Is it time to kick fossil fuels out of politics?

With 2016 is set to be the hottest year on record and a climate sceptic elected to the White House, the need for stronger action on climate change is more urgent than ever.

We know that the majority of reserves of fossil fuels need to stay in the ground if we are to avoid the worst effects of climate change, but oil, coal and gas are expected to remain part the global energy mix for at least the next decade. Alongside this, the fossil fuel industry continues to receives over $5 trillion in subsidies every year, whilst its funding of renewable energy remains a small part of its long-term business model.

In this event, we will explore whether and how the power of the fossil fuel lobby slows down action on climate change, and what that influence might look like in the UK political system. We will also hear from campaigners about how we can challenge that influence, and invite participants to share their own ideas and questions on whether to kick fossil fuels out of politics, and how best to do so.

We know that to stop the worst of climate change, almost all of the known reserves of fossil fuels must stay in the ground. Despite this fact, the fossil fuel industry continues with business as usual. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, we will blow the 1.5 target created in Paris within three years without a step change in global action. Is it time to look for ways to radically reduce the influence of the fossil fuel sector within our politics?

APPCCG chair Caroline Lucas MP will bring together a panel of speakers for an interactive discussion on conducting ‘fossil free politics’, discussing the reasons for pursuing it and how to implement it in practice.

Register here!

Chair:

Caroline Lucas MP

Speakers:

Tamasin Cave, Director, Spinwatch

Shelagh Whitley, Head of Programme – Climate and Energy Programme, Overseas Development Institute

Dylan Tanner, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Influence Map

Dani Paffard, Campaigner, 350.org

Daniel Vockins, Director of Campaigns, New Economics Foundation