Climate Change in Spotlight at London 'I Count' Event
04 October 2006
The Stop Climate Chaos coalition are to stage 'I Count', a huge event
in London's Trafalgar Square, on Saturday 4th November, 2006 at 1pm. Thousands of people who care about climate change are expected to turn out, be counted and demand politicians take action. The event is part of the wider I Count campaign to stop climate chaos, launching at the beginning of October.
People will be travelling to the event from across the UK in ingenious low-carbon ways and welcomed to the Square by comic compères introducing addresses from high-profile supporters and musicians.
Ashok Sinha, Director of Stop Climate Chaos, said: "Climate change is affecting us all, now. We urge everyone who is concerned to join us on Saturday 4th November and 'be counted'. Whether you're a gardener suffering with unpredictable weather, a parent worried for your child's future, someone concerned about drought and famine in Africa or a nature-lover watching our native species disappear, I Count is an opportunity for us all to come together and make our voices heard."
Everyone who signs up to the campaign via text messaging I Count to 84424 or visiting the campaign website (www.icount.org.uk) will be counted 'virtually' on the day. A live count will clock up those in the Square and those who care but couldn't come.
The I Count event precedes the next round of climate change negotiations in Nairobi, Kenya, that start on 6th November. The UK Government will be at the table, and the I Count campaign is calling on them to provide:
-
Action for justice: To provide all necessary assistance to developing countries to both adapt to climate change and, in the longer term, get access to sufficient clean energy to meet their developmental needs.
-
Action internationally: Make it a top priority to ensure that global greenhouse gas emissions are irreversibly declining by 2015.
-
Action in the UK: The first step the government can take towards delivering annual reductions in greenhouse gas emissions of 3% (through the creation of a comprehensive Carbon Budget), as well as providing proper support for developing countries, is to announce in the forthcoming Queen's Speech that it will introduce a new Bill to pave the way for the legislation necessary to do this.
Stop Climate Chaos is a growing coalition of many of the UK's leading environment, development and women's organisations, activist and faith-based groups. Its members include Christian Aid, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Oxfam, People & Planet, RSPB, Tearfund, UNISON, The Wildlife Trusts, National Federation of Women's Institutes and WWF.
- ENDS -
Notes to Editors:
For further information and interview or image requests, please contact:
Alison Blower
Media Coordinator
Email: alison@stopclimatechaos.org
Tel: 020 7729 8732/07967 698928
