Agriculture industry supports Climate Week
Inaugural Climate Week promises to be Britain’s biggest showcase of solutions to climate change
Some of the biggest organisations in the countrys farming and agriculture industry are joining celebrities, politicians and business leaders to celebrate the UKs first Climate Week, taking place from 21-27 March 2011. Its aim is to enhance societys approach to combating climate change by creating an unprecedented opportunity for individuals and organisations to share ideas, forge new collaborations, motivate their peers and inspire others to act.
The National Farmers Union, Farming Futures, Leaf, and the Campaign to Protect Rural England will join several hundred high-profile supporters from every part of society participating in this new national occasion.
Climate Week is backed by the Prime Minister, David Cameron, and leading figures on climate change such as former US Vice President Al Gore, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kofi Annan and Lord Nicholas Stern. Celebrities including Sir Paul McCartney, Michael Palin, Mark Ronson, Lily Cole and Sienna Miller have also given their support.
During Climate Week the UK will see a huge number of cultural, social, and professional events from all walks of society all aimed at promoting diverse, practical ways of combating climate change and creating a more sustainable, low-carbon future. Individuals and businesses interested in getting involved should visit www.climateweek.com, or contact Climate Week on 0207 815 3946.
Some early key dates to mark include:
– The Climate Week Challenge, taking place Monday 21st March from 9 a.m. 2 p.m. The challenge will see thousands of schools and workplaces simultaneously tackling the same task as part of Britain’s biggest ever live environmental competition. To sign up visit www.climateweek.com/challenge.
– The Climate Week Award ceremony, which will open for entries in mid-December, will be take place on the evening of 21st March. This is a new high profile awards scheme to celebrate outstanding efforts by individuals, businesses, community groups and others to combat climate change. Learn more by visiting: www.climateweek.com/awards/.
Climate Week has the support of leading organisations from the worlds of education, business, science, politics, community campaigning, government, the public services and the voluntary sector. Other organisations involved range from football to finance, religion to renewable energy, conservation to construction, education to enterprise and waste management to womens organisations.
Climate Week’s Headline Partner is Tesco. Tesco aims to become a zero-carbon business by 2050 – without purchasing offsets. In addition it has committed to work with its suppliers to reduce emissions from products in its supply chain by 30% by 2020, and to have found ways to help its customers halve their own carbon footprints by 2020.
Climate Weeks four Supporting Partners are Aviva, EDF Energy, Kelloggs and RBS. They have demonstrated their commitment to action on climate change in many ways. Aviva was the first insurer to be carbon neutral worldwide. EDF Energy is Britains largest producer of low-carbon electricity. Kelloggs is reducing greenhouse emissions 15-20% per tonne of food. RBS is providing financial services for Britains low-carbon transition.
Climate Weeks chief executive, campaigner Kevin Steele said: Climate Week is about showcasing positive steps that can be taken to combat climate change, and so catalyse action during the other 51 weeks of the year. We are encouraging people to ask the organisations they know such as their workplace or local school – to plan events and activities for Climate Week.
Organisations and schools can find out how to take part in Climate Week by visiting www.climateweek.com
About Climate Week
Climate Week – 21-27 March 2011 – is a supercharged national occasion that aims to shine a spotlight on the many positive steps already being taken in workplaces and communities across Britain to combat climate change. The power of these real, practical examples the small improvements and the big innovations will then inspire millions more people.
Thousands of businesses, charities, schools, councils and others will run events during Climate Week. They will show what can be achieved, share ideas and encourage thousands more to act during the rest of the year.
Organisations backing Climate Week include Premiership football clubs Chelsea and Manchester City, Chief Fire Officers Association, Environment Agency, Girlguiding UK, National Association of Head Teachers, CBI, Federation of Small Businesses, Big Lottery Fund, National Housing Federation, National Federation of Womens Institutes and national organisations from the Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Hindu faiths.
Climate Week is an independent campaign founded by Kevin Steele. He previously conceived the anti-poverty Trade Justice Movement, which ran the biggest ever lobby of Parliament, and led a campaign that resulted in a 23 billion stock market fund adopting ethical investment policies. He also founded the largest themed week in the world (Global Entrepreneurship Week).
To learn more, visit: www.climateweek.com