Climate Emergency Copenhagen
Support Pack
What’s in your support pack?
1) Questions and answers about the public meeting programme.
2) Sample press release.
3) Model Meeting suggestion. (including statements by a “government
spokesperson” on their response to climate change)
Why is this Public Meeting programme taking place now?
The meetings will be taking place in the month or two months before the UN Climate
talks in Copenhagen and part of their function is to promote, and mobilise people for,
the marches in London on 5th December and Copenhagen on 12th December.
We also hope to raise awareness of how the effects of climate change are even more
rapid and dangerous than was predicted by the IPCC 2007 report – and to promote
discussion of ‘Emergency measures’ sufficiently far-reaching and radical to form an
appropriate response in the light of this latest science.
The Campaign Against Climate Change organised a Climate Emergency Parliament,
with this general aim, outside the House of Commons on 16th July.
What will the format of these meetings be?
The format of the meetings could be similar to that of the Climate Emergency
Parliament that took place on 16th July with (see model meeting suggestion). with
discussion focussing on a number of ‘Emergency Measures’ Alternatively, it could
take the form of a more traditional meeting, perhaps focussed on just one of the
suggested measures like for instance “A million Green Jobs”. It’s up to you!
Where will the meetings be taking place?
We hope that meetings will be organised in as many places around the country as
possible - but especially the major cities around the country. They should all appear
on a central web page and figure in a single ‘national’ press release – as well as being
press released individually at the local level.
Why are we demanding these radical measures?
The measures are mainly ones that are suggested in a report ‘Climate Safety’ which
was published by the Public Interest Research Centre in 2008.
In its introduction Sir John Houghton former Co-Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change’ (IPCC) states that ‘climate change is accelerating more rapidly
and dangerously than most of us in the scientific community had expected or that the
IPCC in its 2007 Report presented.’ He goes on to say that ‘the imperative for
extremely urgent action on both national and global scales is now paramount.’
(You can download a free PDF copy of the report on www.climatesafety.org.)
Our aim is to move the discussion forward by promoting discussion of the kind of
radical measures we will need to deal with what is not a ‘climate problem’ but a
‘climate emergency’. “Climate Emergency”, however, is a phrase that could rapidly
become devalued and meaningless (like “sustainability”) unless we express it in terms
of concrete measures that look and smell like ‘emergency measures’. Above all we do
not want to fudge the issue that preventing climate catastrophe will take a massive
effort from the whole of society acting together through government..
When should these meetings take place?
We envisage that the meetings will take place around the country in October and early
November.
Who will speak at these meetings?
Campaign Against Climate Change will have a pool of speakers although local groups
will have contacts in their own area. Speakers might be from political parties, local
MPs and MEPs, Green NGOs (FOE, Greenpeace , People and Planet ..etc) and other
groups like Climate Camp, Development and other NGOs (like the World
Development Movement) and trade unions. It is important that speakers are aware of
the agenda of the meeting - particularly the radical measures that we are demanding.
What you might want to achieve from the meetings?
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More interest in coaches etc for the London demonstration on 5th December.
More people thinking about actually going to Copenhagen for 12th December
Increased understanding of the climate change crisis and the latest science
Moving forward discussion of appropriate radical measures – making the
politically unthinkable, thinkable.
Promoting an agenda to push forward up to, at, and beyond the 5th December
demonstration.
Sample Press release
For immediate release: 2nd October 2009
A million Green jobs demanded by Climate Emergency meeting.
A public meeting will be held in Blogsville next week to discuss the Climate
Emergency. Speakers from the Campaign Against Climate Change, the RMT, People
and Planet and local MP XXXXXXX will be speaking.
The meeting will be proposing radical measures to deal with climate change including
a million green jobs by the end of 2010, a 10% cut in emissions by 2010, ending
domestic and short haul flights, a 55 miles and hour speed limit and phasing out
agrofuels.
Local campaigner, XXXXXX says,
“All the evidence suggests that climate change is accelerating more rapidly and
dangerously than previously thought. We need to re-think the scale of our response in
a radical direction. We need to do very big things very fast and we will need people to
do that – that means Green Jobs, a lot of green jobs very fast.
