Highlight Story from the UK - COP event at the Islington Climate Centre

"In a little corner of north London a fortnight ago, 45 people made their way to the Islington Climate Centre for Climate Reality team UK's Evening of Community, Connection and Climate Action.

After a short welcome and some words from Anna Hyde, manager of ICC about the great work that goes on there, we kicked off the event with a recorded message from COP29 where our Europe branch team Gosia and Klara explained Climate Reality activity in Baku and some of the outcomes in week one.

Following on, CRL Jasmina Negrini explained 10 to a Million. The Climate Reality initiative that inspires and enables all CRLs to galvanise their communities with the Truth in 10 presentation. Join the 10 to a Million group on Reality Hub here to find out more.

This led perfectly into a specially adapted Truth in 10 delivered by our very own CRL Shooka Bidarian, environmental correspondent and winner of Al Gore's Alfredo Sirkis award, whose presentation included her fascinating climate journey and the political scenario in the US. The session concluded with a COP29 focussed Q&A by CRL Prof Mark Maslin.

Later in the evening, we highlighted two important UK campaigns, the Climate and Nature (CAN) Bill. This vital piece of legislation will enshrine in law the requirement that the government acts to protect both biodiversity and the climate. It’s critical that MPs vote for the CAN Bill at its second reading on 24 January. It’s the only way to make it a reality. Ask your local MP to back the CAN Bill here: https://www.zerohour.uk/ Thank you to CRL Carrie Cort bringing along the Zero Hour banner and placards all the way from Sussex! Attention next aptly onto the #StopRosebank campaign, as it was the final day of the case between environmentalists (Greenpeace and Uplift) and the oil industry in the Court of Session, Edinburgh about the reckless approval of Rosebank, the largest undeveloped oil and gas field in the UK by the last UK government. Please sign in support of the case here if you haven't already.

Talented singer-songwriter Vanessa Forero, and fellow band member guitarist Jack Pout drew the evening to a close with some fantastic live music."

Written by Versha Jones, UK Volunteer Coordinator