This was how last Wednesday's talk was advertised. It drew me in by mentioning (a) the Big Bang, (b) energy, (c), oil and (d) live piano. All it lacked was a mention of food sovereignty but we can't have everything I suppose.
The venue was Machynlleth's Museum of Modern Art, an ex-chapel that still retains all its pews and upper galleries in immaculate condition. Sitting at the back, we even had little name plates bolted to the pew which perhaps denoted where the named dignitaries once used to park themselves. We hoped they didn't show up tonight and claim their seat from us. (They didn't).
Paul Allen works at the Centre for Alternative Technology. He headed up the Zero Carbon Britain (ZCB) report that came out in 2013, a fascinating and detailed study of how Britain could reach zero net carbon emissions by 2030 using today's technology. Now he goes around giving talks like this one, seeking to engage people with the concept of how we can seriously tackle climate change without having to put on smocks and go back to being peasants. We can, according to Paul, transition to a very low carbon economy (the “energy descent”) whilst keeping something approximating to our current lifestyles. Just a lot less meat-eating, a lot less flying and a lot less shopping. More time for learning the trombone?
As the lights dimmed we were treated to static images of starfields and nebulae as some rather cheesy electronic swooshy sound effects provided the aural backdrop to Paul's utterances. The pianist sat there on stage behind the grand piano, waiting her turn. Eventually the swirly music ended and she began playing her pieces, specially composed to provide the right backdrop to Paul's voice. She played as quietly as possible so we could hear him pretty much OK.
He spoke of all our energy as stored sunlight, whether it be stored for millions of years in fossil fuels, a few decades in trees, or converted by solar panels into electricity. Wind too is caused ultimately by the sun. Nuclear power didn't get a mention but the ZCB report argues against it due to the problem of what to do with the hazardous waste, and the risk of very serious long-lasting damage from natural or human-caused disasters.
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| A meal entirely made up of veg I've grown! |
He talked about the upcoming report he's working on, collating all manner of projects worldwide that are combating climate change. The point being, there is hope. Despite the UK government slashing renewable subsidies, despite the risk of Donald Trump becoming US President, we can still talk about the post-fossil-fuel future in positive terms. And that may just lead to real change in our own lives.
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