A day that starts with meeting RSPB supporters in the sunshine and ends listening to the brilliant Miranda Richardson read poetry* has to be a good day.
The “Speak UP for the Love of” lobby of parliament was a success: more than 330 MPs were lobbied by c9,000 constituents and towards of the end of the day business leaders came together to urge the new Government to provide investor certainty for a low carbon future.
There felt a great sense of solidarity amongst the 100 or so partners that makes up The Climate Coalition. The RSPB was just one partner but it was great to see many of our members make the effort to join with those from faith groups, development groups, surfers, snowboarders and local community groups.
We wanted to ensure climate change becomes a high priority for this Parliament and I think yesterday will have helped.
Politicians, like my new local MP, Daniel Zeichner, could have been left in little doubt about the high expectations that their constituents have of them in the fight against climate change. The passion and determination was on show for all to see. None more so that from my colleagues from Team Sky-Lark that had cycled from Edinburgh over the last few days in order to lobby the new intake of MPs from Scotland.
At an evening event hosted by Marks & Spencer, Amber Rudd, the new climate change secretary, heard three of the biggest businesses in the UK (M&S, Unilever and Ikea) say that they want a consistent approach from all parts of government to help them play their part in creating a new economy that is not reliant on high carbon infrastructure. And she was convincing in her replies. It is heartening to hear a member of the Cabinet speak with passion and conviction about tackling climate change.
The charities and other NGOs that made the day happen have demonstrated what happens when we leave brands at the door, and work together. As a Board member of the Climate Coalition it has been a privilege watching the teams from across the different organisations develop and execute a plan so brilliantly. And it is always satisfying to see supporters from so many different organisations mix together on the streets. It was a genuine team effort and I think that this will serve us well as we continue the civil society campaign for action on climate change in the run to the crucial UN talks in Paris at the end of the year and beyond.
And I’ll end with a thought from the lead singer of the band that played at the rally at the end of the lobby. He just happens to be a birder as well as the frontman for Stornoway, and his words struck a chord with me,
“All species are affected by climate change but it is only our species that can come up with a long term plan to do something about it.”
*Extinction by Jackie Kay and Cantre’r Gwaelod by Gillian Clarke
Very pleased it went off so well. I will be at the next one.
redkite