Look at the smiles! muddy volunteers and some of the Green Shores team after a morning of restoring saltmarsh on the Eden Estuary. The plants are protected by 2/3 depth buried chestnut fencing, to help them establish. #Saltmarsh #Restoration #Volunteers #NatureScot #NatureRestorationFund
We were planting last week, getting the last of this year's polytunnel grown stock out into the Eden Estuary- Sea Club rush and saltmarsh grass. Another two days with fabulous volunteers, we couldn't do it without them. #SaltmarshRestoration #NatureScot #NatureRestorationFund #TidesOutTuesday
@AmateurExpert Hi there, Saltmarsh grows on tidal river estuaries, and previously there was a lot more saltmarsh here in Scotland. Saltmarsh that was here before has degraded and eroded due to land use change, pollution, and coastal erosion.
The mudflats are covered in water at high tide and exposed at low tide, so only species of plants that can grow in those conditions can live there. We are trying to restore some of the saltmarsh that has been lost over the past 100 or so years.
After taking a quick dip at the Weston-super-Mare beach (which is huge and windy), we stopped at a Candy Royale shop on the way back to our hotel. The sign outside offered something called “waffle balls”, which caught our attention because they looked similar to poffertjes, which I loved eating in Amsterdam decades ago. The proprietor, a friendly man, worked the counter with his daughter. He was not familiar with poffertjes, but recognized the similarity when I showed them the Wikipedia page. Here he is putting the batter in the griddle:
A difference between the way he makes them and the way that I remember them being made in Amsterdam is that his griddle has a top, and so the poffertjes do not need to be turned. In Amsterdam, they were flipped very quic
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After taking a quick dip at the Weston-super-Mare beach (which is huge and windy), we stopped at a Candy Royale shop on the way back to our hotel. The sign outside offered something called “waffle balls”, which caught our attention because they looked similar to poffertjes, which I loved eating in Amsterdam decades ago. The proprietor, a friendly man, worked the counter with his daughter. He was not familiar with poffertjes, but recognized the similarity when I showed them the Wikipedia page. Here he is putting the batter in the griddle:
A difference between the way he makes them and the way that I remember them being made in Amsterdam is that his griddle has a top, and so the poffertjes do not need to be turned. In Amsterdam, they were flipped very quickly and dexterously by a guy with a long fork. Another difference is the batter. The batter used by Candy Royale was waffle batter. In Amsterdam, I think it was pancake batter. Another difference is the toppings. In Amsterdam, it was butter and powdered sugar. In Weston-super-Mare at the Candy Royale, it was powdered sugar with Nutella, your choice of syrup, and other toppings, and it was served with ice cream. here’s a photo of what we got:
I got the impression that the Candy Royale shop is only open during the summer months. Similarly, the poffertjes vendor in Amsterdam was in a trailer that I suspect was towed south for the winter months.
The “waffle balls“ were good, but Ellen and I look forward to having genuine, authentic poffertjes in Amsterdam sometime soon.
This car was in the parking lot (in British “car park”) of the Royal Hotel Weston, the hotel we stayed in at Weston-super-Mare. It reminded me of the car in the book/movie. I wish I’d taken a closer look at it and noted the make.
Follow LIVE the progress of over 2000 intrepid cyclists in 4 countries on the most epic midsummer longest day adventure - coast to coast, Chasing The Sun!
"Khipus are a unique form of writing based on coloured and knotted cords. Andean people of the past used them as a record of the climate, and studied them to understand the patterns of what was going on. Efforts are now underway to get accurate radiocarbon dates."
Climate resilience isn’t just smart—it’s profitable and, as climate impacts accelerate, it's rapidly becoming essential as well.
💡 Good News: A new World Resources Institute study finds that for every $1 invested in climate adaptation, we get more than $10 in benefits - even if the disaster doesn't occur!
🌍 Not-So-Good News: The cost of inaction is rising fast. From glacier collapses in Switzerland to deadly floods in Nigeria and record wildfires in Canada, climate-fueled disasters are becoming more intense and more frequent around the world.
