Climate change wake up call
Across the UK events are being held to mark the run up to the crucial UN international Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this December. Last Saturday in Mold’s Daniel Owen Precinct representatives from many local organisations came together to support Cafod in their ‘50 days to Copenhagen’ stall.
Delyn MP, David Hanson joined the group in their ‘wake up call’ at 11am when alarm clocks and horns were sounded to emphasise it was time to make a difference in the countdown to Copenhagen. Over 180 people signed David’s petition or Christian Aid and Cafod cards, which will be given to the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. The Christian Aid cards stated that the UK should sign up to obligations that commit us, along with other richer countries to: achieve at least an 80 per cent cut in domestic carbon emissions by 2050; and in assisting and helping to pay for developing countries to reduce their emissions, develop cleanly and adapt to climate change.
There were lively discussions with some members of the public who hold that the rise in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is nothing to do with the scale of human pollution of the planet, but a natural phenomenon that has happened before and will happen again. Others were keen to find out what they personally could do to reduce their energy consumption, and CO2 emissions. Detailed information was available from North Wales Energy Advice Centre, whose freephone telephone number is 0800 954 0658.
Joyce Elcocks who organised the Mold stall said, “I think it was a good outcome and certainly worthwhile. I was very pleased that so many other local organisations such as local church groups, Cittaslow Mold, the Labour Party and Flintshire Friends of the Earth were involved, it shows the level of commitment there is to working together to have an impact on the make or break deal on climate change at Copenhagen”.
As Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change said, “The days are gone when world leaders simply locked themselves in a room and put together a deal. We live at a time when voices of people outside the room exert pressure and make a real difference. Each and every additional voice adds to the pressure for the deal that future generations need”.
Photographs top to bottom: Wayne Simmonds and Vicki Kinnear with baby Wayne Junior talk to David Hanson, Delyn MP, about climate change issues at the Cafod stall on Mold market. Geoff Collett, Joyce and Andrea, and Viv Collett.
