"The Biggest Issue of Our Time": A Generation Mobilises for the UK Student Movement's Largest Ever Event On Climate Change

The UK's leading school and campus organisation campaigning for action on world poverty and the environment, People & Planet, is calling for the youth of the UK to stand up and be counted in a mass demonstration on climate change.

Climate change is quite simply the biggest problem we have ever faced... as environmental scientists predict that escalating climate chaos will cost the lives of millions, ruin the livelihoods of millions more, severely affect animal and planet life across the globe and cost trillions of dollars. While politicians might be able to afford short-term views; the young people of the world cannot. It is our future at stake, which is why we are taking the lead in demanding real action now.

People & Planet, as the student representatives within the Stop Climate Chaos coalition, are preparing to stage the huge student carnival as part of the 'I Count', event in London, on Saturday 4 th November, 2006, from 12 noon.

Thousands of students and young people from across the UK are expected to join the carnival on Saturday 4th November to demand that politicians take action on the global crisis facing our generation. In particular, we are calling for a Climate Change Bill in the Queen's Speech on Wednesday 15 November, which will create a 'carbon budget' to track and manage greenhouse gases emitted by the UK as a whole. This is urgently needed to deliver the substantial and sustained cuts necessary to combat the appalling social and environmental effects of climate change, (already responsible for the deaths of 150,000 people a year, according to the World Health Organization).

The 4th November event is part of the wider 'I Count' campaign to stop climate chaos, launching at the beginning of October. In the run up to 4th November, People & Planet groups and Students' Unions have been lobbying local MPs to support the Climate Bill in the Queen's Speech as we demand action from the government, not just words.

The Queen’s Speech marks the start of the new ‘parliamentary year’, setting out the agenda for the year ahead. People & Planet and Stop Climate Chaos are calling for a climate change bill to be introduced in the Queen’s Speech. The Bill will require Government to commit to a Carbon Budget - ensuring that UK greenhouse gas emissions are cut by at least 3% year-on-year.

November 4th also marks the last Saturday before the next round of international talks on climate change start in Nairobi, Kenya, on Monday 6. Many of us are changing our habits to cut our own carbon emissions. This must be backed up by the world’s leaders taking action, including the UK who will be at the negotiating table. The carnival and i count event is an opportunity for us to tell our government that we want them to go into the negotiations committed to do everything they can to stop climate chaos.

The bottom line is that whatever we can do as individuals and in our communities, the government can multiply. Cleaner cars - it can make it law. Sharing clean technology with the world’s poorest countries - it can see it happens. Better buildings that don’t leak heat - it does it. Now is the time to put the government to the test.

The 'I Count' campaign is calling on our government to take action in three areas:

* Action in the UK: The first step the government can take towards delivering annual reductions in greenhouse gas emissions of 3% (through the creation of a comprehensive Carbon Budget), is to announce in the forthcoming Queen's Speech that it will introduce a Climate Change Bill.
* Action internationally: Make it a top priority to ensure that global greenhouse gas emissions are irreversibly declining by 2015.
* Action for justice: To provide all necessary assistance to developing countries to both adapt to climate change and, in the longer term, get access to sufficient clean energy to meet their developmental needs.

All are welcome to join the 'I Count' event; further details of which can be obtained from the following websites: peopleandplanet.org/november4 , www.stopclimatechaos.org and www.icount.org.uk

The carnival, part of the vibrant Shared Planet weekend event, will be assembling on Malet Street outside the University of London Union.

Thousands of students will be marching together to Trafalgar Square in a Rio-style parade with samba bands, banners and massive props. Young people will create a giant mobile weather map of climate chaos which will dance, shimmer and samba its way to join thousands of other climate change demonstrators in Trafalgar Square as part of the Stop Climate Chaos 'I count' mass moment.

We will be aiming to create an impact as only students can by working with the famous political artist Polyp who will be the creative force behind the carnival, not only making it fun, but also a huge moving installation of political art!

"The Carnival follows months of climate change lobbying by young
campaigners. Students across the country have met with their MPs to
demand that the Government include a Climate Bill with annual 3% targets
for reductions in carbon emissions. We want a tough bill to be
introduced in the Queen's Speech. The bill David Miliband is proposing
to the Government simply isn't good enough. With just over a week before
the Queen's Speech, the Carnival is the last opportunity for young
people to ensure that the government responds to their calls for 3%
annual cuts."
Emma Hughes, A Student from Cardiff University who is cycling from Wales
to the carnival to demonstrate her passion for a carbon-free future

"Students are no longer prepared to sit back and watch as the government
fails to take the tough action needed to stop dangerous climate change.
We are the generation that will have to live with the consequences of
government inaction and individual and corporate short-termism. The
science is clear; and now the Stern Review has spelt it out that the
economic costs of inaction will be huge. What's missing is a decisive
and bold policy shift. If Blair is serious about climate change, we
challenge him to use the opportunity of his last Queen's Speech as
Prime Minister to produce a Bill that will really make a difference.
Government inability to commit to 3% year on year carbon emissions
reductions amounts to nothing more than negligence!"
James Lloyd, Head of Campaigns, People & Planet

On the same weekend People & Planet are hosting a national conference,
Shared Planet. Over 800 students will come together to discuss
sustainable solutions for Climate Change, HIV/AIDS and Trade. Student
campaigners will get the opportunity to pose tough questions to Justin
Forsyth, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister and Jo Swinson, Britain's
youngest MP. The conference will also see the launch of People &
Planet's newest campaigns: Treat AIDS Now and Ditch Dirty Development.