10:10 - a modern Noah's Ark!

At times the launch of 10:10 felt like a modern Noah’s Ark. Ten councils, ten celebrities, ten schools, ten businesses – all aboard the Camden-flagged Good Ship Franny Armstrong to save the human race from itself. As Pete Postlethwaite's character says in Franny’s climate change film, ‘The Age of Stupid’: "We wouldn't be the first life form to wipe itself out. But what would be unique about us is that we did it knowingly."

We are the most intelligent creatures ever to evolve on this planet, the first to understand that the issues now facing us have the capacity to destroy us, and the first with the potential to use our big brains to change our destiny before it's too late. But will we?

We have wasted many years having our heads muddled by climate change deniers. If you listen to those who actually study climate change, there is no disagreement – global warming is manmade, it is happening frighteningly fast, and if we carry on along our current trajectory, then life as we know it will become untenable. And we probably have only 5-10 years to do something about it.

That’s why I went into politics, but it’s hard work persuading most politicians to look over the parapet past the next election. We have no Churchills among our current crop of national politicians and for most of us here in the UK it’s hard to see the evidence that climate change will be so destructive in the years to come.

It’s easy for politicians to set long-term targets because most will not be in positions of power when the target dates come round. 10% in 2010 is far more ambitious and much harder to avoid. It’s a big ask, but, according to scientists, it’s the sort of real ask we need to be aiming for if we are to prevent runaway climate change.

We in Camden should be incredibly proud that this campaign is Camden-born. Franny Armstrong (see photo of her and Pete Postlethwaite) deserves an Oscar for her film ‘The Age of Stupid’ and a Nobel Prize for launching 10:10.

There are plenty of things we can do to prevent runaway climate change – as individuals, as communities and as nations. 10:10 is a great start. I urge you all to sign up and to persuade your friends and families, the organisations and businesses you work for, and the politicians you vote for to sign up as well. The ultimate aim of this campaign is to persuade the UK government to pledge a 10% cut in our national emissions at the United Nations climate change negotiations in Copenhagen in December. If we can, and they can, then so can every government.

Together we can make a difference. Before it’s too late.