More climate action comes from more people taking climate action. I’ve not been brave enough to expose myself to risk of arrest. I think I may be more use to the cause by taking action through being a constructively challenging professional alongside changing my personal behaviours.

What action are you taking or would you like to take?

I’m pleased to be delivering a joint University of the West of England and Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) webinar on 7 November (12.30pm-1.30pm GMT) as part of UWE’s Green Fortnight. It’s titled “What is climate action and your role in making a change”. It’s free to attend (but please register) and I hope I might see you there. I’ll be taking the temperature in the room as well through a series of Mentimeter questions.

Climate action – if not now then when? We’ve seen some lamentable actions by the UK Government recently from approving the new Rosebank oilfield to rolling back the deadline for ending sale of petrol and diesel cars. So what can we do as individuals to feel we will be on the right side of history? Climate action comes in multiple forms and all of them help. I see four in particular:

1. Conscientious professionalism – orienting our professional roles to focus our efforts to the best of our ability on helping progress decarbonisation
2. Professionally challenging – speaking truth to power and holding authority to account
3. Personal behaviours – taking steps to reduce our own carbon footprints
4. Direct action – peaceful protest or civil diobedience risking arrest

In relation to the last of these, news came through yesterday that the Dutch Parliament’s Lower House has adopted a motion to ask cabinet to come up with a phase-out plan for fossil fuel subsidies. This has come about because of action from Extinction Rebellion Netherlands and the relentless blockading of the A12 by large numbers of protestors and with thousands of arrests. A communication from Just Stop Oil yesterday said “Three years ago, the Dutch population didn’t know these subsidies existed. Now, 73% say they are in favour of abolition. This is how civil resistance works.”

What do you think? Please come along and share your views on 7 November. Or get stuck in now by responding to this post.

#Fossilfuels#Climateaction#Extintionrebellion#oilandgas#protest