Is climate action at a tipping point?

We’ve seen victory after victory this week and that’s just the major iconic battles. Not only have Eon and BAA thrown in the towel on Kingsnorth and Heathrows third runway, but also the rejection of the proposed agrofuels power stations Portland, Dorset and in Southall, Ealing last month.

Today we hear that the plug has been pulled on Hunsterson in Scotland. The proposals there were to build a 1,600 MW plant at next to British Energy’s nuclear plant and deep water port facilities. However the funders of the project have now pulled out.

“Due to the financial situation, which affects Dong Energy especially on the power production side – due to less sale and falling prices – Dong Energy has decided to strengthen its capital structure, which includes reducing investments in the coming years.”

Although the recession is obviously playing a large roll in all of this, it appears that the dominos are falling and climate activism reaching a tipping point in momentum. Lets hope we become unstoppable before catastrophic climate change does.

Tipping Point
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Comments

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what does it mean to win...

12.10.2009 13:43

capitalism is still here mate, regardless of your climate activism

why

12.10.2009 14:28

I find the comments such as the one above really weird. I am primarily involved in animal liberation campaigning, but try to follow (and where possible get involved with) other social justice movements. What I have seen this week with the environmental movement is amazing! So why do people sit around on Indymedia moaning about what other people have failed to achieve (when those they moan about have achieved an incredible amount) rather than getting out and doing what they feel needs to be done themselves? Obviously climate victories aren't going to overthrow capitalism, but I don't think that was ever the stated aim.

Get off the computer, and I'll see you on the streets!

Jim

no revolution on a dead planet

12.10.2009 14:42

capitalism is still here

how much longer will life still be here if we await the revolution before acting?

small but important correction

12.10.2009 15:02

There is indeed good news about Hunterston; one of the two investors (Dong) have pulled out. However, Peel Energy claim they are still planning to go ahead:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8302913.stm

Looks like npower, Scottish Power and Peel are now emerging as the main culprits still hoping to build new coal power stations:

http://coalintheuk.org/new/

jo vwx

Heathrow

12.10.2009 15:05

First I knew BAA had thrown in the towel on Heathrow third runway!

Keith

Re: what does it mean to win

12.10.2009 17:03

I suppose there's no point in campaigning against anything then, while capitalism's still here?

It's not like climate change, the arms trade or vivisection are affecting people, animals and the climate now, we should just wait until after the revolution.

*rolleyes*

Kia

What does it mean to win?

14.10.2009 12:21

These are important but temporary or limited victories. By all means celebrate, but the powers of darkness will be back, either to revive their original shit or come up with something even worse. The cancellation of the early 1990s road programme in the face of persistent activists making it all too expensive is a previous example worth learning from.

Yes capitalism still reigns, but how do we demolish it? By taking out a brick at a time wherever we can find one loose? By fantasising about what we could do with a bulldozer if we had one? By sitting around waiting for it to fall down of its own accord? I'll opt for the first.

We shouldn't undervalue our achievements, but a rational distinction between them and the temporary amelioration of bad stuff through the bankers cock-ups is required.

Stroppyoldgit