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An environmental campaign supported by various recognizable figures from politics, business, and culture is preparing to begin next week. Through this movement, the majority of individuals in the UK who are keen to take more urgent steps to tackle the climate and ecological emergency can be mobilized.
The Climate Majority initiative is likely to employ a more restrained method for advocating for change, in contrast to the tactics of organizations like Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion, whose disruptive protests have been met with crackdowns from the government in the form of new anti-protest laws and a combination of both criticism and approval from the public.
The goal of those in charge of the new project is to emphasize the effects of climate change in the community by having local events and "resilience groups". They believe the UK is on the verge of having a huge movement about climate change since more and more people are "realizing the gravity of the situation".
It is contended that greater frankness regarding the magnitude of the climate emergency and the difficulties lying ahead is essential to promote action that reduces emissions and improves our resistance to the deteriorating effects. They assert that the opportunity to restrict global warming to 1.5C has already been "lost".
Climate Majority suggests that a growing "middle ground" of British voters are becoming increasingly conscious of the pressing climate emergency and are eager to assist in making sure that positive steps towards confronting climate hazards become a part of a common culture, policy, and the media.
The focus is on uniting people and forming a community across political, social, and strategic boundaries to take collective action. The initiative aims to create a climate-concerned majority that will push for serious climate action, despite the resistance from authorities.
Set to inaugurate at an event in London next week, a founding mission statement of the initiative is available on its website, with support from renowned campaigners in sports, climate science, politics, economics, drama, television, literature, and business.
Expressing trepidation, many people are not voicing their opinion, the statement reads. Thus, the majority's strength is concealed. It is now time for the climate majority to make their perspective known.
Chris Packham, who is a TV presenter; Carice von Houten, an actor from 'Game of Thrones', and Michael Rosen, a children's author, are supporting the cause, as well as Lewis Pugh, a long-distance swimmer; Kat Copeland, an Olympic gold medal rower, Etienne Stott, a canoe Olympic gold medallist, and Anna Turney, a Paralympian for winter sports.
Juliet Davenport, the originator of Good Energy, and Dale Vince, the creator of Ecotricity and the chairman of Forest Green Rovers Football Club, expressed their approval of the statement.
Renowned climate scientists Mike Berners-Lee, Kevin Anderson, and Saleem Huq, distinguished economists Ann Pettifor and Kate Raworth, celebrated environmentalist Sir Jonathan Porritt, and famous psychiatrist and author Iain McGilchrist have all lent their support to the new organization.
Lord John Randall - an ex-environment adviser to PM Theresa May - and Geoff Mulgan, who was director of policy during Tony Blair's premiership, are among the political figures endorsing the new movement.
Recent polling from YouGov, conducted on behalf of The Sun, revealed that 65 per cent of those surveyed endorse the UK's goal of net zero emissions by 2050, while only 19 per cent showed opposition. This means that there is a net support of 46 per cent.
The research, which questioned over two thousand British adults, demonstrated net approval for the target from all three main political parties. Net backing among Labour and Liberal Democrat voters was 72%, and 23% among Conservative voters.
Prohibiting new oil and gas drilling licenses for the North Sea drew an even split opinion between those in favour and those against, with 39 per cent on either side. Nevertheless, most Labour and Liberal Democrat voters supported the idea (60 and 55 per cent, respectively), in contrast to the 25 per cent of Conservative voters in favour.
The beginnings of Climate Majority point out various climate changes occurring in the UK, for instance, the summer of 2019's historic high of 40C and more regular flooding. Although these occurrences may be associated with climate change, people may still be unaware that "most people have similar worries".
The founding statement says that now is the time for us to take on the challenge of climate and nature in a big way. No matter your financial status or the side of the spectrum you fall on, our children will not benefit if we fail to do our part. Knowing we are all together gives us the courage to be part of the solution. When we all contribute, a powerful political force is created.
Two co-directors, Rupert Read and Liam Kavanagh, are at the group's helm. Read is a professor of philosophy at the University of East Anglia and a previous spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion. At the same time, Kavanagh is a cognitive and social scientist looking into the best ways to inspire people to take action against climate change. In addition, there are about a dozen volunteers.
It is predicted that the future of climate action will encompass many small-scale initiatives. These initiatives are already in the works; people everywhere are taking action and influencing governments to make changes.