Hi John,
Welcome to your second of five emails for The Big One. Today we’re zooming out, to reflect on why we’re gathering at Parliament in the first place.
What’s the problem?
“There is a rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all.” That’s one of the conclusions of the recent report of the International Panel on Climate Change.1 We have a window, but it’s closing fast.
Despite this urgency, our politicians are choosing not to act. In January, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak outlined his top five priorities for the UK. Not one of them included the long-term and significant changes we need to deal with the climate and ecological emergency. In fact, the Government approved a new coal mine2 and is set to approve 100 new fossil fuel licences for oil and gas drilling.3 Since 2015, our Government has given £20bn more in support to fossil fuel producers than renewable producers.4 It is clear that the alarm bells are being ignored by those in power.
We can choose our future
But we have some power too. Individually it is limited, but collectively we become unstoppable. And this is a collective concern - the majority of the UK public are terrified about what is happening and want things to change.5 They want leadership that shares their concerns - and acts on them.
As Stephen Fry said in support of our cause: something has to be done.
Instead of funding new fossil fuel extraction and burning more coal, let’s bring an end to the fossil fuel era. Instead of being ignored by our elected representatives, let’s have inclusive decision making, where we are engaged and listened to via citizens’ assemblies, that will lead the Government to act on fair, long-term solutions on issues of urgent national importance.
If politicians aren’t willing to put in the hard graft to turn things around, then we will. It’s time we choose our own future.
Love and rage,
Extinction Rebellion UK
PS. Want to know more about the climate emergency and why we need to act now? Read more in the
Unite for Nature Fact Pack from XR Scientists
