"The next big thing in climate action will be many smaller things". The Climate Majority Project brings Lords and Swampies together
From Intrastructures
We covered the Climate Majority Project a few months ago, and it’s good to see them pick up pace towards their launch on June 29th.
Their ambition is to bring a broad swathe of the public together, acting themselves in a way they’re comfortable with, but fully articulating their anxieties on climate urgency - as opposed to passively experiencing the spectacular direct actions of recent years. It’s something we think is definitely worth a try.
The Times ran the letter here, reporting on the estimably broad list of initial signatories (including ex-Tony Blair advisor Geoff Mulgan, Olympians Anna Turney, Kat Copeland and Etienne Stott, eco-entrepreneurs Dale Vince and Juliet Davenport, and many others).
The paper went for the obvious press-line - where the eco-protestor Swampy, and Teresa May’s former climate advisor and Tory Peer Lord Randall of Uxbridge, are endorsing the same position, as articulated in the letter below
We’re in a climate emergency and most people sense it – even though they don’t see the government or most politicians acting like it.
From 40°C summers to flooded high streets, every year the weather brings the reality of climate breakdown home in a new way. What we don’t realise is that the majority of people share our growing fears. We feel alone: too small to matter. Afraid of sounding alarmist, millions stay silent. So the majority and its power are hidden. It’s time for the climate majority to make its voice heard.
To start with, we have to say together: “Time’s Up”.
Time’s up for protecting the public from reality while we wait for authorities to ‘solve’ this. Leaders can’t take the extraordinary measures required until the concerned majority becomes fully aware of our extraordinary circumstances and actively demands change.
Time’s up for last warnings on climate. There’s been “just enough time” to avert catastrophe for 20 years, but dangerous emissions keep rising. Most scientists now privately admit we are headed past 1.5°C of over-heating – the danger zone they warned our leaders never to enter. The question now is how many more avoidable disasters will we allow?
It’s time now to mainstream ambitious action on climate and nature. Nobody’s children will be better off if we continue to fail – rich or poor, corporate or counterculture. We must help each other to face our situation. Knowing we’re not alone gives us the confidence to play our part; seeing that it counts towards a much bigger plan. That’s when a majority can become an irresistible political force.
The next big thing in climate action will be many smaller things. And they’re already happening: In communities, businesses and wherever people have power, they are organising the climate action that will make governments take notice.
More here. The Times did manage to get a choice quote from Lord Randall: “I’m not a fan of direct action at all, and while this may make me unpopular with some of my co-signatories, I think it has the reverse effect, in that it puts people off. Everyone has a different way of showing their opposition, and while I would be happy to have a chat with Swampy about his views, it doesn’t necessarily mean I’m going to jump into a hole with him.”