Stoke-on-Trent becomes first 10:10 City

(article received via email from the 10:10 campaign)

The Conservatives have pledged to sign up central Government to 10% cuts in 2010 if elected. Our very own Eugenie Harvey says: “Today's announcement from the Tories is truly remarkable. This would mean that all central Government buildings, from Big Ben to Belmarsh Prison will follow the inspiring example set by families, businesses, schools, and faith groups across the country in making an ambitious 10% emissions reduction in 2010. In less than 100 days, the 50,000 strong 10:10 community has shown what real climate leadership looks like.”

Stoke-on-Trent becomes first 10:10 City


MP for Stoke-on-Trent North Joan Walley with 10:10 Campaign Director Eugenie Harvey

Dear 10:10ers,

A huge 10:10 welcome to the historic city of Stoke-on-Trent, which last night became the first city to sign up en masse to the campaign.

At an amazing launch event at St Margaret Ward school, scores of local business and organisations joined local MP Joan Walley to pledge their support for 10:10. As Head Teacher Chris Smith told the crowd, "The thing that is so compelling about 10:10 is it encourages us all to take responsibility." (read more about the Stoke signup event here).

From Port Vale and Stoke City Football Clubs to Staffordshire Police and the Fire Brigade Union, and from the British Ceramics Confederation to the little High Lane Oatcake Shop, people are working together to build a cleaner, greener future for their city. The atmosphere in Stoke used to be filled with carbon pollution from coal mines, steel mills and pottery kilns. Now it is now alive with just the kind of eco-inspiration we hope will spread across Britain over the year ahead.

Stoke-on-Trent: 10:10 salutes you. Where will be next to step up to the 10:10 challenge...?

Warmest wishes from
Eugenie, Daniel, Leo, Franny, Mal, Harriet, Tracey, Alexis, Ben, Duncan, Steven, Robin, Tamsin, Charlie, Tom, Nick and everyone else at 10:10.

Copenhagen approaches

This week there has been some negative press coverage suggesting that the Climate talks in Copenhagen in December will fail.

Our Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Milliband is in Copenhagen now, and he and Gordon Brown still believe that a comprehensive agreement is possible.

Let's back the British government in brokering a global deal for the climate. Sign up at Ed's Pledge now.

Write to your finance minister

If we're serious about fighting climate change, then we have to commit to assisting developing nations to cut there emissions during their periods of economic growth. This can be achieved through climate financing, where our developed country directly finance new technologies and solutions in the developing world. This is a good deal for us (our technology and skills are exported abroad) and it's a good deal for the environment. For developing countries the only difference is that there energy supply will be from cleaner technologies.

This is one of the most important steps that we need to take to tackle climate change, but currently it is not sufficiently on the political agenda. You can get involved now by writing to your finance minister and making sure that they take the necessary action.

http://www.avaaz.org/en/climate_finance_emergency/

To ensure its success, the Copenhagen summit needs our help.

My message is below:

Dear Alistair, The UK electorate is ready to support climate financing and we insist that this be an important part of the agenda for your G20 meeting this Saturday. Without a global funding package of US$150 billion, a deal to stop climate catastrophe at Copenhagen will not be possible, and nor will a sustainable low-carbon recovery. The EU has made a start, but it is only a fraction of the global amount needed. I urge you to press the issue of climate financing at the G20 -- all rich countries must make serious funding pledges before Copenhagen, and new mechanisms such as a levy on aviation and shipping fuels and a financial transactions tax should also be considered. Have the courage to confront this still-solvable challenge this weekend, or this moment will be remembered as your greatest failure. Ian Elliott United Kingdom

(email and postcode included)

The Wave

After a rather intensive one week carbon cleanse, and a gruelling battle with my local MP and the labour party who missed an important opportunity for cutting carbon emissions next year, I've been on a short hiatus from my climate blog for the past two weeks.

However, with only a month left until the international climate talks in Copenhagen I though it was time to renew everyone's awareness of the importance of the Copenhagen summit, and also to inform you of our last stand in our fight for binding targets to lower the concentration of carbon in our atmosphere to below 350 ppm. "The Wave" will be taking part in London on the 5th of December, take a look at the site for all of the options that are available for getting there.