We in this country cannot solve the global climate crisis on our own but what we can
do is send the strongest possible message to other countries through the actions we
take here in the UK. This is especially important in the run up to the critical UN
Climate Talks in December in Copenhagen. These will be marked by the UK’s
biggest climate demonstration so far, in London on 5th December and we in Blogsville
will be taking our message for radical action to that demonstration,”
For further information please contact XXXXXXX on 07986591391
Climate Emergency Copenhagen
Model Meeting :
Possible Titles : Climate Emergency Copenhagen, Climate Emergency Meeting,
Climate Emergency Parliament.
The idea is to put forward and discuss some radical demands ( these can be
touchstones for the larger issues they relate to ). Here are some suggestions:
A million Green jobs – by the end of 2010, through massive investment in renewable
energy, insulation programs, improved public transport etc…
10% cut in emissions by the end of 2010
Ending domestic and short-haul flights – building a better train/coach network
55 mile an hour speed limit, ending the roads program, massive investment in public
transport
Phase out agrofuels and illiminate the demand for products associated with rainforest
destruction
Government information programme- massive campaign to inform the public of
the scale of the climate emergency: booklet in every home, broadcast by PM, TV ads
etc ..etc..
Of course it would be possible to chose just one of these like ‘Green Jobs’ – which
might be appropriate for a meeting, say, where you wanted to attract a lot of union
involvement. Or otherwise any number you felt appropriate – and add you own ideas
for ‘emergency measures’.
Here is a possible format – based on what we did at the “Climate Emergency
Parliament” in London, in July – which takes four main ‘demands/topics’.
----------------------------------7.00 pm
Introduction.
7.10 to 7.30 pm
Demand / Motion/ “Bill” Number 1 10% cuts by the end of 2010
2 mins Speaker giving government view – overview of what the government is
actually doing.
7 mins Main speaker for the demand/ motion/bill
10 mins Brief 1-2 minute contributions from the floor (or possibly a 2nd official
speaker first?)
.
7.30 to 7.50
Demand/Motion/Bill Number 2 A million Green Jobs by the end of 2010
2 mins Speaker giving government view – overview of what the government is
actually doing.
7 mins Main speaker for the demand/ motion/bill
10 mins Brief 1-2 minute contributions from the floor (or possibly a 2nd official
speaker first?)
7.50 to 8.10
General broad- based speeches on “the climate emergency” from invited speakers.
8.10 to 8.30
Demand /Motion/ Bill Number 3 Ban domestic Flights
2 mins Speaker giving government view – overview of what the government is
actually doing.
7 mins Main speaker for the demand/ motion/bill
10 mins Brief 1-2 minute contributions from the floor (or possibly a 2nd official
speaker first?)
8.30 to 8.50
Demand /Motion/ Bill Number 4 55 mile an hour national speed limit
2 mins Speaker giving government view – overview of what the government is
actually doing.
7 mins Main speaker for the demand/ motion/bill
10 mins Brief 1-2 minute contributions from the floor (or possibly a 2nd official
speaker first?)
8.50 to 9.00 pm Final speeches, winding up.
Clearly there could be any number of variations on the demands/topics discussed, the
format, the schedule etc….
The idea of having a “Government spokesperson” is that this focuses the discussion
on the reality of what the government is actually doing (they do have a Department of
[Energy and ] Climate Change now, after all)…. and so from there on why that is
inadequate, what more or what differently should be done etc…..
We enclose what we wrote for the “government spokesman” on four topics in case
that’s any help but clearly these ‘speeches’ can be amended, ignored, or whatever….
Possible speeches for “government spokesperson”
10% cuts by the end of 2010
The Government has passed a ground breaking Climate Act, the first of its kind in the
world, which will ensure cuts in greenhouse gas emissions of 80% by 2050.
Furthermore in accordance with the Act the first Carbon Budgets have been set which
plot a path towards 34% reductions in emissions by 2020 – with the expectation that
that will increase to 42% if a global deal is achieved in Copenhagen in December.
The British government is way ahead of any other government of a major
industrialised country in this respect …we are already leading the world in the fight
against dangerous climate change.
A ten per cent cut by the end of 2010 is first of all unnecessary. Second it would be
quite impractical and would cost far too much in a time of straightened economic
resources. It would negatively impact living standards and would alienate the public
from joining in the fight against dangerous climate change rather than bring them on
board.
A million Green Jobs
Government policies have already ensured that about 880,00 people in the UK are
employed in the Green Sector. The policies announced in Budget 2009 provide over £
1.4 billion additional targeted support for the low carbon economy. These together
with announcements made since last autumn will enable an additional £ 10.4 billion
of low carbon and energy investment over the next three years. This will employ
around 20,000 people in construction and installation in the short term and provide the
foundations for strong growth of the green sector in the future.
