London Climate Hearing

London is one of the most influential cities in the world - but is it doing enough to tackle climate change that is already affecting its residents as well as people all over the world?

This question, and more, will be addressed at London's first climate hearing.

Hosted by Oxfam and the London Assembly Environment Committee, the event will bring together Londoners, business and politicians for an evening that will include discussions, theatre performance and a reading from Booker Prize winning author Ben Okri.

The 90-minute hearing will feature testimonies from Londoners whose families around the globe are facing the harsh consequences of climate change:
• Abbu Siddique, who has dedicated his lunch club to raising awareness of climate change in his native country of Bangladesh
• Sufia Allam from the Wapping Women's Centre who manages their organic food growing programme
• Charlie Olisanekwu, a young man who will talk about the effect climate change is having on his relatives in Kenya

A panel will lead high-level discussions on the impact of the capital's emissions and the vital role London can play in building a sustainable low-carbon future. Panel chair, Murad Qureshi AM, Chair of the Assembly's Environment Committee, will be joined by: Penny Lawrence, Humanitarian Director of Oxfam; Darren Johnson AM, Deputy Chair of the Environment Committee; Maria Adebowale, Director of Capacity Global; and, Isabel Dedring, Mayoral advisor on environment.

"London has a central role to play in tackling climate change as cities bear a disproportional responsibility for causing it – they consume three-quarters of the world's energy and produce up to 75 per cent of its greenhouse gas emissions," says Murad Qureshi, chair of the Assembly's Environment Committee.

"As a leading global city, London must set the agenda on this issue and influence world leaders in the run up to the UN climate negotiations. Action and decisions taken now will affect the lives of generations to come."

The hearing is open to the public and will be webcast at www.london.gov.uk/assembly/webcasts.jsp