fbpx

A 10 metre tall inflatable carbon dinosaur will invade Edinburgh’s Bristo Square on Saturday 31 January 2009, as part of a series of stunts across Scotland [1]. The events, which range from giant footprints to a great wall of carbon aim to illustrate Scotland’s contribution to climate change.

Spanning from Edinburgh to Inverness, the events will visually demonstrate Scotland’s environmental impact relative to other countries, including China [2]. They will reveal that each person in Scotland has a jumbo carbon footprint compared to individuals in a host of other countries. The stunts are taking place as part of Friends of the Earth Scotland’s Big Ask Campaign for a tough Climate Change Bill at Holyrood.

Corinne Evans, Head of Campaigns at Friends of the Earth Scotland said:

“The current draft Climate Change Bill does not require significant cuts in Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions until 2020. This is much too late – we simply don’t have any time to waste in tackling dangerous climate change.”

The visual representation will vary from city to city, with a giant inflatable carbon dinosaur towering over Edinburgh’s Bristo Square to walls of carbon representing CO2 tonnes in Glasgow, Kirkcaldy and Inverness.

The public and local MSPs will be invited to sign and comment on a climate graffiti wall, which will be presented to politicians later in the year.

The Big Ask Scotland campaign is calling on the Scottish Government to ensure cuts in climate emissions are made as soon as possible, especially since developing countries with the smallest carbon footprints are often the places that will bear the worst effects of climate change.

ENDS

Media contact: Corinne Evans, Head of Campaigns, Friends of the Earth Scotland Tel: 07711 855821, cevans@foe-scotland.org.uk

NOTES

[1] The stunts will take place at:
–    Kirkcaldy – Farmer’s Market, 9-1pm
–    Falkirk – Christian Centre, Glebe Street,  10am-1.30pm
–    Edinburgh – Bristo Square, 10.30am-2pm
–    Glasgow – Buchanan Street (by Donald Dewar statue) 11am
–    Inverness – Marks and Spencer back entrance, Eastgate 10am

[2] Each stunt will compare the CO2 emissions produced per person per year between Scotland and 3 other countries as follows:

Malawi – 0.7
China – 3.9
Sweden – 7.4
Scotland – 11.0

Friends of the Earth Scotland exists to help people in Scotland look after the planet for everyone’s future. We think globally and act locally in Scotland, delivering solutions to the problem of climate change by enabling and empowering people to take both individual and collective action. We offer help to people with the big things in life – helping to sustain a healthy society and environment. We believe that all of our children’s futures will be better because of what we do. Friends of the Earth Scotland is an independent Scottish charity SC003442.