10:10 campaign launches

The 10:10 campaign aims to capture the public’s imagination on the issue of climate change by encouraging everyone to cut their carbon emissions by 10% in 2010.  Launched on 1st September, over 10,000 people, 300 companies and 100 organisations have already signed up to the cause, including green groups, local authorities and major energy companies. The entire Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet have also made their pledges.

Brainchild of Franny Armstrong, director of climate change film The Age of Stupid, 10:10 is a way of making individuals part of a mass movement on carbon reductions whilst putting pressure on the Government and industry to do their bit.  Once a good percentage of the UK population has signed up to the campaign, its founders will then challenge the Government to follow this example and commit to cutting the UK’s emissions in the same way.

Although the UK is currently committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050, all eyes will be on Copenhagen in December when the new global climate change treaty will be thrashed out.  Various countries are already arguing for different emissions reduction targets ranging from 0% to 30% by 2020.  One idea behind 10:10 is that if a developed nation like the UK were to lead by example, an agreement on the successor to the Kyoto Protocol may be easier to achieve.

The Government has launched a new Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) with £350 million to be spent over the next three years to deliver whole house and whole street energy efficiency improvements.  However, it needs to do much more to reduce the UK’s emissions, for example by making the entire existing housing stock more energy efficient, investing in green energy and improving public transport.  In addition, shouldn’t the Government be the one to galvanise public support for tackling climate change, rather than the other way round?

The 10:10 campaign itself can also be criticised for not making it clear how individuals’ journey to the 10% target can be measured or enforced and for setting a lower target for businesses – just 3% will be deemed a success.  However, if it becomes a truly popular movement which helps to sway opinion at Copenhagen these will be minor quibbles.