Last Wednesday, I was very excited to hear about the launch of the 10:10 project. The swanky bash at the Tate Modern was a call to arms; everyone should come along, make a pledge to cut their carbon emissions by 10% in 2010, and if they were really lucky, nab a free glass of champagne and a funky 10:10 ‘tag’ while they were at it.
Unfortunately, my dissertation on anti-smoking campaigns has recently halted anything sociable or vaguely interesting in my life (other than the occasional stroll to the library, lucky me), so I didn’t make it to the launch. But in one of my many moments of procrastination, I thought I would do some reading on said project, hoping to share some gems of information with you. However, it all seems a bit confusing (and I’m sure it’s not entirely down to the current dissertation-fried state of my brain). So here are the ten things that have baffled me the mostest (and if I don’t get to ten, please blame advertising agencies and the NHS, not me).
The famous chimney of the Tate Modern formed the backdrop for the 10:10 launch
1. If everyone is so keen to make their pledge, why did the Guardian refer to the people at the launch as “the large crowd who had gathered to hear the band Reverend and the Makers”? Surely it was the mission at hand rather than the free music and champagne that tempted people along?
2. But what if I’m already a vegan/car-less/holiday-at-home/shop-local/wear-lots-of-jumpers/switch-my-plugs off kind of person – how do I make the 10% cut? Unlike Pete Postlethwaite, I can’t fit a wind turbine in my garden…
3. With less than 100 days to Copenhagen, will it have the desired (or any) impact on negotiations there?
4. Does anyone else find it ironic that Ed Miliband pledged his personal 10% cut…on a videocall from India? Still, I guess if it was for another launch he might have flown back instead.
5. How will these cuts be measured? If you pledge and don’t meet your target do you get sentenced to community service planting trees or sorting compost?
6. Would anyone even really know about it if it wasn’t being supported (and therefore extensively reported on) by the Guardian?
7. There are plenty of ‘carbon experts’ saying that this is a bad idea: short-term measures instead of long-term solutions, and fears that it might just be too much of a tall order. But Lord Stern likes it, so can someone please tell me who to listen to?
8. Why do I keep going back to the 10:10 website, even though its rolling counter of supporting organisations keeps causing my computer to crash?
9. Jon McClure from Reverend and the Makers has offered to buy a pint for anyone who makes it to 20%. Surely it’s worth us all trying just to see the look on his face when he has to fork out for pints for half of London…
10. Ok, I’ve run out. But the point is that with all these questions, I haven’t joined the 11,296 people who have already signed up. Of course I’m going to try and use less electricity, fly less often and keep eating British fruit and veg, but I have no idea whether this will get me to a 10% reduction. I guess I could purchase an ‘Eco Showerdrop’ shower meter (which the Guardian shop handily advertises next to its article), but for now, I think I’ll sit firmly on the fence – as long as said fence has room for my laptop.