Just a couple of weeks ago on 30th June the government announced that an increase in
the Government’s Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) scheme and the
introduction of a new Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) will enable £
3.5 billion extra investment on energy efficiency and 'whole house' green makeovers
for British homes by 2012.
The Government’s Low Carbon Investment Fund will provide £ 405 million to
support key low carbon energy sectors. These include Clean Coal with 4 commercial
scale Carbon Capture and Storage demonstration plants planned, new Nuclear power,
renewable energy and ultra low carbon vehicles. The Government has supported
renewable energy for some time through the Renewables Obligation, and the level of
support provided this way for offshore wind was increased by 50% this April – and
there are plans for increasing this yet further in the near future. The government also
announced the introduction of a feed-in tariff last year, to help small scale renewable
technologies and is further committing £ 45 million in immediate support. We believe
we have the policies to bring about an investment of around £ 100 billion in
renewables by 2020 which will ensure the attainment of our target of 15% of energy
supply from renewables by that date. In the field of low carbon vehicles the
government is introducing a £ 250 million scheme to deliver a green motoring
transformation which will reduce the price of electric and hybrid plug-in cars by £
2000-£ 5000.
The government is also investing in energy efficiency – with £ 365 million to
facilitate a step change in the efficiency of businesses, the public sector and homes.
The government is confident it is setting the agenda for a new era of activism in
building a low carbon Britain – balancing the need for energy security with the need
to reduce emissions. Taking account the limitations imposed by current economic
circumstances the government believes these proposals combine a high level of
ambition with solid realism.
Ending domestic flights
Britain has been instrumental in bringing emissions from aviation into the European
cap-and-trade scheme from 2012. This means that the aviation sector will not be left
outside the broader framework for reducing emissions. It will have to either reduce its
emissions or offset any increase by paying for reductions elsewhere within the EU
Emissions Trading System
The building of a third runway is vital for our economy at a time when our economy
quite clearly needs all the help it can get. Given the fact that the steps we are taking to
limit any increase in carbon emissions gives us the toughest climate change regime
for aviation of any country in the world, we believe that the building of a third runway
at Heathrow need not in any way prejudice the achievement of our emissions
reductions targets. And there is certainly no need to terminate domestic flights which
would cause great inconvenience to people and damage the aviation industry
unnecessarily - all for very little gain in terms of emissions reductions.
Aviation is the source of only a small fraction of our emissions overall but vital to our
economy. There are many other ways we can more sensibly reduce emissions before
inflicting economic self-harm in this way. Meanwhile research is being carried out
on green fuel for aircraft which may soon make any limiting or reduction of aviation
quite unnecessary anyway.
55 mile an hour national speed limit and scrapping the roads program
The government is investing in the development of ultra low carbon vehicles as a way
of bringing down emissions from transport in the UK. This includes a £ 250 million
scheme to deliver a green motoring transformation. The government’s 2.3 billion
package to support the automotive industry in the downturn includes support for the
development of green technologies. Whilst it may take some years before we see low
carbon vehicles being used on a large scale, over the longer term these vehicles have
the potential to provide the dominant form of road passenger transport and will enable
us to move to a radically lower carbon transport system.
In the meantime the government is encouraging the use of biofuels as an immediately
available green alternative to fossil fuels for the transport sector. Already the
Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation ensures that more than 3% of all petrol and
diesel at the pump comes from biofuels whilst the government shares the EU target
for 10% to come from biofuels by 2020, with appropriate environmental safeguards as
recommended by the Gallagher review.
The government believes these policies are a much more effective way of retaining
public support for the move to a low carbon economy compared to, for instance,
unnecessary antagonism of the motoring public. The government believes in keeping
Britain moving and is investing around 8,500 million pounds in improving Britain’s
road network as part of its package to revive the economy and create jobs. Failure to
do this would damage the economy and threaten to stifle economic recovery.
Meanwhile the government is bringing down the speed limit on single carriage roads
from 60 to 50mph which will save carbon as well as lives. The government does not
believe in a new ultra-strict national speed limit for all roads – that would be
expensive to enforce and simply antagonise the motoring public. The government
believes we can retain all the advantages and conveniences of the great motor-car
economy and still achieve our environmental goal of substantially reduced carbon
emissions.