CONTEXT:

• Increasingly urgent warnings from climate scientists have not triggered timely and effective action to cut global fossil fuel emissions. New research says emissions should peak by 2016 if we are to have a better than 50:50 chance of keeping global temperature within 2˙C of the pre-industrial average, the limit agreed by UN climate negotiators.
• Rising emissions from emerging nations (e.g. Brazil, Russia, India China) exceed carbon reductions from industrialised nations. Global CO2 emissions are now rising in line with 'worst-case' computer models. China expects its emissions to peak between 2030-40.
• A World Bank report 'Turn Down the Heat' (Dec 2012) says current emission trends will raise average global temperature by as much as 4˙C by 2060 and as much as 6˙C by the end of this century, with catastrophic consequences on water and food supply in many countries. The draft US Climate Assessment (January 2013) predicts continued high emissions will raise average temperature in the USA by as much as 5.5˙C by 2100.
• Global population is predicted to rise from the current 7 billion to 9.5 billion by 2100. Each person will need a home, food and energy, putting further pressure on natural resources.
• 190 nations are committed to sign a binding UN climate deal in 2015, but there is no consensus about its framework and it will not be implemented until 2020. This is therefore the earliest that emerging nations, including China and India, will be obliged to control their CO2 emissions.
• The Kyoto Protocol has been extended until 2020, with more ambitious carbon reduction targets. However, Kyoto only affects industrialised nations and their new self-set targets fit an emissions trajectory that will raise average temperature by 4˙C - and the USA, Canada, Japan and New Zealand have opted out.
• Current national/regional incentives/regulations to cut carbon emissions are inadequate. Excess permits in the EU trading scheme have caused the price of CO2 to crash and global investment in renewable energy fell by 11% in 2012.
• Public apathy/confusion about climate change. There are many reasons for this, including fear of change; lobbying by fossil fuel interests, the inability of green NGOs to agree on a viable carbon reduction framework, the failure of the UN to negotiate an effective and timely climate deal and the failure of political leaders to inspire people with the idea that long-term prosperity depends on urgent action to create a genuinely fair low/post carbon global economy.
• Media influence: twenty years of news reports about stalemate at UN climate talks are one reason many people are bored by climate change. Movies and TV documentaries have highlighted the need to cut carbon emissions, but failed to ask how the world should collaborate to do this.
• The web and social media have not been used as effectively as they could be to encourage wider public understanding on climate change and strategies to minimise its impact. There is an urgent need to encourage people to become active participants in the debate so they can put pressure on governments to reach a fair and rational agreement on global action to cut carbon emissions.

 

OUR AIMS:

The Climate Consent Foundation was formed to increase the chances that our children and grandchildren will have a viable future. We therefore aim to inspire a wide general public with the unique opportunities that will be created by a low carbon global economy and advocate Contraction & Convergence (C&C) as a compelling model for international policy on climate change. Our main task will be to create outstanding short videos which give everyone the chance to engage with the science and implications of climate change and with C&C as the most rational, fair and effective basis for global collaboration to cut carbon emissions. Our videos and multi media presentations will also ask how the world can cut carbon emissions before a viable low carbon infrastructure is in place. Our material will be made freely available in different languages via our website and other platforms, so it can influence the public, students and policy makers in every country.

 

OUR ACTIVITIES:

To produce brief, objective, accurate and thought-provoking videos about climate change and strategies to cut emissions which reach a global on-line audience - including political leaders.
Our immediate priority (dependent on raising adequate funds) is to create a more engaging website and produce authoritative, compelling and clear 2-5 minute videos videos.  These will be aimed at the public and policy makers in all countries.  We plan to produce videos about the following issues before the UNFCCC negotiations in Lima (December 2014):

• Twenty years of negotiations at the UN Framework Convention on Climate change. This video will take a critical view and show how that stalemate was caused by a lack of guiding principles and consequent willingness to let politics trump science. It will highlight the need for a UNFCCC agenda based on simple scientific and ethical principles.
• Propose Contraction & Convergence (C&C) as an underlying rationale for the UN climate deal that is due to be signed in Paris in 2015. It will show how C&C reconciles climate science with human needs and provides the basis of a successful post carbon global economy.
• The growth of global carbon emissions over the last 250 years and the anticipated irreversible impacts of climate change on water supply, food and the environment if we fail to act. This will show that our absolute priority is to cut global carbon emissions fast.
• C&C's carbon trade as an powerful financial incentive for all nations to avoid fossil fuels and create viable low-carbon economies.
• Carbon taxes as an effective incentive for industrialised nations to cut fossil fuel emissions before a global deal takes effect in 2020.
• Tradeable Emission Quotas (TEQS) as a practical way of ensuring that the energy needs of each person are not wholly dependent on a free market. It will encourage national governments to introduce TEQs before a global climate deal is agreed.
• The need to preserve ancient forests as vital natural carbon sinks and the consequences of failing to do so.
• Videos that explore practical ways in which individuals can reduce their carbon footprint and also improve their health.
• Interviews with experts and influential opinion formers.

 

Other activities:

• Production of a documentary that shows how the code for global consent and collaboration to cut carbon emissions is rooted in the principles and ratios of music and the natural world.
• Events, such as exhibitions and concerts to raise awareness and funds.
• Public presentations and webcasts.
• Social media campaigns.
• Engagement with business leaders and policy makers.