the current crop of politicians to get their acts together.
In the UK, Dairy 2020 is continuing the British industry’s move to sustainable dairy production, developing frameworks for the country to tackle the effects of climate change and to use resources effectively. In Europe, Arla’s new biogas project at Videbaek is just one of many plants being built to turn slurry and processing waste into renewable resources. On a larger scale, the Global Dairy Agenda for Action has been in place for several years now, with dozens of members. They all commit to record and implement sustainability initiatives locally, as well as provide information for other members. It looks at several key areas: greenhouse gas emissions, waste, water, soil, biodiversity, market development, rural economies, working conditions, product safety and quality, and animal care. These are all vital for the many people on the planet who work to provide dairy products to feed a growing planet sustainably. So, the onus is on the politicians to help lead, or get out of the way.
Please visit: dairysustainabilityframework.org
