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P&P is committed to climate change campaigning until 2011, and at this year’s Forum there are two sessions to decide the focus and direction of this campaigning. As the two sessions are at the same time, and both are making important decisions, it’s important that both are well attended.
1. Where now for Go Green in Universities?
Session purpose
To decide on the future direction of the Go Green campaign in universities. Once universities have the four Go Green demands, what next?
Questions to think about in your group:
Should Go Green focus on the direct impacts of universities in terms of carbon emissions?
Is a focus on one area (eg procurement/purchasing) a good way to focus the campaign and achieve specific change across the sector?
What do you think about expanding the campaign to more indirect environmental impacts like investment or curriculum?
What are the options?
A number of options will be presented at the Forum. For draft option ideas and to get involved in developing these ideas (and suggesting others) so that the Forum can discuss solid campaign options, check out:
The Go Green campaign has been running since 2003, since when there has been a massive step-change in environmental management in the HE sector (in part due to P&P’s campaign!). However, the success of the campaign means that lots of groups have now achieved the original Go Green demands, and the campaign needs a new direction.
Go Green could go in a number of different directions. The focus could be to drive down universities’ carbon emissions, creating an exemplar sector for tackling climate change. This could be done through promoting strong carbon targets and carbon management programmes, or we could choose an area where universities aren’t currently managing their carbon impacts effectively, such as in purchasing and supply chains.
The campaign could take a different tack, and tap into the growing Transition Towns movement, aiming to build university communities ready for a localised, low-energy post-oil future. This would involve engaging with local communities and the Transition movement to develop the idea of a Transition University.
Alternatively, the campaign could broaden out from the direct environmental impacts of universities to more indirect impacts: the climate impact of universities’ investments; or the impact on students and society of the university curriculum.
2. Climate Change Priorities: DDD & Copenhagen
Session purpose
To decide on P&P’s climate campaign priorities for autumn 2009. Should P&P campaign for a global climate deal at Copenhagen, or should we launch a boycott of RBS-NatWest to increase the pressure for climate friendly investments?
Questions to think about in your group
- How important do you think the Copenhagen summit will be for tackling climate change? Should P&P be engaging with the process (as is proposed in Scenario 1)?
- Should P&P boycott RBS-NatWest? Is this the most effective way to influence the direction of private finance?
- How can P&P most effectively contribute to the movement to tackle climate change?
What are the different scenarios?
An outline of what each scenario would look like, with details of aims and objectives, possible events and actions, and more info on what’s planned by other organisations, check out:
Find out more: Copenhagen & DDD scenarios
In December 2009, world leaders will meet in Copenhagen to finalise a global climate deal. This could be a pivotal moment in climate politics. The Stop Climate Chaos coalition will be campaigning for strong UK action both at home and in the negotiations, with a particular focus on domestic energy policy and global climate finance. Other climate activists are also considering how to react to Copenhagen and it is likely that there will be a lot of activism focused on the summit.
The Ditch Dirty Development campaign is also coming to a crucial moment, with the deadline for boycotting RBS-NatWest set for September 2009. The campaign is building momentum all the time, and this could culminate in a really effective push if we launch the boycott in autumn 2009.
For either campaign to be effective, P&P would need to concentrate both office and network resources on it, so it is not possible for P&P to campaign fully on both Copenhagen and RBS.
In this session a decision will be made between two scenarios:
1. Focus on Copenhagen in autumn 2009, with the RBS boycott postponed until 2010
2. Launch boycott of RBS in September 2009, plus promotion of SCC coalition actions on Copenhagen
