by pennyurquhart | Oct 27, 2022 | climate change and health, COP27, Uncategorized
An old song earworms its way through my mind, the lyrics ‘it’s getting hot, hot, hot’ tripping over a punchy soca rhythm. I can’t place it but recognise it as an intermittent visitor for some months. It’s as though the zeitgeist is bubbling up into my...
by pennyurquhart | Nov 15, 2021 | climate change, climate justice, COP 26
COP26 banners at Glasgow Central train station. Copyright: Penny Urquhart I am truly glad that the Glasgow Climate Pact mentions the need to phase out fossil fuel subsidies. And I despair that this is the first time, in 27 years, that a final COP statement has...
by pennyurquhart | Aug 11, 2021 | climate change, extreme events, Uncategorized
It was a week like no other – so far – for the rich world. Astonishing scenes played out on 14th and 15th of July 2021 in western Europe, where raging waters inundated vast swathes of land as river after river in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and...
by pennyurquhart | Mar 16, 2021 | culture, environment, happiness, Uncategorized
What is the good news today? There must be some, despite Brazil still reeling under Covid’s assault, Beijing choking in the worst dust storm in a decade, and terrible ongoing wars in Yemen and Syria. This was part of my internal monologue this morning, before opening...
by pennyurquhart | Nov 13, 2020 | Africa, climate change, climate conversations, food security and climate change
Chef Pierre Thiam. Photograph provided by Pierre Thiam. “Fonio never embarrasses the cook.” Pierre Thiam, world-renowned Senegalese chef and culinary ambassador, is cooking this ancient African grain from his “Covid kitchen” in Berkeley, while I and some 30-odd...
