Public Servant Lifestyle

Environment Agency declares it's high time to 'stand up' to the perils of climate change.

Comedy and climate change may seem like the unlikeliest of couples, but to mark World Environment Day 2008 the Environment Agency has teamed up with award winning comedian Jon Richardson to help raise awareness of climate change through laughter.

Stand up to climate change – time for a new routine is an Environment Agency campaign supporting the United Nation’s World Environment Day - which takes place every 5th of June.

A comedy routine by BBC6 Music presenter and Chortle Awards 'Best Break Through Act of 2008', Jon Richardson, can be seen on the Environment Agency website in a campaign promoting the need to prepare for climate change.

Speedos

Jon said: “There is a generally held belief that climate change in Britain will amount to a long awaited rise in summer temperatures and nothing else. To be safe, I have bought myself some nice new speedos, but there is a lot more happening than that.

“This campaign is all about asking people to identify one thing that they’ll do to get ready for climate change. It could be taking steps to become flood-proof or saving water; both help deal with extreme and unpredictable weather. Changes in climate are happening too quickly for some species to adapt, so providing habitats for wildlife can give a helping hand. Or you might want to train as an emergency response volunteer, so you can help others in a crisis, like a flood.

“Of course, it’s still very important that people cut down on their emissions. But however good we are at that, there is still some degree of climate change inevitable over the next 30-40 years which we need to be ready for. That’s why we’re encouraging people to prepare for climate change, as well as slow it down.”

Paul Leinster, Acting Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, said: “There’s a growing myth that we have to choose between stabilising our climate through reducing emissions or, if we don’t do that, learning to adapt to the consequences. That is simply not the case; we need to be doing both.

Summer Floods

“The summer floods of 2007 and the drought of 2006 are pointers to what most scientists agree will be characteristic of our future climate. There’s lots of things people can do to prepare and that’s what we’re helping to show them.”

Jon Richardson’ comedy sketch was performed live at the Cardiff Glee Club. The full routine can be found online on the Environment Agency’s World Environment Day website, alongside advice on practical ways to prepare for climate change.

For more information on the campaign visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wed

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