The climate emergency is a silent alarm that has not stopped ringing around the world. With each passing day, our actions or the lack of it are silently affecting us and our future generations.
Unfortunately, many don't even acknowledge the threats posed by climate change, very often due to lack of awareness and information. This is so even within the British Asian communities. Asian Voice in association with the Royal Air Force will host the Be The Change event to raise awareness of the threats posed by climate change on 26 May 2023 at the House of Lords.
The RAF are on a mission to reduce carbon emissions and achieve Net Zero by 2040, and will address the audience at this event about their goals and mission to mitigate climate change.
A panel of experts consisting of Dr Chamundeeswari Kuppuswamy, Pushpnath Krishnamurthy and Syed Ahmed and the moderator Alpesh Patel will throw light on the imminent crises facing us and bring into sharp focus the dangers posed by climate emergencies.
Alpesh Patel: We're managing a decline globally
Alpesh Patel, a leading authority on investing and entrepreneurship, invests in renewable energy, such as wind farms, and contributes to the fight against climate change. As a UK Government Dealmaker, Alpesh sources global tech companies that provide climate change solutions, including carbon capture.
Q: What has your experience of working with renewable energy and fighting for climate change policies helped you understand differently than a layman?
The speed at which the decline is accelerating, it was famously once said how did your demise occur? Somebody was asked and they said slowly at first and then very rapidly. And that's the issue with this and I think from the investment, my firm is made into biomass and wind turbines. What we've realised is the task is massive and the things that we are doing are, too little too late in most cases. On the positive side, at least we're doing them. The UK now has more energy from wind than it does from fossil fuels which is phenomenal. But at least we did it, and at least we're doing a little bit, we're managing a decline globally.
Q: Is the UK equipped to handle the current climate emergency?
I think what I saw from the UK were two things which made me an optimist. One is obviously COP and, UK's leadership and pushing on that strongly. Secondly, in particular, credit goes to Alok Sharma there. I first met him when he was trying to be an MP about 13 years ago.
So thank goodness he got the seat. And the second thing that the UK has is it's actually shown, thankfully not relying on Russian fuel and therefore energy security and also just how much offshore wind can feed into the grid. We're already doing it. It's incredible. So really pleased with, and I think a lot of that goes both to the Blair government and Brown and David Cameron's government as well, which has been then carried on. So I don't want to make a partisan point. I think both governments, both major parties and the smaller ones are all on the same page.
Dr Kuppuswamy: Knowledge of communities is still not harnessed for climate solutions
Dr Chamundeeswari Kuppuswamy leads interdisciplinary research into the Global Economy at the Office of the Vice-Chancellor at the University of Hertfordshire. She is a Convenorof the Environmental Law and Bio-law Interest Groups at the European Society of International Law.
An international public lawyer and author of the book The International Legal Governance of the Human Genome, she has published several articles and policy reports in international law. She has previously worked for the United Nations, and UNESCO, and currently works with the Hertfordshire Climate Change and Sustainability Partnership on the county's climate actions. A trained and qualified ranger from the Peak District National Park, England, Chamu is the recipient of various awards, including the University of Sheffield Centenary Achievement Award, the UK National Parks Volunteers award, and was listed in The Independent's Happy 100, for being one of the top hundred people in the UK for enhancing the lives of others (through diversity in the outdoors). She is a trustee of Mosaic Outdoors.
Q: What has your experience of working with academic research helped you understand differently than a layman?
Once an academic it is difficult to put myself in the shoes of a layperson! But I shall try. There is a lot of material out there on climate change. The first thing I learn as an academic, about climate change, is that a lot of lives have been lost to the impacts of climate change, but there is still a possibility for this not to continue happening in the future. In other words, there is still reason for hope. There still are credible policy pathways using technology, traditional knowledge and informal know-how to reverse global warming. However, there are mistakes still being made and political manoeuvring happening which put hope in jeopardy. Climate change is a global problem and for large countries to reduce their emissions they need new technologies to be transferred to them, not sold to them. Climate change cannot be addressed by taking an aggressive market-based approach. Knowledge of communities is still not harnessed for climate solutions, and the non-inclusivity of knowledge is a huge problem. The Paris Agreement refers to 'best possible knowledge', in an effort to be inclusive of knowledge systems but this is not being implemented.
Q: Do you think the UK is equipped to handle the current climate emergency?
