‘Public Climate Service’ among bold ideas from climate charity Possible
Climate action charity Possible has published a report outlining ten bold ideas to accelerate climate action in the 2020s. From introducing a “Public Climate Service” to rolling out “electric motorways”, Possible’s report addresses some of the radical transformations needed to tackle the climate crisis, and highlights the need for innovative thinking to engage the UK public with these changes.
Published in tandem with the charity’s name change and new strategy, the report’s ideas reflect the five key challenge areas Possible have identified as places the UK public can and must play a role in accelerating climate action; cleaning up energy, working with nature, changing what we eat and buy, talking about the climate crisis and changing how we travel.
Combining policies, technologies and cultural interventions, Possible’s bold ideas were developed within the context of last year’s IPCC report on keeping to 1.5°C global warming and the clear need for rapid transformation. One of the proposed programmes is a “Public Climate Service” which would enable everyone to take paid leave to work on practical climate action projects such as tree planting, training exercises in retrofitting, renewable energy or low carbon farming techniques.
The report also includes calls to create a network of “electric motorway lanes” so lorries and coaches can use the same overhead cable technology as trams and trains, a publicly owned “climate forest” on top of the nation’s disused open cast coal mines, and a “National Climate Helpline”, offering information on climate change, and support for anyone struggling with climate dread and access to crisis support on the impacts of climate change.
Max Wakefield, co-director at Possible, said,
“Once the urgency and scale of the climate crisis is truly understood, you quickly realise that we’re stuck between the impossible and the unthinkable. You can either carry on business as usual and let the unthinkable become reality or you can make the impossible possible. The goal of this report it to inspire people to choose the latter and build the rapid, zero carbon transition the climate crisis demands.”
Alice Bell, co-director at Possible, said,
“This report was an exercise in imagining better futures. We all know how depressing the issue can be - it’s no surprise that climate dread is on the rise - but that shouldn’t let us lose sight of what we can do to tackle the crisis. The sheer scale of changes we need to make means it will touch everyone’s lives. If we’re going to move at the speed required - and if we’re going to ensure the new world we build is fair - everyone’s got to be involved. It’s vital we have ideas that don’t just cut carbon, but inspire people with positive climate action.
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Notes
The Ten Bold Ideas report is available online at https://www.wearepossible.org/s/Ten-Bold-Ideas
Full list of the ideas:
Idea one: Community volcano power - Harness the heat from magma stored deep under UK soil using tech owned by, controlled by and benefiting local communities.
Idea two: A National Climate Helpline - A telephone and digital helpline offering information on climate change, and support for anyone struggling with climate dread and access to crisis support on the impacts of climate change.
Idea three: A fixing factory on every high street - Free and accessible local community hubs offering services on everything from access to repair specialists, support on guarantee schemes and training for those wanting to skill up on fixing household items.
Idea four: Electric motorways - Turn the slow lane on motorways into a network of electric motorways for lorries and coaches, all powered by community owned renewable energy.
Idea five: Plant a climate forest - A programme to plant millions of trees on top of disused open-cast coal mines, creating a publicly owned forest
Idea six: Heat pumps under public green spaces - Install heat pumps under as many public green spaces as possible, from parks to allotments, generating revenue for local authorities.
Idea seven: A war chest for local authorities declaring climate emergencies - A nationwide climate response programme which offers local authorities the tools they need to deliver on climate emergency declarations.
Idea eight: Energy positive homes - Every new home we build shouldn’t just be ‘zero carbon’, but energy positive - producing more (clean) energy each year onsite than is imported from the grid.
Idea nine: Plastic packaging: reuse, reuse and reuse - A standardised reuse system for all takeaway containers, own brand supermarket products, and coffee cups.
Idea ten: Public Climate Service - A national programme enabling everyone in the UK to take paid climate leave to work on practical projects building ambitious climate action.
The IPCC report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels was published in October 2018. https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/
Possible changed its name from 10:10 Climate Action on 10th October 2020.
Possible is a UK based charity that brings people together to take positive, practical action on climate change. Combining individual and local actions with larger systemic change, we connect people with each other, and communities with ways to address the climate crisis. wearepossible.org
Media contact
Sarah Barfield Marks
sarah@wearepossible.org
020 7388 6688