Fight Climate Change

Heathrow Airport is the latest target for climate change protest as a camp has been established close to the perimeter of the airport (The BBC). The camp has been established just a week after BAA had managed to obtain a high court injunction banning a group called Plane Stupid, and some members from other groups, from protesting. However, BAA failed to get injunctions on other groups and the Camp for Climate Change is now underway.

The camp and those banned from the camp have already been attracting media interest. Plane Stupid took their demonstration to North Wales and the Airbus Superjumbo factory, whilst Sky News report an uneasy stand off developing between the police and protestors.

The aim of the camp is to highlight climate change issues, protest about expansions to Heathrow Airport and air travel’s influence on world CO2 output. The official site gives plenty of information about the camp, it’s aims, press links and how you can get involved. The camp is planning 24 Hours of Mass Action which “will cost the aviation industry dearly” and “be civil disobedience”. This runs from midday 19th August to midday 20th August.

The protest isn’t good news for the government, especially as this week The Guardian reported that The UK is some way off it’s targets for increasing the UK’s use of wind, solar and hydroelectric sources of power. Naturally Downing Street has countered the report saying that policies are on course (The BBC) but if public protests about climate change start to attract mass media coverage (perhaps more so than any concert) on a regular basis then evidence of these policies in action will be required sooner rather than later.

After movies, concerts and marches, Lewis Gordon Pugh has come up with a slightly colder way to highlight climate change. The city lawyer plunged into the sea at The North Pole to swim 1km to “inspire world leaders to take climate change seriously”. According to The BBC “Lewis Gordon Pugh, 37, swam for 18 minutes and 50 seconds in temperatures of -1.8C (28.7F), the coldest waters a human has swum in” dressed in just cap, googles and a pair of Speedos!

There’s more information about Lewis Gordon Pugh on his website. According to Pugh “It shouldn’t be possible to swim at the North Pole!  But it now is, and only due to climate change”. Photos and more information about this remarkable swim can be seen at North Pole Challenge.

The longest ever protest march in the history of the UK is underway! Cut The Carbon March, promoted by Christian Aid, started on July 14th in Northern Ireland – the march will cover 1000 miles and last 80 days before arriving in London in October 2nd. The march’s aim is “to highlight the need for companies and government to slash Britain’s carbon emissions”. You can get involved by joining the march or attending rallies as the protest goes through your area.

You can find out what’s happening either at Pressure Works or by joining the Facebook Group. Events have been announced for Scotland, North East England, North and West Yorkshire,North West England, East Midlands and West Midlands.Events in other parts of England and Wales have yet to be announced.

Christian Aid are also encouraging people to put a knot in carbon emissions with their “Cut the Carbon Shoelace Petition”! See their site for details and how to get involved. This is a good way to keep the fight climate change message in, at least, the local news! The question that people should be asking though “is the message getting through”?

Powergen are inviting you to Go Green and take advantage of their dual fuel gas and electricity offer! By signing up to this fuel bill plan Powergen say that “your electricity usage will be matched with renewable sources and we’ll offset the carbon dioxide emissions from your gas”. Even better, they will also help you take steps to start reducing your energy use with their energy efficient products and services.

According to the blurb on the website, Go Green electricity is only sourced from hydro and wind power and they offset CO2 emissions in projects that reduce the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere through Climate Care. If you’re a Tesco Clubcard holder then they’ll also give you 500 points every year for each fuel you take with Go Green!

You can get a quote for Go Green fuel online at Powergen!

As well as this offer, you’ll also find a survey about energy efficiency. Complete the questionnaire and you’ll be offered some free tips and advice on how you can save money on your fuel bills and also be a lot more energy efficient.

The one question that arises from this offer though is this: If “Go Green electricity is only sourced from hydro and wind power” and lots of Powergen customers sign up for Go Green fuel bills… is there currently enough electricity generated from these sources to provide all those customers?

Drivers are being encouraged to buy carbon neutral car insurance from IBuyEco, a new company from the BGL insurance group. The basics of the insurance company are the same: they search a number of insurers, including Norwich Union, Zurich, Allianz Insurance Plc, AXA, Churchill, Fortis, Legal and General, Provident, CIS, Groupama, for the best quote ! Plus they also make it easy for you to offset 100% of your car’s carbon emissions – balancing out the impact their driving has on the environment.

When you buy insurance through IBuyEco they calculate your offset fee based on your car, engine size, make and model. You then offset your CO2 emissions by paying this fee, which then goes to The CarbonNeutral Company who invest in sustainable environmental projects all around the world.

IBuyEco isn’t just about getting green insurance, they also want to provide cheaper insurance so they will look for the best deal for you. Other benefits include guaranteed courtesy car for 7 days minimum, claims repairs guaranteed for 3 years, emergency assistance 24 hrs a day and 365 days a year plus window glass cover – terms and conditions apply.

Offsetting is an ugly word in the fight against climate change and has become as much as a marketing buzzword as “carbon neutral”. It almost suggests that it’s fine to do high CO2 emission activities as long a few quid is thrown in the direction of growing a tree or two! That’s not teaching people about climate change and their own responsibilities! Perhaps it’s better for drivers to consider switching to more energy efficient cars and smaller engines as opposed to paying (in this case) an additional premium to offset their CO2 emissions.

However, again we need to take the positives from these campaigns. It does highlight climate change and bit by bit the message will get across. There’s no doubt that other insurance firms will soon follow suit and offer carbon neutral car insurance and similar green policies.