The 10:10 Climate Pledge

Our colleague Anna Hartnell writes with an important message regarding the 10:10 climate pledge. While this post is primarily concerned with events here in Birmingham, readers elsewhere should read to the bottom to find out what you can do where you are:

10:10 is one of the most promising and dynamic climate change campaigns to have appeared in the UK. The initiative is asking individuals, businesses and organizations to pledge to cut their carbon emissions by 10% in 2010, a figure that is in line with what scientists say is needed to put the world on the path to avert runaway climate change. The organizers of 10:10 have launched their campaign three months prior to the climate talks in Copenhagen, and aim to build national momentum that puts pressure on British politicians to take a leading role in the negotiations, with the hope of inspiring similar actions in other countries.

So far, over 10,000 people in the UK have signed up to 10:10, including the front benches of all three major political parties. The government have yet to get on board, though Prime Minister Gordon Brown has given the campaign his ‘full support.’ The University of Birmingham’s Student Guild has signed up to the 10:10 initiative, and a broad coalition of students and staff at Birmingham are now launching a campaign that asks the University to pledge to do the same. We are asking all University of Birmingham staff and students to join our call. You can find a link to our petition here.

If you would like to add your name you can:

• join the Facebook group

• send a text with your name and 10:10 to this number +447988056867 [UK only!]

• email E.bauer@guild.bham.ac.uk with your name and 10:10 as the subject

You can sign up to 10:10 to make an individual pledge.

And if you’re not based in the UK you can find details about 10:10 campaigning in your country here.