Notes of the meeting of the Chichester Climate Change Group, 21st May 2025, 2pm to 4pm, Friends Meeting House, Priory Road, Chichester
Present
Colin McKenna (Chair), Mike Cockerell, Jan Davies, Cate Matters, Maureen O’Grady, Andy Rackham, Andy Sargent, Susan LeTooze, Ann Butler,Tony Nordberg, Tom Broughton
- Apologies: – John Leslie, Mary HR, Polly Dee, Debbie Carter, Annabelle Glanville-Hearson, Ruth Keeley
- Matter Arising(Not on the Agenda) – None
- Presentation/Discussion by Mike Cockerell: Perspective on Current Climate Models
- Mike previously published a paper that was expanded on in the meeting.
- Current models seem to have underestimated the scale of global warming. Mike explained the limits of the current models.
- Mike showed a YouTube video by Dave Borlace ( of Just have a Think fame ). This showed the importance of following accepted accounting conventions in climate change.
- Presentation/Discussion by Mike Cockerell: Climate Change Challenges
- As the problems increase the reaction by the USA president is simply to withdraw from a global role and pretend the problem doesn’t exist leaving those most affected by climate change to suffer.
- The statutory Climate Change Committee in its last report, May 2025 produced evidence in its 168 page report to come to the view that progress is too slow, has stalled in some cases or is heading in the wrong direction.
- Presentation by Jan Davies: Debunking the myths about Climate Net Zero by 2050.
- Jan’s presentation gave a robust response to the most common myths circulating.
- Other News
- The chair mentioned the decision by the CDC Planning Committee to refuse the South Mundham solar farm application despite officer advice. The debate centred on the the legal costs of unnecessary appeals and the need for a much better way such as working up the Local Area Energy Plan to try and provide a better basis for future decisions.
- The chair mentioned the progress of the CDC draft new 5 year Climate Emergency Plan ( they have omitted the word “detailed” this time). He was pleased to see that we as a group and through our public meetings have had a significant influence in changing the Council’s approach to dealing with Climate change in our area. However, we need to keep up pressing for the development of proposals ( such as the Local Area Energy Plan) which is not yet funded and to ensure the plan is a document which will attract more readers. Colin agreed to put information on the plan and to reflect the discussion in giving a view on it in a short paper which he will put on the website.
- The Moringa Tree. Colin described this remarkable plant and its potential. for feeding people and for tackling climate change. But will it be used to the extent that it seems to have the potential for?
- Date of Next Meeting: No meeting in June. July date to be advised.
Colin McKenna