Rising to the challenge of the climate emergency

Extinction Rebellion Enfield exerts local pressure to raise Climate Emergency awareness and challenge council

The climate catastrophe that we face if we don’t act now has prompted local climate activists and residents concerned about the environment to launch a series of urgent local activities.

• A free public talk on June 29^th at which speakers from Extinction Rebellion share the latest climate science on where our planet is heading, discuss some of the current psychology around climate change, and offer solutions through the study of social movements.
• A demonstration at the Civic Centre in Enfield when the Council next meets on July 10^th. This will call on the Council to recognise the seriousness and urgency of the climate crisis and declare an emergency.
• Stalls with further information about the talk and the demo held on Saturday 22^nd June, 12-2pm in Enfield Town, on Saturday 29^th June, 11am-12pm in Palmers Green, on Tuesday 2^nd July, 5.30-7pm at Edmonton station and on Saturday 6^th July, 11.12.30 at Edmonton station.

Extinction Rebellion Enfield is determined to raise awareness of this critical issue and bring about change. The talk: ‘Heading for extinction and what to do about it’ will be at the Friends’ Meeting House in Church Hill, Winchmore Hill on Saturday 29^th June from 2pm-4pm. This vital presentation will provide in-depth details on the current climate situation, and discuss with local residents the part they can play in taking action.

The demonstration, organised by Extinction Rebellion Enfield on July 10th, will call on the Council to recognise the seriousness and urgency of the climate crisis and declare an emergency. This is a move already taken by Haringey, Waltham Forest and 83 other local authorities in the UK.

By declaring a climate emergency, Enfield Council will show its commitment to delivering a climate policy which meets the needs of local residents. This will include, for example, healthier travel options, infrastructure to encourage walking and cycling, sustainable housing development and the implementation of clean-air zones.

In October 2018, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report concluded that the risk of catastrophic climate change including extreme heat, drought, flooding and climate-related poverty would significantly increase unless global warming could be kept to a maximum of.1.5 C which is likely to be reached by 2030.

As this is an unprecedented and imminent threat, Enfield residents are demanding that the Council implements changes now so that the borough becomes carbon-neutral by 2025 and divests Council funds from fossil fuels with immediate effect.

Everbody is welcome to attend the talk and the demonstration. For more information please visit our Facebook page, and if residents are unable to attend, they can petition Enfield Council to declare a climate emergency, which can be signed at: https://governance.enfield.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?ID=222&RPID=74351456&HPID=74351456