Great Casterton scientist has review paper on climate change published in Science journal
A scientist has received international recognition for his work on climate change.
Mike Harley, of Great Casterton, has co-authored a review paper that has just been published by the respected journal Science.
Mike and his team argue that whilst urgent action is needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, nature must be used to help safeguard the planet from climate change and its effects.
The keen motorcyclist believes humanity can still enjoy a ‘decent living’ and need not return to a Stone Age-like existence.
The 64-year-old has a background in geology and worked for many UK government conservation agencies for more than 25 years before joining an environment consultancy in 2007.
In 2012, he founded Climate Resilience Ltd, a small firm advising how countries can adapt to climate change.
Mike’s latest research says natural solutions must be at the forefront of efforts to mitigate climate change and its effects.
Already, countries were experiencing its effects, he said, including South Africa, whose government Mike has already advised on the issue.
South Africa’s farmers were already experiencing floods and droughts and like other farmers will need to change their crops to account for such growing extremes.
Mike said: "Natural forests, peatlands and other wild places need to be protected and restored to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.”
Instead of traditional seawalls, saltwater and grazing marshes are more effective as they absorb energy from the waves, so less land is lost by encroaching tides.
Buildings make cities ‘heat islands’ but the heat can be reduced through green spaces, ponds, lakes and trees. In South Africa, Mike has seen buildings covered in foliage to curb such ‘heat island’ effects.
More forests will also have to be planted to store carbon.
Mike said: “Land use will inevitably change.”
There would also have to be changes to how the heating and insulation of buildings are managed.
Mike added: “I don’t sit with the Extinction Rebellion view. But it’s a very complex issue politically, socially and environmentally.”
The article can be read at https://science.sciencemag.org/content/366/6471/eaaw9256.full
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