Extinction Rebellion activists put their heads in the sand near Boscombe Pier this morning [25th June] in a symbolic protest aimed at government inaction on the climate crisis. The action featured smartly dressed rebels, labelled as cabinet members and Dorset MPs. This was followed by a procession to the offices of Tobias Elwood MP to deliver a letter calling for urgent action.
The letter urges Mr Elwood to publicly speak out on the government’s failings on the climate and ecological emergency and come clean with constituents that government inaction will lead to the death of millions.
The protest, which was part of a nationwide action by Extinction Rebellion, coincided with the publication of the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) annual report to parliament. It shows that, once again, the government has made little progress in carbon reduction or in preparing for the catastrophic impacts of climate change. The report says that of the 31 actions recommended by the CCC for 2019 and 2020 to achieve the net zero target the government has only fully achieved 2 milestones and made partial progress in 15. [2]
Last year the chair of the CCC, Lord Deben said: “The whole thing is run by the government like a Dad’s Army operation.” This year’s report highlights that Boris Johnson has chaired only one meeting of the cabinet committee on climate change since taking personal charge of the issue last October. Chris Stark, chief executive of the CCC quoted in the Guardian said: “Without central and integrated leadership we will fail in our task, and this really does need the prime minister’s attention to make a success of it. It is a poor excuse that [the cabinet committee] has not met more often.”
Adrian from Bournemouth said “The lack of action from government is nothing short of criminal. The scientists are now saying that net zero by 2050 is too late and we aren’t even going to achieve that. We need massive changes to decarbonise our economic system and our carbon intensive lifestyles.”
Extinction Rebellion is urging the government to listen to the latest scientific findings which demonstrate that carbon emissions need to be reduced to zero much faster than the 2050 target to avoid dangerous global temperature rises [3].
[1] Letter to MPs here : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ox-7pesgv4TIkMK2j6d3X9zEWwxkmsreRoA6TlLbX5A/edit?usp=sharing
[2] Guardian article on Climate Change Committee report https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/25/act-fast-to-stop-uk-carbon-emission-rebound-climate-advisers-urge
[3] Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research latest findings on UK carbon budget https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/even-climate-progressive-nations-fall-far-short-of-paris-agreement-targets/
About Extinction Rebellion:
Time has almost entirely run out to address the ecological crisis which is upon us, including the 6th mass species extinction, global pollution, and abrupt, runaway climate change. Societal collapse and mass death are seen as inevitable by scientists and other credible voices, with human extinction also a possibility, if rapid action is not taken.
Extinction Rebellion believes it is a citizen’s duty to rebel, using peaceful civil disobedience, when faced with criminal inactivity by their Government.
Extinction Rebellion’s key demands are:
- Government must tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, working with other institutions to communicate the urgency for change.
- Government must act now to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.
- Government must create and be led by the decisions of a Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice.
What Emergency?|Extinction Rebellion in Numbers|This Is Not A Drill: An Extinction Rebellion Handbook.
Get involved:
- Join your local group: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
- Come to a local meeting or event
- Elsewhere, join the Rebellion Network and let us know how you can help out.
- Start a group where you are: in the UK or around the world.
- Check out the International XR website, with links to the French, German, Italian and UK websites.
- See our Election Rebellion crowdfunder.
