Naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough will address the first UK-wide citizens’ assembly on climate change tomorrow (Saturday 25th January) in Birmingham to thank the 110 members of the public for taking part.
The assembly members will give up four weekends between January and March 2020 to discuss questions around how the UK meet the Government’s legally binding target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.
Sir David is releasing a video message on Climate Assembly UK’s social media about the assembly on Friday 24th January. Speaking ahead of his appearance at the assembly, Sir David said:
“I am grateful to the 110 people from all corners of the United Kingdom who are giving up their weekends to take part in this very important discussion of how we in the UK reach our net zero emissions target. These people have been picked to represent our population as a whole, they come from all walks of life, and together they will deliberate carefully on behalf of us all. We should listen closely to their recommendations.”
In addition to Sir David’s involvement during the first weekend, over 20 prominent business, faith and civil society leaders from across the UK have engaged in Climate Assembly UK and have released comments, available from the Assembly’s website.
Sir David’s speech at the assembly is separate to the talks on how to reach net zero the assembly members will hear from experts and stakeholders. Sir David is speaking to assembly members to express gratitude to them for giving their time to take part and give his reflections on climate change. However, he will not give any view on how the UK should get to net zero.
Assembly members, selected to represent the UK’s population, have agreed to commit a significant amount of time and energy to hear expert evidence and deliberate on a wide range of topics such as transport, energy use in the home, agriculture and consumer choices. There will be a report to Parliament in April 2020. The Assembly was commissioned by six parliamentary committees to give Parliament and Government an understanding of the public’s views on how the UK should reach net zero emissions by 2050. The committees will be able to use the report to continue the dialogue and make recommendations to Government.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Opportunities for interview: From approximately 5:30pm on Saturday there is an opportunity to interview experts, panel speakers and assembly organisers, on content and process. Please direct all inquiries regarding attendance at any part of Saturday afternoon or evening to Tom Howard-Vyse t: 07920 269 477 e: [email protected]
A press pack with operational details and basic information will be provided to journalists arriving at the venue.
Additional quotes available from the Climate Assembly UK website
Weekend itinerary: This has been shared on the Assembly website with a full list of speakers. https://www.climateassembly.uk/meetings/january-24/
Broadcast:
- Climate Assembly UK will be live streamed on www.climateassembly.uk It will not be embedded for streaming elsewhere, but it may be possible to fulfil some clip and still requests on the day. Please note Sir David’s address to the assembly (7pm) will not be live streamed, but there will be limited access available for broadcasters. Contact Tom Howard-Vyse (above) for info and accreditation.
- Clips: if they can be turned around to your deadline on the day – can be requested from SwitchNewMedia and will be transferred to you by USB: Richard Jolly (Head of production) [email protected] / 077 6763 3563 or Diarmaid Lynch [email protected] / 079 2150 0293
- Stills: SwitchNewMedia can fulfil these requests by email on the day. Images taken through the by PA will also be available.
Climate Assembly UK press releases are available from the Climate Assembly UK website:
· Information about the 110 assembly members, released on 22 January 2020
· Information on the advisory and academic panels, released on 9 January 2020
· Parliament sends 30,000 invitations for citizens’ assembly on climate change, released on 2 November 2019
www.climateassembly.uk | Twitter: @NetZeroUK | Instagram: @NetZeroUK | Facebook
Image: "David Attenborough's 'Great Barrier Reef'" by Mark Tipple is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0