The UK’s largest ever climate change coalition, ‘I Count’, have just released their first viral film

“This Bills got no Balls”

The campaign to ‘Stop Climate Chaos‘ brings together over 70 organisations, from environmental and development charities such as the World Wildlife Fund and Oxfam, to trade unions and women’s groups.

‘I Count’ support a Climate Change Bill which includes international aviation and shipping emission. The current proposal for CO2 reduction is 60% by 2050, but with this figure based on outdated science, with the group are demanding the government commit to at least 80%.

Produced by award winning production team Hot Dog and Mustard, the short’s aim is to bring to attention how the UK Government’s proposed Climate Change Bill lacks muscle. Viewers are encouraged to visit the ‘I Count’ website and put pressure on their local MPs to make sure the Government enacts a ‘Bill with balls‘, that will help avoid climate chaos. Supporters of ‘I Count’ have been turning up the pressure to get the climate change law overturned for the past 12 months.

This films plan is to reach the parts other climate change campaigns might not reach…

After a meeting of the United Nations Environmental Protection Programme, four countries lead the race to become the world’s first carbon neutral country. In the running for the ultimate ecological accolade are Costa Rica, Iceland, Norway and New Zealand.

All four contenders receive most of their energy from renewable resources, with Iceland almost reaching carbon neutrality in the heating of buildings and electricity. Only 1% of homes in Iceland are powered by fossil fuels, but with one of the biggest car fleets per head on the planet, Iceland still has a lot of work to do to fully cut out carbon emissions.

Last year Costa Rica planted more than 5 million trees to offset their carbon emissions, the biggest ever tree planting exercise in the history of the world. Costa Rica currently run 90% of the country from renewable energy sources, with a 3.5 per cent raise in fossil fuel tax going to the National Forestry Financing Fund. Costa Rica’s banana industry (their main export) also plans to go neutral, but with the countries number of cars and air traffic increasing, the task may be far harder than expected.

Meanwhile, New Zealand has commissioned six government agencies to make their nation carbon neutral by 2012. 50% of the country’s greenhouse gases come from the 40,000 national farms, which compares to an average of 12% for most countries. With New Zealand hosting the World Environment ‘Kick the C02 Habit‘ Day, the country has set itself a target of reaching 90% renewable fuel sourcing by 2025.

Norway’s aim to be carbon neutral by 2030 is very ambitious, seeing as they are the third biggest oil exporter on the planet. This hasn’t stopped the Norwegian government joining the European Emissions Trading Scheme and investing a massive $730million in helping to reduce carbon output. This is added to the $2.7 billion promised to neutralize emissions from deforestation, which is estimated to be nearly 20% of the country’s total output. With Norway already using 95% hydro-electricity, it seems like their 2030 deadline is starting to look very achievable.

So who will win this race to be the world’s first carbon neutral country? All four countries have a great chance, but my money is on Costa Rica, whose massive tree planting initiative should be able to offset their carbon emissions fare quicker than the more built up countries. But shouldn’t the question really be:-

Why are only four countries worldwide trying to gain this auspicious honour in the first place?

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The President of World Bank is calling for £250million in extra aid to help the fight against poverty in poorer countries.

The World Food Programme is now 7 years off its intended target due to the rise in global food prices, with wheat alone rising 120% in the last 12 months. This rise has seen the price of a loaf of bread double, with the cost of rice up 75% in the last 2 months.

World Bank claim the West’s fixation with oil costs has seen a slip in the management of food prices, which is being felt heavily in third world countries. The US and EU’s encouragement to create bio fuel, by using crops to provide an alternative to oil, has diverted agricultural land away from the production of food.

In countries such as Bangladesh, half a day’s wages is spent on a 2kg bag of rice, whilst a quarter of all income is spent on bread alone. This is leaving only a quarter of a family’s income for shelter, clothing and education. Rioting recently broke out in India due to the rise in the cost of basic food stocks, with the Indian government now imposing export bans on resources to try and bring prices down. Liz Stuart from Oxfam said:
 
‘We must stop adding fuel to fire by increasing crop production for bio fuels. These have dubious environmental benefits, and by driving prices up, we are crippling the lives of the poor.’

 

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