💪 Inspiring News: In British Columbia, My Climate Plan helps people prepare for climate emergencies by providing the resources, information, and connections people need to stay safe and build stronger communities.
We all need to understand what’s happening, why it matters, and what we can do. That’s true everywhere, but especially true now in the U.S., where essential resources like NOAA’s Billion-Dollar Disasters database and FEMA are being cut.
As clim
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Climate resilience isn’t just smart—it’s profitable and, as climate impacts accelerate, it's rapidly becoming essential as well.
💡 Good News: A new World Resources Institute study finds that for every $1 invested in climate adaptation, we get more than $10 in benefits - even if the disaster doesn't occur!
🌍 Not-So-Good News: The cost of inaction is rising fast. From glacier collapses in Switzerland to deadly floods in Nigeria and record wildfires in Canada, climate-fueled disasters are becoming more intense and more frequent around the world.
💪 Inspiring News: In British Columbia, My Climate Plan helps people prepare for climate emergencies by providing the resources, information, and connections people need to stay safe and build stronger communities.
We all need to understand what’s happening, why it matters, and what we can do. That’s true everywhere, but especially true now in the U.S., where essential resources like NOAA’s Billion-Dollar Disasters database and FEMA are being cut.
As climate extremes grow, losing this information makes us more vulnerable. That's why it's more important than ever to stay informed—and to talk about it. The bottom line is clear. Investing in climate resilience is no longer a luxury. It’s a necessity -- and it pays off!
Saturday the 21st is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. I’ll be doing the UK south Chase The Sun, trying to bike the 200 miles between Minster On Sea and Weston-super-Mare between sunrise and sunset -- about 17 hours. I’ve been training for it since February, following this schedule [link].
If you want to follow my progress on the 21st, you can do so on this page [link], which isn’t up now, but will be on the day. I will be assigned a number and you’ll need the number to track me. I’ll post the number here when I get it Friday evening.
Talking Climate is now a podcast! Every week, you can listen to the good news, not-so-good news, and what you can do on Spotify and Substack, narrated by the amazing Anne Cloud from Voice Over For The Planet.
Whether you're commuting, doing chores around the house, or even if you're just tired of looking at a screen, this new podcast version is for you. My hope is that having an audio version makes it easier than ever to stay informed and inspired.
We’ve already got nine episodes ready to binge — please enjoy, and let me know what you think!
Podcast · Dr. Katharine Hayhoe · Subscribe to Talking Climate for a clear-eyed and hopeful look at climate science and solutions. Receive weekly climate updates on good news, not-so-good news, ideas on things to do, and ways to join the conversation.
These days, I’m often accused of being a “hopium peddler” -- someone who offers false comfort or even delusional solutions to climate change -- by some who are so worried about climate change, they've decided there's nothing we can do about it. They've given up, and they want everyone else to, too.
But as a climate scientist who’s spent two decades warning about its very real risks, I know that despair is just as dangerous as denial. That's why, in this special edition of Talking Climate, I take a fresh look at the rise of climate doomerism—why it’s spreading, what the science says, and why giving up is the only thing that will guarantee our failure.
So if you’ve ever wondered, is it too late? -- this one’s for you!
Doomed or not doomed? It’s such a strange dichotomy! I do struggle to understand this worldview. Every time we do something to mitigate climate change: the outcome is a little better. Every time we don’t: things get slightly worse. 🤷♂️
hope can lead to changes. If we stop hoping we are doomed. To hope or not to hope. That’s the question: Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous climate or to take measures against a sea of troubles and by opposing end them
I find it vastly irritating (to say the least) that a number of leading climate campaigners, who are generally NOT scientists of any kind, found it necessary to call Dr James Hansen a "climate denier" for his insistence, well supported by facts, that nuclear fission energy has made, and has important contributions yet to make, to decarbonization.
@fulelo The ‘give up, it’s too late’ (don’t do anything) argument is from the same place as the ‘there is no climate crisis’ (don’t do anything) argument.
