Campaign Against Climate Change meeting

On Thursday there was a meeting in the Temple of Peace organised by the Campaign Against Climate Change.

It got off to a bit of a late start waiting for speakers to arrive, of an optimistic 100 seats about a quarter were filled. Chair, Robin Attfield, was from United Nations Association Wales and introduced the speakers, the first, David, I managed to miss but I understand spoke primarily about industries role in climate change.

The second speaker, Ashok, was from the coalition Campaign Against Climate Change, and painted of a picture of a world 100 years from now where climate change had gone unchecked causing climate change refugees and increasing wars over resources. And then another world was presented with clean green technologies, where attention wasn't focussed on planning the most efficient traffic jams and then building houses around them (rated highest on the giggle-o-meter). The dividing line, he believed the evidence pointed to was in 2015, at which point emissions must begin to fall. Ashok believed both worlds were equally possible, that society had the money and expertise but was just lacking political will and moral courage.

The speech went on to outline why this was not just a matter for the green community but for society as a whole. The campaign, says Ashok, is not about pointing the finger at particular organisations and then returning back to ordinary life and this is how it is different from other campains. The appeal to society is to be broadbased in that this is not just an environmental cause but humanitarian, something to which we can all contribute more than just lobbying. Which is why part of the campaign is a personal one, getting people to look at their own lives and change their own behaviour, backing up political decisions with personal ones.

With a more local view of the campaign was Julian, the director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, who spoke about the Wales scene focussing on the Assembly. He said that the Assembly had a commitment to sustainable energy but was failing to stand up and deal with the problem. He argued that the Assembly has failed to tackle energy consumption, that they had put out a little 'top tips' booklet but that in real terms their was no leadership on the issue and that funding was flatlining. There was also the issue of the 'energy gap' the disparity between the energy increasingly being used and being produced less which had led to the Confederation of British Industry and the Trade Unions Congress lobbying for nuclear power stations, including in Wales.

Another important factor was the numbers of cars on the road. Labour had said they were committed to cuting traffic but backtracked at the first signs of a backlash once they were in power. The bulk of public money for transport is still going on roadbuilding including a planned £350 million for an 'M4 relief' motorway around Newport. Aviation carbon dioxide was another sore point for Julian. The Assembly, he claimed, are looking at subsidising air links between north and south Wales rather than improving the rail network. Then on to the issue of promotion of renewable energy, wind and coastal energy. Julian claimed that wind could potentially provide 25% of Wales' energy needs in 5 years and that coastal water energy could provide 50% in just a few years.

More links:

• Friends of the Earth's The Big Ask
• Welsh Assembly Climate Change pages are amongst many sections of the Assembly site dealing with similar energy / environmental themes
• International Climate Change Demonstrations on 3rd December, from Global Climate Campaign
• Stop Climate Chaos
  
• Other involved groups: Greenpeace, People and Planet, Green Party, Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Christian Ecology Link and Globalise Resistance