Cambridgeshire organisation launches radical response to climate emergency

Cambridge, UK – Thursday 13th June: In the wake of government inaction over the climate emergency, a new organisation is launching to provide an effective disaster response to the current climate emergency. Called “Cambridgeshire Climate Emergency”, the independent group will create a network of “Emergency Control Centres” across Cambridgeshire to coordinate community action and drive forward rapid action on climate change.

Stefan Haselwimmer, founder of Cambridgeshire Climate Emergency (CCE), said: “It’s been almost four months since Cambridge City Council declared a climate emergency, and one month since Cambridgeshire County Council did the same. If we’re serious about responding to the climate emergency, where are the emergency control centres?”

CCE’s plan is to create a network of community-driven emergency control centres with “situation maps” that show the latest data, such as CO2 emissions and possible flood risks. The goal of the maps will be to provide focus, drive urgency and increase public engagement. CCE also hopes to coordinate community-driven action to reduce carbon emissions so that best practice is shared and different regions can collaborate to deliver large-scale low-carbon projects.

An example “Situation Map”

The idea for CCE was inspired by Stefan’s own experience launching the Cambridge Refugee Resettlement Campaign in 2015. “At the height of the refugee crisis, we helped bring the community together to achieve practical action on refugee resettlement. The idea behind Cambridgeshire Climate Emergency is to build a similar ‘People Power Grid’ that empowers communities to achieve rapid action on climate change.”

To help build the “People Power Grid”, CCE is asking individuals across Cambridgeshire to register with CCE as “Climate Leaders” in their communities. CCE will provide training and support to all Climate Leaders who sign up.

CCE is also pushing for a democratically inclusive approach to the climate emergency and will be creating a “Regional Citizens Assembly for Cambridgeshire”, following a CCE proposal presented to Cambridge City Council on 20th May.

To register with Cambridgeshire Climate Emergency, go to http://camemergency.org or follow CCE on Twitter at @CambsEmergency

Contact:

Stefan Haselwimmer
Founder, Cambridgeshire Climate Emergency

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Calling for an effective emergency response to the current climate crisis