| A balanced approach to climate change issues and the depletion of global resources must be addressed if the Comino Foundation is to achieve it's vision. The concentration of greenhouse gases in the environment is increasing due to the activities of mankind and there is a consensus view that this progressive increase will cause an apocalyptic rise in global temperatures. Recent scientific research, however, is indicating that the dynamics of the greenhouse may not be operating as expected and this rise may be far less than forecast. The science is not settled as many policy makers believe and the Foundation was concerned to provide a balanced view of global warming based on the most up to date scientific findings and to encourage widespread understanding of climate science as it evolves.
In addition to the issue of global warming, the conservation of natural resources is an important issue.
Switching from purchasing material goods to spending more time on social and cultural pursuits helps address conservation of natural resources and possible apocalyptic climate change. Based on the Towards sustainable growth paper by the Industry Fellow, Kenneth Adams CVO, CBE the Foundation commissioned a report by the economic consultancy, cebr. This report Switching lifestyles - global growth without disaster stimulated a press article under the title How broadening the mind can help save the planet.
The Foundation is concerned to help people, and particularly young people, understand what is actually happening as a result of the increase in greenhouse gases. The children of today will experience changes in the environment and the extent of global warming. The Foundation believes that educating pupils about the science impacting on environment issues and stimulating them and their parents to conserve resources is important. There are many websites that introduce young people to climate change but the Foundation identified that there was a need to produce action orientated climate change materials for pupils, which are supported by curriculum based guidance notes for teachers. Sheffield Comino Centre was commissioned to develop these materials, under the heading Climate Futures. These learning materials can be accessed from the upd8 teacher resource website.
The Foundation works on projects with the Comino Centres and other organisations such as the The Parliament and Scientific Committee to help address these issues. As part of this work in September 2007, at the request of The Parliament and Scientific Committee, the then Environment Fellow organised and led a study tour of UK renewable energy initiatives for representatives of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference. The article in Science in Parliament describes this visit.
Anthony Darbyshire as Environment Fellow researched environment issues from 2007 to 2010. This work ceased at the end of 2010 as the Trustees considered that a more balanced view of global warming was now evident and scientific discussion of the issues had become complex.
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