Crowds flock to our climate change conference last year

THE COP28 climate conference opened in in Dubai yesterday (Thursday).

Leaders from around the world arrived for the summit, an event ostensibly aimed at mobilising international action to limit climate change.

But with every passing week the proceedings are brought into further disrepute.

This week BBC climate editor Justin Rowlatt reported on leaked documents that reveal the United Arab Emirates planned to use the conference as a way of securing fossil fuel deals for its state oil company, Adnoc.

Mr Rowlatt, who joined the Tribune’s London COP live from the international summit in Egypt last year, reports the COP president Dr Sultan al-Jaber had been instructed to forge business deals during summit meetings with delegates from around the world.

As international climate talks are being hijacked for commercial gain, the importance of local, grassroots action is brought into sharp relief.

That is why the Islington Tribune and Camden New Journal are running a FREE London COP climate festival next Saturday (December 9) at the London Irish Centre.

We believe a genuinely independent, campaigning local newspaper like ours has a key role to play in facilitating civilised debate and discussion and ultimately mobilising meaningful climate action.

Prime minister Rishi Sunak has flown off to Dubai – he should have just come to the LDN COP

The world-leading economist Mariana Mazzucato – whose thought has inspired progressive political parties across Europe – will be among those joining us on the day to discuss her book Mission Economy: A Moonshot Guide to Changing Capitalism.

And, due to our commit­ment to open debate from all sides, Roger Hallam, the co-founder of Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil, will be there to talk about the future of protest, along with climate lawyer Oliver Wainwright and protester Anna Holland who famously threw tomato soup at the protective frame of Vincent van Gogh’s £76million painting, Sunflowers, last year.

We will also be discussing the intersecting issues of climate emergency and the housing crisis with Anna Minton, author of Big Capital, a hard-hitting study of the origins of London’s housing crisis.

Ms Minton will be joined by social justice campaigner Kwajo Tweneboa, whose book Our Country in Crisis: Britain’s Housing Emergency and How We Rebuild will be published next year.

And rapper and filmmaker Louis VI will be there to talk about his innovative latest album, Earthling, which is filled with sounds from the natural world.

But that’s not all. For those looking to pick up some unique, eco-friendly gifts ahead of Christmas, Saturday is your chance: we are also running a special Christmas market showcasing the work of 40 independent, local sellers.

While the talks are running, you can pick up vintage clothes, art and design, ceramics and homeware, jewellery, festive food and plastic-free children’s toys made by some of the very best designers, visual artists and makers in the city.

With thanks to our sponsors at ASLEF, GEM, Wesley Hotel, Kings Cross Partnership, and the Fitzrovia Partnership for making this possible.