A public meeting to promote a program of radical ‘emergency measures’ in response to the latest science which suggests the climate crisis is getting worse more quickly than we thought.

We feel that to stand any realistic chance of preventing a global catastrophe we need a revolution in the scale of response to the climate crisis, compared to what currently seems to be on offer at the upcoming talks. The revolution in the scale of response is something we should begin here in the UK as the most practical way to influence other countries around the world and have a positive impact on the UNFCCC process.

Purpose/ Platform: As part of the national Campaign against Climate Change’s effort to mobilise people for the annual National Climate March on 5^th December and the mass demonstration in Copenhagen on 12^th December, the organisation is promoting a program of public meetings around the UK – but they also have an additional purpose which is to promote a program of radical ‘emergency measures’ in response to the latest science  which suggests the climate crisis is getting worse more quickly than we thought. Kirklees Campaign against Climate Change is organising the Leeds public meeting.

We feel that to stand any realistic chance of preventing a global catastrophe we need a revolution in the scale of response to the climate crisis, compared to what currently seems to be on offer at the upcoming talks. The revolution in the scale of response is something we should begin here in the UK  as the most practical way to influence other countries around the world and have a positive impact on the UNFCCC process.

The themes of the meeting will therefore be around some of the concrete radical measures we can take here in the UK to respond to the Climate Emergency by decarbonising our economy as rapidly as possible.

Structure of meeting:

7.30 – 7.40: Introduction & welcome (purpose, speakers and structure of meeting)

7.40 – 7.55: The science behind the Climate Emergency

(Dr Simon Lewis, Royal Society Research Fellow, Earth and Biosphere Institute, School of Geography, University of Leeds)

There will be 20 mins for each of the following Radical measures, comprising 1-2 mins to play recording summarising the Government’s position, approx 8 mins for speaker to endorse the measure and up to 10 mins for brief (1 minute max) contributions from the floor.

7.55 – 8.15: Radical measure 1 - 10% cut  in emissions by the end of 2010

(Simon Bowens, Friends of the Earth [Regional Campaigns Co-ordinator, Yorkshire and the Humber])

8.15 -8.35: Radical measure 2 - A million Green jobs by the end of 2010 through massive investment in – among other projects - renewable energy, insulation programs and improved public transport

(Martin Hemingway, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Green Party, Leeds NW)

8.35 -8.55: Radical measure 3 - Ending domestic and short-haul flights and building a better train and coach network (Representative of a group campaigning against airport expansion: tbc)

8.55 – 9.00 Closing remarks and thanks