THE GREAT CLIMATE CONFUSION

Mike Golding OBE is one of the most recognisable faces in offshore sailing today. He has raced around the planet more times than most people have sailed round the Isle of Wight, in both crewed and solo races, in a career spanning more than 25 years. It is this first-hand experience of the world’s oceans and how they are changing that has made him a passionate advocate for the environment. Ever-approachable, he agreed to share some of his thoughts on the environmental challenges facing the planet, our seas, and us as sailors.

What are the biggest environmental issues facing us nationally or globally today?

There is a risk of sounding like David Icke when you begin speaking about global warming, but today it’s absolutely clear that for perhaps the first time, humans have reached an important crossroads in our history. Human activity has and is still altering the delicate atmospheric balance which throughout human existence has maintained the critical temperature of our planet.

Since the early 19th century