It’s Getting Hot In Here

Climategate was a well coordinated, strategic and devestating attack on the Copenhagen climate talks in December last year. With unprecedented moves from U.S. and China in the run-up, the world’s media and attention was hooked onto the alleged manipulation of data at the University of East Anglia. That stolen information framed the entire negotiations, and set it up for failure.

Today the prospect of a clean-energy economy faces a new threat.

Osama bin Laden has called for the world to boycott American goods and the U.S. dollar, blaming the United States for climate change, according to a new audiotape released today. Right-wing media outlets including The Daily Telegraph, Drudge and Fox News, are already seizing on the al-Qaida leader’s comments. All this on the same day that the American administration formally announced it’s 2020 carbon targets, and a 39% increase in wind-power.

Those in the struggle for a clean-energy economy and safe climate future, should ask themselves why bin Laden would come out with this statement. This is the man who has shown no concern for human life, indeed revels in killing innocent people – why does he now care about rising sea-levels?

His plan is to drive the wedge between the climate cynics and climate activists even further, and it’s already working. This is the perfect story to kill any federal climate bill in the U.S. In fact it’s the perfect strategy if you desire chaos and destruction.

Any association with him immediately demonises the climate movement, and will maintain the stranglehold of oil-rich nations over the American economy. More worryingly in the long term, a world in the throws of extreme weather and an unpredictable food-supply is rich pickings for a fanatic totalitarian.

So how should the environmental movement respond?

1. Immediately and unequivocally condemn his comments. We can’t let ourselves be aligned with a terrorist. Bin Laden isn’t an environmentalist and cares nothing about climate change (because that would mean caring about people).
2. Whatever your feelings on climate change; don’t use his comments for your cause, because actually he will be using you.

As politicians and diplomats try to crush expectations from the Copenhagen negotiations next month, young people across the world are stepping up their efforts to preserve the hope of a legally binding, science-based, equitable agreement to secure the survival of all nations and peoples.

Since rising to the task of co-leading the UK Youth Climate Coalition last year, I’ve learnt that when our generation understands what is at stake, and what is necessary to build a safer, better future – we are capable of truly great things. Being more connected, more informed and more savvy than ever before, youth all over the world have unprecedented power to make this a reality. And the bonus of having a good time while doing it? That’s just part of the package!

Amongst those young people making their lives count are 23 individuals from the UK who will be travelling overland to the Copenhagen talks. They will be bringing energy, optimism and a fighting spirit to a process that will surely be remembered with shame in years to come. Their story is being told in parts on youtube, here is the first chapter. 

This is a guest post from Matt Williams, a youth organiser from the UK working with the UK Youth Climate Coalition. He recently helped lead a UK delegation to the Our Opportunity youth conference in Copenhagen, and wrote this report.

All over Europe, young people are mobilising around climate change issues. This was evident at a recent event organised by Energy Crossroads Denmark, at which around 300 European students gathered to discuss the challenges we’re facing regarding energy generation. We were part of a team of 23 British students that attended the 3-day conference of talks, discussions and workshops.

Some of the British youth in Copenhagen. Image courtesy of Conor Reid.

Continue reading ‘Our Opportunity’

Charlie Young is a 16 year-old climate activist from the UK. He recently went to the World Economic Forum to push economic and political leaders on climate action and wrote this report on his experience in Davos.

I’ve left the World Economic Forum with a new understanding of what we can do. The clockwork of the decision making infrastructure was briefly exposed to me, and I was forced by logic to change my perception of those in power.

Many of my fellow activists have argued that we need to destroy the system in order to avert catastrophic climate change. I found that idea difficult, as it seems to me that the WEF is here to stay. It is not going to be destroyed by campaigners refusing to be involved. Surely we have more power by getting inside, using the access to hold politicians to their promises, push for real solutions, and help design concrete plans for moving forward?

Make no mistake, it is vital to highlight the bad judgements of our decision-makers and pressure them to move in the right direction. But that alone won’t solve the problem. Don’t we need carrots as well as sticks?

In Davos, I found that some politicians and business leaders really do care. But how can a CEO of a multinational act without loosing their job? I’m not saying they’re all saints – they’re not. Yet, rather than try and put all our eggs in one basket, we can give them a platform, a mandate, to do the right thing.

