If you’ve not heard of 10:10, the campaign to cut carbon emissions by 10% in 2010, then listen up. The campaign is open to anybody, from organisations to individuals, businesses to charities, who want to make a commitment to reduce their carbon footprints and help in the fight against runaway climate change and aims to unite everybody in a communal effort to cut carbon.
Stoke-on-Trent has become the first city in the world to sign up to the initiative, with 65 different organisations already buying in to the campaign, and no doubt many more to come. These include Port Vale football club, Staffordshire University, police, firefighters, and even the local NHS Primary Care Trust.
A lot of credit for the city’s new greener stance is owed to Labour MP Joan Walley whose passion for the environment has spurred her to encourage as many local businesses and organisations to get involved as she could. Joan said,
“We have to find ways of joining up science, policy, politics and people’s lives. A lot of that has to be done locally. Local planning and investment have to be green too. And not just local government, but every single local institution has to be involved in this.”
Although a 10% cut in carbon emissions is still a far cry from the commitments and action needed to avoid the sorts of scenarios played out in Mark Lynas’ book 6 Degrees, changes in behaviour to switch to a lower carbon way of life, and community spirit to make a difference as a collective population will hopefully lead to a more sustainable future, not only in Stoke-on-Trent, but across the UK and around the world.
Other items you might find of interest:
- World Carfree Day 2009 Taking Place On 22nd September
- Friends Of The Earth Launch Campaign Urging Councils To Get Serious About CO2
- City Of York Council Seeking £6m Funding For Eco Home Sustainable Development
Tags: 10:10, 6 degrees, carbon emissions, carbon footprint, climate change, joan walley, mark lynas, stoke-on-trent, sustainability