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Last broadcast on Tue, 29 Sep 2009, 15:00 on BBC Radio 4.
Synopsis
Sea levels are rising; it is a slow rise on a human scale, but inexorable. Within a few decades we are likely to see significant amounts of coastal land disappear. But just what will this mean for the ecology of the Earth? Will a more watery world have a radically different climate? Will it become a soggier place to live overall?
A wetter world might make it harder to get around but until that happens, one Home Planet listener wants to put trucks and lorries under curfew to reduce the congestion on our busy roads. Is this a good idea and will it really make it easier to travel?
We return to the thorny issue of disposing of unwanted wood. Isn't it, asks one listener, a good idea to bury it in landfill and lock the carbon it contains safely away from the atmosphere?
And we look again at hemp. It seems that much has happened in the few short weeks since we last discussed the potential of this plant.
On the panel are planning expert Professor Yvonne Rydin, sustainable development specialist Dr Ros Taylor and Professor Philip Stott, an environmental scientist from the University of London.
As always we want to hear your comments on the topics discussed and any questions you might want to put to future programmes.
Guest: Dr Ros Taylor
Dr Ros Taylor is Principal Lecturer at the School of Geography, Geology and the Environment, Kingston University.
Guest: Professor Yvonne Rydin
Professor Yvonne Rydin is Professor of Planning, Environment and Policy at the Faculty of the Built Environment (UCL).
Guest: Professor Philip Stott
Philip Stott is Emeritus Professor of Biogeography in the University of London, where he taught at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).
A Parliament of Things - a collection of essays on nature and society
British Trust for Ornithology House Martins Survey
The results of the Home Planet and British Trust for Ornithology house martin survey can be found here ...
What will be the impact of rising sea levels?
Useful Links: Sea Level Rise Maps
A web site with many different maps showing how sea level rise will effect different parts of the world.
Useful Links: Sea Level Rises
Information on sea level rise from the BBC.
Useful Links: IPCC Fourth Assessment Report (AR4)
The IPCC fourth report including reference to sea level rises.
Should we impose curfews on trucks and lorries?
Useful Links: Traffic Information
A link to road traffic congestion information from the Highways Agency.
Useful Links: Lorry restrictions
An example of some of the restrictions currently imposed on lorrys by local councils in the UK.
Useful Links: Public Information Exchange
The Public Information Exchange which collects and manages information on traffic restrictions for a variety of different travellers.
Is hemp construction becoming more mainstream?
Useful Links: LABC
The Local Authority Building Control (LABC) coordinates the technical application of building regulations in the UK.
Useful Links: Tradical Hemcrete
A news report that one form of hemp and lime based building material has received LABC approval.
Tradical Hemcrete awarded LABC System Approval (from Building.co.uk)
Useful Links: Hemp Popularity
A Daily Telegraph story on the rise in popularity of hemp as a building material.
Useful Links: Hemp building materials
A webpage showing some of the different type of hemp based building materials.
Would it be a good idea to bury wood waste in landfill?
Useful Links: Landfill Facts
A brief description of recycling versus landfill including the generation of landfill gas.
Useful Links: Biochar
An article from the BBC discussing the issue of biochar.
Useful Links: geo-engineering
A link to the UK Royal Society study on geo-engineering.
Geoengineering the climate: science, governance and uncertainty
Production Credits
Home Planet is produced by Toby Murcott and is a Pier Production for BBC Radio 4.
Broadcast
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Tue 29 Sep 200915:00
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