A Green Plan B

Donna Hume

18 February 2011

To tell you the truth, I'm quite excited about getting up early tomorrow. Even though it's a Saturday morning. Even though, as my other half keeps telling me, it's sort of work.

So what's getting me out of bed when usually I'd be sipping coffee and stroking my slightly mangy rescue cat?

Friends of the Earth will be joining dozens of other fantastic organizations and speakers, and hundreds of people at the Progressive London conference tomorrow, speaking on a issue dear to my heart:

A Green Plan B - Why we need a low carbon strategy out of recession

So why I am so excited? It's not just because I'm a geeky campaigner, I promise. It's because of the massive opportunity we have to both save the planet and get us out of this economic mess.

• JOBS. A make-over of the nations homes to end cold times for millions of families would create thousands of jobs and cut climate-changing emissions.
• GROWTH. We urgently need growth in the economy. The industries of the future - sun, wave, and wind energy - sit waiting to be tapped.
• CASH. We shouldn't have to spend so much on energy - allowing us to generate our own green energy would slash our bills.

It's events like this where we can learn from those already leading the low-carbon way out of recession.

From the Bolivians, who stood up for the planet at the recent climate talks, to inspiring cities like San Francisco making use of the technologies of the future.

It's events like this that bring together new people and ideas - increasing the power of voices calling for change.

And so as I register at the conference tomorrow morning - sipping my coffee with fellow activists instead of my cat - I know we'll be one step closer to a Plan B that works for people and the planet.

You can find details and register here