The UK has a first-mover advantage - we were the first ones to create a legal framework through the climate change Act. We saw a lot of action in COP26 under UK leadership. We are equipped with technology and solutions, but we still have policy gaps to fill. The UK Climate change committee has warned that for the period of 2033-2037, the UK might exceed the stipulated quota of CO2 equivalent emissions allowed from the UK. This is not good news for our net zero target plans for 2050, and consequently not good for reducing our contribution to global warming. We may be direct contributors to the predicted increase of up to 4-5 degrees Celsius, a very dangerous temperature for human life to thrive in. You mention climate emergency - many local councils have declared climate emergencies but are without powers to directly address them, without central government legislation to go with it. The UK will be fully equipped if this gap is filled.
Syed Ahmed: Excellent progress has also been made over the last decade
Syed Ahmed has over 20 years of experience working in the sustainable energy industry with a focus on decentralised energy issues, and the role of cities and climate change. He was worked for a diverse range of organisations from the environmental NGO sector to industry trade associations, and from the Mayor of London to the Department of Energy and Climate Change. In 2012 Syed established Energy for London, an independent research and campaigning organisation to support London’s journey to becoming a Net Zero city.
Syed is a Director of the All Party Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group (PRASEG), a Trustee for the national fuel poverty organisation National Energy Action (NEA), and a Board member of Solar Energy UK. In 2017 he helped establish Community Energy London, where he is currently the Chair, and was also appointed by the Mayor of London as a Commissioner of the London Sustainable Development Commission. Syed was awarded an OBE for his work in 2022.
Q: What has your experience of working with the sustainable energy industry helped you understand differently than a layman?
I think the public now has much greater awareness of the huge shift we are undergoing to the use of renewables to generate electricity to help combat climate change, but they may not fully recognise that we are only at the start of this transition.
As we move to a more modern, efficient and cleaner energy system we will be employing many more technologies, especially in our towns and cities, from rooftop solar, to energy storage, to the use of heat pumps to support the development of a smarter and more flexible electricity system. In addition, this urgency to develop more ‘homegrown’ renewable energy has come under additional focus in the past 18 months as a result of the situation in Ukraine and the impact this has had on energy prices. We need to understand that a greener energy system will also help deliver a more secure and cheaper energy system.
Q: Is the UK equipped to handle the current climate emergency?
The UK has set in place many of the key ‘building blocks’ to help the country respond to the challenge of the climate emergency, from introducing net zero legislation to creating a dedicated department on energy and climate policy. Excellent progress has also been made over the last decade in terms of decarbonising our electricity supplies. However, the pace of delivery in many other key areas remains unambitious, especially the drive to make our homes and workplaces more energy efficient which, at the current pace of delivery, will take several hundred years to complete. Also, much more needs to be done on decarbonising our heating supplies, adapting our environment to the impacts of climate change and supporting local authority action on reducing emissions.
Q: What can we as a community do to make sure we create a sustainable future for our offspring and their future generations to survive the climate crisis?
Many communities are already taking action to help reduce their climate impact.
We are seeing hundreds of groups across the country install solar panels on their schools, community centres and places of worship, as well as introducing programmes ranging from the provision of energy efficiency advice to households to delivering new green spaces or promoting alternatives to the use of cars.
In London, the Mayor and an increasing number of boroughs are responding to the passion and drive that many communities have in wanting to see their neighbourhoods become greener and are providing support and funding to local initiatives. We need to see much more of this collaboration between communities and policymakers to help unlock the full potential of local action. As individuals, we can champion local projects to our councils, volunteer with local groups or promote them to family and friends. And also invest in these projects when crowdfunding opportunities arise.
I think the public now has much greater awareness of the huge shift we are undergoing to the use of renewables to generate electricity to help combat climate change, but they may not fully recognise that we are only at the start of this transition.
As we move to a more modern, efficient and cleaner energy system we will be employing many more technologies, especially in our towns and cities, from rooftop solar, to energy storage, to the use of heat pumps to support the development of a smarter and more flexible electricity system. In addition, this urgency to develop more ‘homegrown’ renewable energy has come under additional focus in the past 18 months as a result of the situation in Ukraine and the impact this has had on energy prices. We need to understand that a greener energy system will also help deliver a more secure and cheaper energy system.
Pushpanath Krishnamurthy: No one is safe from climate change
Pushpanath Krishnamurthy is a renowned climate change activist, who has spent three decades at the leading edge of development work across three continents, with NGOs such as Oxfam and Save the Children, and as a Senior Associate at the Indian non-profit organisation, Centre for Social Markets and Fairtrade work in India.
He acquired legendary status for his pioneering work on campaigns, which allowed ordinary people to tell policymakers about their direct experiences of climate change.
In December 2009, Pushpanath embarked on his first long walk - his ‘Walk for Climate Justice’ - from Oxford, UK to Copenhagen, Denmark, to raise awareness of the issues of climate change and poverty in advance of the UN conference on climate change in Copenhagen, COP15.
