Climate Change Campaign

Two 8 foot tall, blinking, walking, talking and dancing Polar Bears set off yesterday January 20th from Dublin Zoo to encourage the people of Ireland to reduce their carbon emissions by 10% in 2010. The bears were waved goodbye by Dublin Zoo Director, Leo Oosterweghel and 10:10’s campaign’s manager, John Hesnan.

The NGO organisers are seeking to get as many people, organisations, businesses, and educational institutes to sign up to reduce their own emissions by 10% over the year 2010 as possible. ‘Polar Bears are an iconic image of global warming,’ John  explained. ‘We are delighted to have them on our side in this campaign and know they will receive a warm welcome wherever they go.’ Dublin Zoo Director Leo Oosterweghel was very supportive and excited about the prospects of the campaign. Dublin Zoo is committed to reducing its carbon footprint this year and fully supports the 10:10 initiative.

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As environment ministers from the UN’s 193 member countries meet at the Bella Center in Copenhagen this week, Irish environmentalists await a fair and safe climate change agreement. This meeting is called a Conference of the Parties (COP) and is held annually. This year’s conference commenced December 7, 2009 and will end on December 18, 2009. The goal of the 2009 conference is to establish a global climate agreement for the period from 2012, when Kyoto Protocol expires, to which all countries will adhere. Talks for this new agreement began in Bali two years ago. This goal is in line with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change’s overall goal of stabilising the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to a level that brings an end to the dangerous, man-made effects of climate change. (more…)

This December, the world’s governments will meet in Copenhagen to negotiate and decide a global climate deal. This deal is crucial to avoid climate catastrophe. We must call on the government to deliver a fair and safe deal–a deal that keeps the rise in global temperatures to below 2 degrees Celsius, a deal that supports developing countries in their efforts to cope with the impacts of climate change now and in the future. Saturday 5th of December at 12 noon, thousands of people from all walks of life will flood the streets of Dublin. (more…)