Refuting this is easy. Climate change is cumulative. Anything you do to lower CO2 emissions helps.
Last chance to sign up for volunteering on the Eden North Shore (Fife) next week. We have 2 spaces left on the 17 and 18 June for saltmarsh restoration near Leuchars. See pinned post for more details: ecoevo.social/@GreenShores/114…
Join us for a muddy conservation day at the coast. Green Shores is restoring saltmarsh on the North shore of the Eden Estuary on June 17 & 18 and we need volunteer helpers. See the poster (info also in Alt text) for more information and to sign up. Please boost and share 🌱 #NatureScot #NatureRestorationFund #volunteering #ClimateAction
My friend Taylor, who climbed Mt Snowdon with me in April, just finished a boat race in Puget Sound called Seventy48. You have 48 hours to go 70 miles, and your boat must be muscle powered. He entered last year in a rowboat named the Caird (after the boat used by Shackleton in his epic voyage in the Antarctic) by himself but did not finish before the 48-hour deadline. This year he entered in the Caird again, and he finished!
At the start You can see some of the other boats - there's quite a variety! Taylor said there were some pretty wild watercraft, such as a 4-person bike-powered catamaran named Boogie Barge came in 3rd. (Nice rearview mirror Taylor!)
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My friend Taylor, who climbed Mt Snowdon with me in April, just finished a boat race in Puget Sound called Seventy48. You have 48 hours to go 70 miles, and your boat must be muscle powered. He entered last year in a rowboat named the Caird (after the boat used by Shackleton in his epic voyage in the Antarctic) by himself but did not finish before the 48-hour deadline. This year he entered in the Caird again, and he finished!
At the start You can see some of the other boats - there's quite a variety! Taylor said there were some pretty wild watercraft, such as a 4-person bike-powered catamaran named Boogie Barge came in 3rd. (Nice rearview mirror Taylor!)
Taylor saw some amazing things: rowing with a full moon reflecting off the water, bioluminescence from the oars, seals, porpoises, herons, and beautiful scenery. He might have gotten them on camera if he hadn't had power problems.
He said he might do it again, but in different boat. The Caird was too slow and too subject to the wind. A better boat would be a Cambridge Rowing Shell.
Climate change is already disrupting farming, healthcare, and even our summer vacations—but there are smart, hopeful ways we can respond. From heat insurance for cows to climate-conscious travel, here’s this week’s roundup of risks, resilience, and what we can do.
🐄 Good news: India’s smallholder farmers are on the frontlines of climate change and agritech company DeHaat is helping them adapt by offering heat-stress cattle insurance.
🩸 Not so good news: Climate change is putting the global blood supply at risk. Extreme weather disrupts donation, storage, and delivery, as disasters increase demand.
✈️ What you can do: Summer travel? Great. Carbon footprint? Not so much. What can you do about it? Fly less, stay local, stay longer, and share your choices to inspire others!
NASA’s iconic Goddard Institute for Space Studies—home to Jim Hansen and hundreds more scientists, creator of the GISS model and keeper of the global temperature record—has been evicted from its longstanding NYC office above the “Seinfeld” restaurant.
Since 1966 NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies has been at the forefront of Earth and planetary science from its location in upper Manhattan. Now a Trump administration directive is ejecting its scientists to parts unknown
The HHH was well organized and run. The pre-event communications -- which included a safety video -- were informative and to the point. The route was well marked, on (mostly) country roads with very little traffic, and yellow-vested monitors were at the busiest and most crucial intersections to point out the way. The 100-mile route stopped at the feed station twice, which was perfect for me. There was a bike mechanic at the start and at the feed station. The hills were mostly of the rolling variety, though there were one or two that were steep enough to force some to walk. Here's how Ride with GPS
The HHH was well organized and run. The pre-event communications -- which included a safety video -- were informative and to the point. The route was well marked, on (mostly) country roads with very little traffic, and yellow-vested monitors were at the busiest and most crucial intersections to point out the way. The 100-mile route stopped at the feed station twice, which was perfect for me. There was a bike mechanic at the start and at the feed station. The hills were mostly of the rolling variety, though there were one or two that were steep enough to force some to walk. Here's how Ride with GPS recorded my ride:
I participated in the HHH as preparation for Chase the Sun, and Olly, one of the founders of CTS, was there to promote it. I was hoping to talk to him, but didn't get a chance.
