Climate Rising – The Peoples Climate Talk

London, 30 January
It really was “The March Through Paris” for the 1,000 people attending Climate Rising – a conference and workshops organised by Friends of the Earth, This Changes Everything UK and the Public & Commercial Services Union (PCS) at the Friends Meeting House in London.

There was so much going on – I would just like to give you a few takeaways from my day:

Welcome from Craig Bennett, Chief Executive, FoE: “This is a time to gather and plan what to do next to tackle climate change. It’s up to us to force the pace of change. FoE looks at climate change through the lens of science and justice; by these measures COP21 was a failure.”

“Amber Rudd is a disgrace” – said Paris goals “aspirational” and then promptly capped solar subsidies on her return to the UK.

“Anything that was achieved in Paris was clearly the result of people power.” This has to be our inspiration to up our game.

Tales from the Climate Talks, conversation hosted by John Vidal, Guardian Environment Editor: “COP21 delegates half agreed to do half as much as needed but at least we have something to hold politicians to.”

Chris Baugh, Ass’t General Secretary of PCS : “Politicians are afraid of activists. We’re looking for a just transition – the economic and climate crisis are results of market failure.”　”Paris gave us the opportunity to start talking about alternatives such as climate jobs and believe another world is possible.”

Sheila Menon, Activist, Reclaim the Power: “We’re looking for system change – what’s the point of jobs with no planet?“

Shehroze Khan, Campaigns Mgr, MADE (representing the British Muslim Community): “Post COP, for the first time, 11 different Muslim charities have come together to address climate change.”

Suzanne, UK Tar Sands Network “Paris was a genocidal agreement” but seeds of what climate justice work looks like have been sown. Opposing colonialism & capitalism.

Clive Lewis, MP (Labour, Norwich South): Superb. Attended COP21 with local activists. “You have created a political space and you continue to create a political space.” Need to decouple the environment from growth – align with Greens to define/encourage “good growth“. “Public control combats system failure”. “Climate change not only about carbon but about justice.”

Plenary: What next for the Climate Movement? Panel chaired by Caroline Lucas, MP: Positive outcome of COP21 is that the red lines are set; a space now cleared for the public to act decisively between now and 2020. There has been some movement in business who are increasingly going for clean power. “UK must stay in the EU if we care about climate change”. Caroline also referred to the “refugee crisis” ad a “xenophobia crisis”.

Alice Bows-Larkin, Prof of Climate Science & Energy Policy, Tyndall Centre: The science “clearly makes the case for urgency”. The agreement never mentions fossil fuels or decarbonisation; it doesn’t mention international aviation or shipping emissions. We need an urgent review of pledges – as it stands the targets will bring us very close to +4 degrees, or 1.5 or 2 degrees.

Nnimmo Bassey, Global Climate Activist: COP21 is nothing less than a “death sentence for Africa”. Climate justice must be over riding consideration leading to system change. Subsidies for green energy are not charity but repayment of climate debt.

Mark Serwotka, General Secretary, PCS: Reinforces the importance of social justice as a frame for climate change and the economic system. “Trade unions and environmental movement need to unite around a common vision for economic and social justice.” The “pace of inequality is accelerating” – it’s not an accident but happening by design as governments act in the interests of corporations and the super rich (TTIP). World Bank and IMF keep countries in debt slavery. Looking at the UK, jobs lost in the steel industry could be reassigned to building homes and wind turbines. If corporations paid their taxes we could fund the NHS, education and social services.

Shakira Martin, VP for Further Education, NUS: Inclusion, education, sustainability; fossil fuel companies thrive on inequality.

Then two sessions of workshops followed – the choice was staggering.

I opted for “Democratising Energy – renewables for everyone!“ as CR is supporting this campaign for a publically owned energy company for London: affordable, democratic and environmentally sustainable alternative to “the Big Six”. Check it out and join us: www.switchedonlondon.org.uk .

“We don’t have to accept profiteering, poverty and pollution. There is an alternative.” The theme of the day. I believe we can say this when we fight every aspect of climate change and social injustice. It’s the message we all must push in the wake of COP21.