Neatly following on from a discussion I was having last night – how much do we really have to worry about the impact of climate change in Britain within the immediate future? – a preview of a report out this week on rising sea levels, higher waves and stronger storms.

The most obvious impact will be from rising sea levels. A report from the Hadley Centre, the Met Office’s climate research facility, warns that sea levels could rise by up to 2ft 6in around southern England by 2080.
Even Scotland, where rising sea levels are mitigated by the fact that the country is rising slightly from the earth’s crust, will experience an increase of up to 2ft, says the report.
Climate change causes sea levels to rise partly through melting ice sheets but also because, as water gets warmer, it expands slightly. A 1C temperature rise could raise global sea levels by many feet.
The report warns that such rises will be accompanied by an increase in the frequency and strength of big storms. As the atmosphere warms, more heat is generated to power weather systems.
“There has already been a greater incidence of severe winds,” says a report from the National Oceanography Centre at Southampton University. “Wave heights are increasing by about 2% a year around western and northern UK waters.”

I think of one of my favourite seaside spots – Broadstairs. There’s a wonderful Georgian house right on the beach tucked underneath its cliffs, with the small claim to fame that it is supposed to have been where the news of the first victory at Waterloo was delivered. I really don’t like its chances….

Not a story to be exactly taken at face value, but interesting that there seem to be efforts to recycle Tetra Paks in Thailand. (The cardboard/plastic composites in which much milk, fruit juice etc are now delivered.)

Pity that there is only one such recycling plant in the UK, in Scotland, and to the best of my knowledge there is no recycling of these at all in London, despite the vast quantities that must go into landfill from here.

… that was my thought this evening as I stumbled down yet another set of wet and slippery basement steps in Kentish Town towards an unlit front door. Presumably the residents know that the third step is twice the height of the rest, and that the edge of the fifth is crumbling away, but a humble canvasser seeking to help them in exercising their democratic rights doesn’t.

Canvassing after 4pm is no fun at all at this time of year – well except when you get a poster put up before your eyes, beautifully lit up by the streetlights. Had a couple of those this evening, which helped make it all feel worthwhile.

And to everyone I got out of the bath … sorry!