10:10 directors are satisfied with government progress and say “roll on Copenhagen”

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

Last night, I attended a public rally in and heard Ed Miliband talk about his hopes for Copenhagen. He was optimisitic about what could be achieved at the summit in a few weeks, and said that it was reassuring to see the commitments already being considered by governments of the 180 countries that will attend. China is even considering bringing forward the next of its 5-year plans to account for potential agreements made at Copenhagen.

Following on from the vote on the motion in the Commons this week, directors of the 10:10 campaign are also buoyant about the prospects – and what the government is already doing to help curb our carbon emissions.

Franny Armstrong, 10:10 Campaign Director said:

“Anyone who’d have said even a few weeks ago that the House of Commons would be debating whether to cut emissions by 10% next year, would’ve been dismissed as an out-of-touch eco evangelist…A year ago we had an oil man in the White House…So, yes, ideas can spread very, very fast and, yes, our political system can react quickly when it needs to. Roll on Copenhagen.”

Daniel Vockins, the 10:10 Campaign Manager, added:

“10:10 has arrived. It’s staggering that almost ten thousand people emailed their MPs in just 48 hours to tell the politicians we need a step change in their response to the climate challenge. The British public is doing its bit, and now politicians of all stripes have started putting aside party politics to follow. In response to the 10:10 community’s actions the government have promised an extra £20m to pay for more emissions reductions from their departments. It’s not 10%. But it’s a start.”

As Ed Miliband told me yesterday:

“Every government department is committed to a long term reduction in carbon emissions – not just in 2009, not just in 2010, but through to 2022 and beyond. The public sector has already reduced its emissions by a third between 1990 and 2007 and the Government is on track to meet and exceed its carbon emissions target of 12.5% reductions from across its estate by 2010-11.”

And at last night’s meeting he explained that some government departments have already reduced their emissions by up to 40%.

More will be achieved at Copenhagen – as long as the government continues to acknowlegde and respond to campaigns such as 10:10.

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