Climate Crisis Update Evening with Trevor Hocking & Greenpeace

On Thursday 20th, BFoE was joined by Trevor Hocking PHD and Greenpeace to provide us with an update on the state of the climate crisis. We were fortunate to be in the company of locals and activists who were eager to listen to Trevor share his expertise. The discussion explored the origins of the climate emergency, scientific proof to back the claims, and a breakdown of the differing approaches of the USA, China, and Europe, as well as here in Birmingham itself. The lecture also shed light on the developments of COP 30 and advice on interacting with climate deniers. Here are some key takeaways and statistics from the talk: • 2024 was the hottest year on record, with escalating evidence that climate change is already here, such as the recent disasters in Jamaica and the Philippines. • EU countries are legally committed to a climate neutral economic transition by 2050. China has invested heavily in the production of renewables and green technology. The USA is scaling down on climate policies and deprioritising climate action. • Locally, Birmingham has set a goal to reach net zero carbon by 2030 but does not have a clear action plan in place. • Global attempts are failing to deliver effective results in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with nationally delivered commitments (NDCs) delivering less than the emission reductions necessary to prevent 1.5° temperature rise. • COP 30 will focus on addressing the shortfall of these NDCs, increased financial support for the most vulnerable countries, and negotiating the possibility of a fossil fuel phaseout. The presentation was followed with time to network, catch up, and hear about Greenpeace’s recent Rosebank campaign. Apart from being a relaxed evening for socialising, the event was an important opportunity for the public to get crucial insight on recent local and international efforts to mitigate the climate emergency. In this age of misleading news and information overload, getting the facts from experts increases the accessibility to this crucial discussion on a topic that can often feel impossible to grasp. We thank Trevor, Greenpeace Birmingham and all those who attended. We cannot wait to host more events like this in future.