I’ve been involved in Brighton and Hove 10:10 since of a few of us got together at the end of last year, inspired by the national 10:10 campaign, a love of our city and a desire to get something tangible off the ground to reduce carbon emissions in Brighton and Hove. I’d also just watched “The Age of Stupid” film, which really struck a chord.

To me it’s such a brilliant concept. We know the UK has to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide by 80% by 2050. If you start looking into how this might be achieved it looks pretty daunting. The 10:10 campaign is a sensible start, involving no sanctimonious finger-wagging or massive personal sacrifices. It’s an attractive option for most people: clear, inclusive, engaging and helps us to start thinking about measurable changes – not just a few high-profile initiatives.

The launch today, in the iconic setting of the Royal Pavilion in the sunshine, was great, and the culmination of lots of hard work from the team, who were all out in force. Eugenie Harvey, director of the national 10:10 campaign came along. She said Brighton and Hove is one of the leading 10:10 cities, and talked about the campaign creating a real mainstream groundswell of action, bringing people together from all sections of society towards achievable and meaningful reductions in carbon.

We’ve spent the past few months consulting people and businesses, developing the campaign to suit Brighton and Hove, and recruiting special 10:10 pioneers to help spread the word. It was great to see so many there today, including the council leadership, Mary Mears, John Barradell and Ayas Fallon Khan, and a lovely cross section of businesses, families, individuals and representatives from different organisations, including: Oliver Heath, Flemmich Webb, Anya Ledwith, Sally Barnard, Rachel Cottam, Olu Eligbe and David Brindley from the PCT, Jason Mannix from Brighton Pier, Jude Badger and Deana Ward from Brighton University, Nick Hutchinson, Charlie Allesbrook from the Business Community Partnership, Olivia from Terre a Terre and many others I didn’t get chance to meet. People I did talk to were interested, enthusiastic and keen to get more involved in the project as it moves forward over the year.

A reduction of 10% is achievable by most people and organisations, and the campaign stimulates us to think differently and look at what we’re wasting. It’s mad when you really start to look even superficially – we’re spending money to light already lit areas, to heat outdoors, to cool areas we’re paying to heat.

The Brighton and Hove 10:10 campaign brings people together from all walks of life to share experience and be part of the solution, and I’ve really enjoyed being part of the journey so far. Over the next few weeks we’ll be training the pioneers, working on helping people with measuring their 10%, tracking down case studies and good ideas to share on the website, looking out for people who need a bit of help and generally boosting the campaign across town. Our lovely website http://www.brightonandhove1010.org/ went live this week. Have a look – and please join in!

This blog appears on the national site too http://www.1010uk.org/

April 2010