Climate Camp - Action for Social Justice

Want to do something real and different about climate change?

A climate camp is being organised from 15th-23rd August, where people who are concerned about climate change can gather, live and take action together.

Climate Camp is run by volunteers and was set up in September 2008.  They took their inspiration from similar camps that have taken place in Australia, the US and the UK.

The goal of the camp is to explore solutions to climate change in a fun, peaceful and creative way.

A new WorldPublicOpinion.org poll of 19 nations from around the world has found that the majorities in 15 countries want their governments to give a higher priority to addressing climate change.

Other key findings include;

• People in only 4 countries believe their governments are giving climate change the priority it should have.

• On average, across all nations polled, only 12% of the public think climate change should be given a lower priority.

• The United States was among a small group of nations to receive the lowest rating from its citizens for the level of priority it is perceived to give to climate change.

Minister for the Environment, John Gormley, has received Government backing to begin the drafting of a climate change Bill.

The details and targets of the Bill are still subject to negotiation but an Irish Times report claims the key gain has been Fianna Fáil’s acceptance that climate change requires full statutory recognition.

Several leading Green Party figures would like the Bill to be modelled on the British climate change act.  Do you agree, or should the Irish Bill be more ambitious?

The new Bill is expected to be published in advance of the climate change summit in Copenhagen in December.

1 minute to save the world is an online international short film competition focused solely on climate change.

The organisers want to see climate change through your eyes and are seeking entries of one-minute films about the subject.

There is a £1000 cash prize and the three finalists will be chosen to screen at the climate change summit in Copenhagen in December 2009.

The European Union could provide up to €2.5 billion a year to help protect tropical forests.    

The proposal, contained in a European Commission report, is set to be discussed at an upcoming meeting of EU energy and environment ministers.

It has been suggested that some of the €2.5 billion will be taken from the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme with the report outlining that 5% of the auctioning revenues could generate sufficient funds by 2020.

The Irish Times article does however highlight that the Commission report noted “underdeveloped and fragmented governance” as a key obstacle to delivering support to developing nations adapting to the devastating effects of climate change. 

Is this an unfair assessment?

Jeremy Irons

The mystery voice on our climate change video is none other than Jeremy Irons.  Showing his support, Mr. Irons stated:

“It’s time to recognise the devastating impact that climate change is already having on people living in poverty. We must make it clear to our leaders that they have to act now and deliver a global deal that supports developing countries in their efforts to cope and adapt. I encourage you to join Oxfam Ireland’s campaign today and together, we can send a strong and clear message that now is the time for action on climate change”

A famous actor has recently leant his support and become the new voice of Oxfam’s climate change video.

Can you guess who it is?

 Check back tomorrow to find out!

An interesting way of facing climate change;

Sweden is set to become the first country to roll out climate friendly labels on food products.  The scheme will be voluntary and firms will have to prove that they have reduced their greenhouse gas emissions in order to earn a label. 

The NewScientist article explains that fears that companies will use this to greenwash their products have been countered by the claim that all products will be independently certified. 

What do you think?

Dame Vivienne Westwood recently appeared on the Friday Night with Jonathan Ross show to highlight and discuss climate change.

Via YouTube.   Do you agree with what she has to say?