While I biked, Ellen enjoyed seeing Winchester on foot - our AirBnB was close enough to make that possible. For more about what she did and saw, see "Jane Austen II" below.
As seems to be common with sportives, a photographer had been hired and cameras were stationed along the route to take photos of the riders, to be offered for sale. Ellen wanted some, so here they are:
This one was at the very end.
At the time, Ellen didn't have a driver's license. I didn't want to make the 90-minute drive home all sweaty and tired, so, as planned, we spent another night in Winchester and drove home the next day. We went to a pub for dinner, and I appreciated the chance to see more of the town. Ellen really fell in love with it, and it's easy to see why. If we're still here next year, I expect we'll follow the same plan. 😁
Of course we had to exit through the gift shop at the Jane Austen house in Chawton. Here's Ellen with a couple of things we bought: The mug says "Obstinate, headstrong girl!" which, of course, describes Ellen is from Pride & Prejudice.
Actually, the tea towel was purchased at Winchester Cathedral, which Ellen visited while I was biking the Hampshire Hilly Hundred. Austen is buried in the cathedral, and here are some photos that Ellen took:
And yet, German state media outlets insist on "cause unclear" and avoid any vocabulary relateting to climate change. (Most others make the connection though.)
"Climate change is causing the glaciers - frozen rivers of ice - to melt faster and faster, and the permafrost, often described as the glue that holds the high mountains together, is also thawing."
What does climate change have to do with your skin? More than you might think—and the good news is, you can do something about it.
💄 Good news: Consumers are increasingly demanding sustainable, safer cosmetics, and that pressure is paying off. From refillable packaging to carbon-neutral pledges, major brands and newer companies responding.
😵💫 Not-so-good news: Climate change impacts our health, including our skin. Rising temperatures, air pollution, and longer allergy seasons are linked to rashes, eczema, premature aging, and even DNA damage.
✅ What you can do: Look for reliable sustainability ratings like Good On You, learn to spot vague, meaningless claims, and take advantage of take-back programs from Sephora, Lush, Body Shop, and more.
Most importantly, don’t underestimate the power of your voice. Whether you're talking to friends or writing to your favorite brands, individual actions can spark collective change.
Read more:
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What does climate change have to do with your skin? More than you might think—and the good news is, you can do something about it.
💄 Good news: Consumers are increasingly demanding sustainable, safer cosmetics, and that pressure is paying off. From refillable packaging to carbon-neutral pledges, major brands and newer companies responding.
😵💫 Not-so-good news: Climate change impacts our health, including our skin. Rising temperatures, air pollution, and longer allergy seasons are linked to rashes, eczema, premature aging, and even DNA damage.
✅ What you can do: Look for reliable sustainability ratings like Good On You, learn to spot vague, meaningless claims, and take advantage of take-back programs from Sephora, Lush, Body Shop, and more.
Most importantly, don’t underestimate the power of your voice. Whether you're talking to friends or writing to your favorite brands, individual actions can spark collective change.
Stardew Valley Farmer
in reply to Green Shores • • •Green Shores
in reply to Stardew Valley Farmer • • •@AmateurExpert
Hi there, Saltmarsh grows on tidal river estuaries, and previously there was a lot more saltmarsh here in Scotland. Saltmarsh that was here before has degraded and eroded due to land use change, pollution, and coastal erosion.
The mudflats are covered in water at high tide and exposed at low tide, so only species of plants that can grow in those conditions can live there. We are trying to restore some of the saltmarsh that has been lost over the past 100 or so years.