the-BA : Click for the Climate

How many scientists does it take to change a light bulb?

Prime Minister Tony Blair will be turning down his thermostat, Olympic athlete Colin Jackson will be taking the train instead of flying and TV scientist Professor Robert Winston is going without his car. Why? They are all joining in Click for the Climate and promising to reduce their energy consumption over National Science Week.

National Science Week (10- 19 March) begins today, and this year as part of the ten day celebration of science, people across the UK are being invited to pledge to make a small change to their lives during the week – and make a big difference to climate change. By taking part in Click for the Climate, they will be joining broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, and Britain's most successful Paralympic Athlete Dame Tanni Grey Thompson.

Click for the Climate, launched by the BA and the Economic & Social Research Council in association with CRed (the Carbon Reduction Programme at the University of East Anglia), is an online pledge, allowing people to see how much they will reduce their carbon dioxide emission by and how much has been pledged across the country.

‘Climate change is already happening and we must take immediate action to reduce our energy consumption if we are to stop potential catastrophe,’ says Frances Cairncross, President of the BA and Chair of ESRC. ‘People don’t always realise that even the smallest of actions can make a difference. Just as “pennies make pounds”, so switching off your TV at the button instead of leaving it on standby, or walking to school instead of getting a lift, could help save thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide if everyone took similar steps.’

Reducing the amount of carbon dioxide produced either directly by ourselves or by our power stations can help reduce the amount of ‘greenhouse gases’ which contribute towards climate change.

‘Last year, over half a million people took part in National Science Week,’ says Roland Jackson, Chief Executive of the BA, which coordinates National Science Week. ‘If they all just replaced one ordinary light bulb in their home with an energy saving bulb, then National Science Week would have cut down carbon dioxide emissions by over 240 tonnes. People say they can’t make a difference – this shows that they clearly can!’

Take part in “Click for the Climate” now!

And if you’ve decided to replace your light bulbs at home with energy-saving, National Science Week is the time to do it – we’re working with three of the major supermarkets to offer energy-saving bulbs at a special price. Find out more here.

At the end of National Science Week, everyone who has participated in “Click for the Climate” will be invited to join CRed so that they may continue – and develop further – their carbon dioxide reductions.

‘“Click for the Climate” is an excellent way to make people realise how they can reduce their carbon dioxide emissions,’ says Dr Simon Gerrard, Manager of CRed. ‘We see it as the start of their own personal journey to a lower carbon future. CRed will offer them support and advice along this journey. Significantly reducing our carbon dioxide emissions is something we can achieve if we try.’

National Science Week 2006, which this year incorporates ESRC Social Science Week, will take place from 10-19 March. Over 500,000 people are expected to take part in 1,500 events throughout the UK. For more information about National Science Week and Social Science Week 2006, including free activity packs and an online programme, visit the National Science Week website.

National Science Week is funded by the Department of Trade & Industry and is sponsored by BP and the Economic & Social Research Council.

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