Just Stop Oil risks “depriving the oxygen” of the important climate debate.
It has been claimed that Just Stop Oil’s civil disruption tactics could harm the campaign to create effective action to combat climate change.
With the UK’s net zero targets under threat and severe weather seen around the world, Professor Rupert Read, formerly of Extinction Rebellion, has helped found the Climate Majority Project.
The group aims to be an incubator for people and communities caught in the middle of the climate debate and who disagree with the “Just Stop Oil” and “Insulate Britain” tactics but believe action is needed to stop the rise in global temperatures.
Unlike both groups, the Climate Majority Project aims to act as a hub for funding programs across the country to combat climate change.
Just stop the oil protesters on Tower Bridge
/ Just stop the oil“The only thing that’s really important is that we make sure we’re not just talking about tactics all the time, right?
“Because if we do that then we miss the point, which is the absolute need to take effective action together and get people out of some kind of state of mind,” he said, she said, whining, complaining, etc , and into a state of mind , which means a lot more: let’s do it, let’s get together and make it happen,” he told the Standard.
“I would say there is a problem that environmentalism has become so closely linked in people’s minds to Just Stop Oil.
“There is a risk that the oxygen will be sucked out of other things.”
Over the summer, Just Stop Oil launched a series of protests against London Pride, the Chelsea Flower Show, the Gallagher Premiership rugby final in Twickenham, the World Snooker Championship and the second Ashes Test at Lord’s.
There have been over 2,000 arrests since February 14, 2022. In July, the Met said it had spent more than £7.7million in a 13-week campaign to deal with the group.
The protests drew harsh criticism across the political spectrum, with Sir Keir Starmer calling the protesters “despicable”.
Professor Read added: “It’s not until we get to that stage where people start to notice and hear some of it, to be a part of it, or to feel a part of it, or at least to be able to think about it being a part of it are majority-style activities will not immediately associate environmental actions in their mind with things like “Just Stop Oil”.
“For most people, Just Stop Oil tactics are not what they want, and we are here for anyone who doesn’t want Just Stop Oil tactics.”
The Climate Majority Project opposes civil disobedience and hopes to raise funds from investors to help citizens and communities tackle climate change.
The group has already partnered with Lawyers for Net Zero, Wild Card, a land rewilding group, and Community Climate Action. This group provides a template for creating a local climate action plan together with your community.
As the group says in its founding statement, “The time has come for the final warnings on climate.” For 20 years, there has been “just enough time” to avert a catastrophe, but dangerous emissions continue to rise.
“Most scientists now privately admit that we are headed for over 1.5°C of overheating – the danger zone they warned our leaders never to enter.” The question now is how many preventable disasters are we going to have allow?
“Now is the time to mainstream ambitious action on climate and nature. No one’s children will be better off if we continue to fail—rich or poor, corporate or counterculture. We must help each other to cope with our situation.
“Knowing that we are not alone gives us the confidence to do our part. As it is a much larger plan. Then a majority can become an irresistible political force.”
In response, a spokesman for Just Stop Oil said: “The climate crisis is rapidly spiraling out of control and governments are not taking urgent action to protect their citizens.”
“So yes, we need everyone to stand up and make better demands, and we need to find ways to protect ourselves from what’s coming.” But history has shown that nonviolent civil resistance is the most effective way governments can act to force.
“While there is always room for different approaches in the climate movement, Just Stop Oil is about empowering ordinary people to take action that is commensurate with the scale of the crisis we face.”
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/just-stop-oil-protest-insulate-britain-london-climate-majority-project-environment-b1106070.html Just Stop Oil risks “depriving the oxygen” of the important climate debate.
