Blog: Climate

Climate defence is not an offence

Posted by jossc — 28 May 2010 at 2:06pm - Comments
Come to the Climate 9 launch event in London: 3 June 2010

In March last year, you may remember, Plane Stupid activists occupied the runway at Aberdeen airport. They took direct action (including erecting a makeshift golf course) to protest about expansion plans for the airport, which are being pushed through to serve an enormous golf course and hotel complex planned by US entrepreneur and The Apprentice star Donald Trump.

Now nine of them (including a call centre manager, a chef, a father, an artist and a university lecturer) find themselves on trial. But the Climate 9, as they've become known, plan to use the case to challenge Scottish climate policy. Currently all 17 Scottish airports are aiming to expand; if this happened it would triple the nation's aviation emissions, which already make up 11% of the UK total.

Carlisle Airport expansion quashed

Posted by jossc — 20 May 2010 at 4:16pm - Comments

Although there was a lovely buzz around the office following last week's wonderful announcement that the Third Heathrow runway had been scrapped, the wiser heads amongst us were quick to point out that we'd won a battle, not a war.

Our new coalition government may have made good on its pre-election promises over Heathrow, but there have been no such commitments over the 30 or so airport expansions planned for other parts of the country - and they could easily prevent us reaching our CO2 reduction targets if a significant number get the go-ahead.

Article tagged as: airport expansion, aviation, carlisle, co2 emissions

Slideshow: rebranding BP HQ

Posted by jamie — 20 May 2010 at 10:54am - Comments

A quick selection of images which have come in from BP HQ in St James's Square, where climbers have installed themselves to rebrand the company. Also included is the full page advert appearing in today's Guardian.

And you can submit your own ideas for BP's new logo in our competition.

Article tagged as: BP, climate change, energy, oil, tar sands

Acid test for the oceans

Posted by jamie — 13 May 2010 at 3:43pm - Comments

Ever wondered what this ocean acidification thing is? Wonder no longer, as this new animation from our international office explains everything you need to know in just over a minute. 

The basic upshot is that climate change is not just making the oceans warmer, it's also making them more acidic. It's only by a relatively small amount so you won't lose your toes if you go paddling, but the effects on the ocean's chemistry is dramatic. Most widely reported is the threat this poses to coral reefs - as the water becomes more acidic, the polyps aren't able to create the calcium carbonate skeletons which form the reefs.

The consequences travel up the food chain - watch the video to find out more.

Article tagged as: climate change, emissions, ocean acidification, oceans, videos

Heathrow third runway cancelled: we won!

Posted by jossc — 13 May 2010 at 11:20am - Comments
by-nc. Credit: John Cobb / Greenpeace

Handing in the Airplot deed at No 10 this morning

Fantastic news - climate-wrecking plans for a third runway at Heathrow airport have been axed.

The Cameron/Clegg government confirmed yesterday evening that it will not only scrap the third runway at Heathrow, but also refuse additional runways at Gatwick and Stansted. So all our Airplot campaigning has finally won out - and a huge thank you is due to all you Airplotters, and everyone who's written to their MP or taken part in one of the many protests demanding that the plan be shelved.

Article tagged as: airplot, aviation, heathrow, successes, third runway, videos

The Airplot Competition: we have a winner!

Posted by jossc — 13 May 2010 at 10:25am - Comments

This morning we're proud to announce the winner of the Airplot Contest - our competition to find the ideal structure to fortify the Airplot so that, if the police come to turf us out, we can peacefully resist them. There were two categories - one for architects and architecture students to come up with some practical solutions for how we can defend the land, and the other open to everyone to let their imaginations off the leash.

Article tagged as: airplot, aviation, heathrow, third runway, videos
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