Reading People & Planet take on the Uni
Swansea P&P ready for Go Green action
To stop climate chaos, the UK must reduce CO₂ emissions by at least 80% by 2050. To do this each sector of the economy needs binding annual targets, including the education sector. Go Green aims to show that it is possible. The Go Green model can be applied to a whole number of other institutions and organisations especially in the public sector. If we win this battle in our education institutions then we will leave politicians and CEOs with no excuses for not taking action on climate change.
On Thursday 21 February (or as close to this date as possible), we are calling for a day of mass lobbying of VCs/Principals. The aim is to show the consensus in the education sector for government action to tackle climate change.
Green Ladies raise awareness around campus
What we are asking for
The lobby has two key aims:
Aim 1: Push for your own institution to cut emissions
In unis, ask your VC to adopt the four Go Green demands, and use the opportunity to tell them about the Green League in May 2008.
In schools and colleges, ask your Principal to set up a student led Carbon Reduction Group and carry out a comprehensive carbon audit.
Aim 2. Demonstrate the support of the education sector for a strong Climate Change Bill
- Ask your VC or Principal to sign the Green Education Declaration. This calls for a strong Climate Change Bill that commits to at least 80% cuts in CO₂ by 2050 and includes carbon reduction strategies for each sector, including the education sector itself.
Swansea P&P meet University Vice-Chancellor and present petition tree
What to do on the day
Book a meeting now for Thursday 21 February with your VC or Principal and advertise it to as many people as possible. If you are at school or college, perhaps have it during the lunch hour so as many people as possible can come.
Make your lobby big, colourful and attention grabbing:
Dress in, and paint yourselves green.
Make Go Green banners & form human banners.
Wear Go Green T-shirts.
Make Go Green props such as windmills, papermache VCs and Principals, rubbish sculptures.
Make it a loud celebration by using drums, pots and pans and anything you can get your hands on. If you can’t get a meeting, make your lobby even bigger so that they can’t ignore you!
Before the day please let us know what you’re planning and send photos afterwards to Alex so that we can put them in a press release and on our website.
The Green Education Declaration
Download the Green Education Declaration.
View the current signatories
The Green Education Declaration is a call from the education sector to the Government, demanding robust and effective action to reduce carbon emissions through a strong Climate Change Bill. It also shows the support of educational institutions and associated orgnanisations for action within the education sector to cut emissions as a matter of urgency.
The Climate Change Bill is currently going through Parliament, and is expected to become law in spring or summer 2008. The first few months of 2008 therefore provide a key opportunity to influence the Bill. As People & Planet is a student network, we are aiming to mobilise influential voices within the education sector for strong action on climate change. The Green Education Declaration will be used to lobby the Government as the Bill goes through its final Parliamentary stages.
The Green Education Declaration can be signed by senior representatives of educational institutions and associated organisations. Signatures should be from individuals at a high level, who are representative of their organisations. For example:
- Vice Chancellors or Principals of universities
- Headteachers or Principals of schools, sixth forms and colleges
- Directors of specific departments or research centres within universities
- Presidents of Students’ Unions
- Directors of organisations associated with the sector (for example, trade unions).
Download the Green Education Declaration to use at your Big Green Lobby. Signatories should sign and fill in the details on a hard copy of the Declaration, and send these back to the People & Planet office through one of the following mechanisms:
- by post (make sure to make yourselves a copy before you send it) to: 51 Union Street, Oxford, OX4 1JP.
- scanned versions can be sent by email to Alex.
- by fax to: 01865 791927.
Signatures will be added to the Declaration on this website as they are sent in.