And it’s not all down to ‘them’ either. As unaffiliated individuals we have a tremendous power to facilitate change on the ground. My mission statement is pretty much the same as the WEF’s: ‘to better the state of the planet’ only we have little structure or vested interests hindering our progress.

It’s ironic. As an activist I’m now trying to help the government. I am going to mobilise the public so that rather than the unlikely event of the government being forced into submission, those who want to make the right decisions can. Granted, we can’t just sit and clap and hope for good – nothing will happen. We need to make it politically feasible, or better, politically attractive.

How great would it be if government could gain votes by acting on climate change?

Let’s make that happen. Let’s supply solutions. Let’s keep going and bring this movement forward!

Yours with hope,

Charlie Young.

For the first time at COP, hundreds of young people from across the European Union are here to make their voice heard.

The role of the EU is more important than ever. Tomorrow, Heads of State will decide on the EU Energy and Climate Package – this will directly affect what the other major countries commit to within the UN system

We’ve sent letters to our Members of European Parliament, created actions for the press, spoken to negotiators – but the news from Brussels remains bad, so we’ve decided to step it up. With only 24 hours to go before this massive decision is made, we’ve launched a viral campaign to get as many people from across the EU member states to call their Heads of State.

It is empowering and exciting to be part of a connected and powerful group of young people who are helping to lead their nations towards a safer future! So join us – if you live in the UK – call Gordon Brown, he’ll be thrilled to hear from you!

http://www.ukyd.org/callgordon/

The Global Day of Action against Climate Change has long been a set date in the calendar for seasoned climate activists. This year, however, with the first UK Youth Delegation to the UN talks in Poland, young people are stepping up their activity. Friday witnessed the launch of Our Time Is Now, a resource for young people across the UK to join a generational movement on December 6th – to say that our generation is ready;

Ready for a clean energy economy: An economy that’s based on reliable, renewable energy rather than Victorian technologies like coal.

Ready for 21st century transport: A modern public transport system that gets us from A to B without the hidden financial and environmental costs of flying.

Ready for green jobs now: Secure and well-paying green jobs that can never be sent abroad, turning the UK into a world leader in clean technologies.

The choices our leaders are making now will have impacts that will outlast their careers, but will shape our future. We invite you to be part of an exciting, positive and important movement of young people who have the guts to overcome the failed assumptions of the last century.

We are ready for change. Are you?

Our time is now.
Continue reading ‘Our Time Is Now’

Hundreds of young people are leading a new wave of climate change campaigning against the proposal to build eight new dirty coal fired power stations in the UK.

For the first time in nearly 30 years, our government and the energy giant E.On, are hoping to build power stations which would emit more carbon per annum than countries the size of Cameroon.

The Stop Climate Chaos Coalition brings together the largest environmental, development and even faith organisations, representing over four million people, to unite their opposition to one of the most baffling government policies in recent years.

We all know coal is the dirtiest form of power generation, and with our own Chancellor saying CCS technology may never become available, the claim that this will be ‘clean coal’ is simply not true.

If we as a nation truly want to lead the world in combating climate change, as our ground-breaking legislation proposes, we cannot afford to carry on with this out-dated form of energy production.

These new coal fired power plants are dangerous, extremely expensive and totally unnecessary.

Join us in telling E.On and the government that we need No New Coal.

The Stop Climate Chaos Coalition Board with Kingsnorth in the distance.

Exactly one hundred years after 60,000 women gathered in Parliament Square, London to demand votes for women, climate activists came together to forge the link between our global movement to that of a successful social movement of the past, that of the Suffragettes. The bravery of the women who took direct action all those years ago inspired hundreds to join this inaugural Climate Rush, to demand an end to airport expansion (Suffrajets anyone!?), a moratorium on coal fired power stations, and a positive cross-party move towards action on climate change

Climate Rush was a spectacular example of the potential of youth climate activism. It was creative, powerful, covered by the national press and, most importantly, just the first of many more to come. Led by a small group of young women and encouraged by a cross-section of female speakers, including the bastion of ‘Middle England’ the Women’s Institute (more famous for their jams than direct action), the Climate Rush ushered in a new form of climate activism in the UK.

Continue reading ‘Deeds Not Words’