In the more than a decade since his first walk to Copenhagen, he has taken almost 36 million steps and reached nearly 600,000 people directly.
In late 2021 Push undertook a mammoth walk from London to Glasgow for COP26. This follows from his most recent walk over 13 days in Zambia prior to COP27.
Q: What is the biggest highlight of climate change that the world needs to worry about?
No place, no one, and no country is safe from climate change's fierce and unrelenting impact. from floods, drought, fire, and cloud bursts to landslides. The poorest people, especially women get hit first, worst and hardest.
Q: What has your experience of working as an activist helped you understand differently than a layman?
The unpredictability and fatal impact have affected those who have caused the least amount of damage. Despite the negative impact even the most hurt reimagine a life of possibility and promise for climate justice. Many of them adapt to the situation within the limits of their ability. Promises of help from rich nations and the historical polluters are yet to be redeemed
There is a window of opportunities for changing it. Emission-driven growth is unsustainable and gas-plundered thus hurting the poorer nations, communities and women mist.
Q: Is the UK equipped to handle the current climate emergency?
Undoubtedly, we have the technology, and the resources, but no political will still support the fossil fuel lobby.
What can we as a community do to make sure we create a sustainable future for our offspring and their future generations to survive the climate crisis?
On my walk from Croydon to Glasgow I met more than 6,000 people. From upper crust to unemployed hosted me. I found unlike in 2009 when I walked across Europe there is now greater awareness, realisation and actions. Some councils even the poorer ones like Luton have declared a climate emergency.
RAF on a mission to reduce carbon emissions and achieve Net Zero by 2040
Subramaniam (who will be speaking at the BTC event), is an Air and Space Operations Manager, whose service in the last 15 years has predominantly been in the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS), Missile Warning (MW), Space Domain Awareness (SDA) and Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) field. Prior to joining the Royal Air Force in 1998, Subramaniam served in the Royal Engineers with 106 Field Squadron/12 Force (Air) Support Group, 36 Engineering Regiment.
On completion of Trade Training Subramaniam was posted to RAF Neatishead and subsequently to Buchan to perform Air Defence duties. In 2004 he was posted to the Maritime Component Command Northwood as the Recognised Maritime Intelligence Operator, working in N2/3 in a surface/sub-surface Intelligence Production Cell in support of Maritime Operations around the world.
In 2007 Subramaniam spent the next three years at Air Command Bunker dealing with pan-government resilience operations, he also gained Missile Warning Operator and Data Links Network Manager qualifications. In 2010, he was selected for an assignment to Buckley Air Force Base to the SBIRS programme; he qualified as a Systems Crew Chief. His duties involved supervising satellite operations and ground systems configurations in support of worldwide operations exploiting Overhead Persistent Infrared Constellation. He was then selected to lead Ops Group Training, Standard & Evaluation as a Flight Chief.
In 2014, Subramaniam was posted to RAF Fylingdales where he continued to use his SBIRS background and further develop MW and SDA knowledge and skills. On completion of the Ballistic Missile Early Warning Systems Course, he served as a Crew Chief before taking up the post of Deputy Plans and Mission Support Flight. Subramaniam moved to Air Command and spent a year in Air and Space Operations profession, where he was principally involved in all issues related to training and workforce requirements. In 2019, he was promoted and appointed as WO BMD and Link 16 in Air Capability delivering UK Ballistic Missile Defence and L16 upgrade program. During the Integrated Review, he was selected to assist the Chief of Staff Capability as Deputy Staff Officer.
In September 21, Subramaniam was appointed as the inaugural Command Warrant Officer to the United Kingdom Space Command. During his tenure, he also supported the Space Command Capability branch on SDA and Command and Control Systems delivery. In Mar 22, he was selected as the first RAF WO to attend the Command Senior Enlisted Staff Course at Baltic Defence College in Estonia. Subramaniam graduated with the Commandant’s Award for outstanding academics and leadership.
In Apr 23, he was appointed to his current role as Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force.
Subramaniam was educated in Malaysia until the age of 19, he earned a Bachelor of Law and a Diploma in Higher Education in Finance and Legal Studies. He is currently studying for his Master in Business Administration Risk and Resilience at Buckinghamshire New University.
Subramaniam is married to a Civil Servant who is currently employed at Air Command as an SO2 in HQ Reserves. They have a teenage daughter and a lively cocker spaniel. He is an active member of a Charity Foundation and a compulsive reader who enjoys rugby, hockey and cricket.
The RAF are on a mission to reduce carbon emissions and achieve Net Zero by 2040.
