Possible (which changed its name from 10:10 Climate Action in October 2019) is a climate-change-focused charity, founded in 2009.
Founding and launch 10:10 was established by the team that produced climate change docudrama The Age of Stupid. The organization was party to the 2009 UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. A public launch event was held at Tate Modern in London in September 2009, where members of the public could make a personal commitment to the 10% goal. In the first 72 hours 10,000 people, businesses and organisations signed up, including ZSL London Zoo, the Royal Opera House and Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.
Projects
Unblocking onshore wind In 2015, believing that the British public were opposed to onshore wind farms, the UK government removed financial support for onshore wind (they were no longer able to bid for contracts to provide the UK's electricity), and changed English planning regulations so that it became difficult (and expensive) for onshore wind projects to get the go ahead. In 2016, the charity launched a public campaign to support the removal of the blocks on onshore wind through petitions, stunts, and lobbying MPs. By April 2019, the charity and its supporters, had gained support of 158 MPs who signed an open letter asking the prime minister to remove the blocks. On 2 March 2020, the government announced that onshore wind projects would once again be able to bid for contracts from 2021. The charity continues to campaign to challenge the planning barriers so that community wind projects can come into fruition.
Car Free Cities In March 2021, the charity launched a campaign seeking to address car dominance in four UK cities - Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds and London. The campaign aims to help local communities reimagine their own neighbourhoods where car dependency is a thing of the past; and to co-design and deliver practical grassroots solutions that reduce motor traffic dominance. The charity makes clear that their vision of a “car free city” is a city which is free of the dangers, pollution, and emissions caused by mass private car ownership. It's not a city with no cars at all. They emphasise that many people, including some disabled people, cannot get around without a car, and the charity's efforts to reduce the number of cars in cities hopes to make their lives easier too.
Climate Perks In 2019, the charity launched a scheme which enables employers to offer paid ‘journey days’ to empower staff to choose low-carbon holiday travel. Government data shows that within the UK 70% of all flights are taken by just 15% of people, and that these ‘frequent flyers’ are more likely to be professionals with disposable income. The charity believes that helping to shift these travel habits is the quickest and smartest way to keep carbon emissions from planes in check, whilst ensuring those with the most responsibility to cut down are most empowered to take action. Employers that have signed up to the scheme include Bennetts Associates and Direct Ferries.
Riding Sunbeams Through their FOAK 2019 project (funded by the Department for Transport), the Riding Sunbeams team successfully connected solar energy directly into Direct-Current, third rail powered railways, in conjunction with Network Rail at their Aldershot site. They were the first to achieve this globally.
Past projects
Back Balcombe On 27 March 2014, the charity launched Back Balcombe, a project set up to support a renewable energy co-operative and use its prominence to promote community-scale renewable energy nationally. In summer 2013, Balcombe became the focal point for a national debate about the role of shale gas and oil in Britain's energy mix, after the start of exploratory oil drilling nearby sparked a major protest and divided local opinion. In response, a group of residents agreed to establish a community-owned solar project with support from Possible staff. The project would aim to match 100% Balcombe's domestic electricity needs with local solar power, and reunite the village around a positive energy project. REPOWERBalcombe, the local co-operative, and Back Balcombe, Possible's national support effort, both launched publicly in March 2014. The project has received widespread media coverage since its launch. It has been featured in The Telegraph, The Times, and The Guardian, and on Channel 4 News and the BBC's The One Show. Possible also claims to be in touch with seven 'copycat' groups that aim to follow in REPOWERBalcombe's footsteps, several of which are in communities close to proposed fossil fuel drilling projects. REPOWERBalcombe has installed solar panels on a local farm and two local primary schools, financing them with shares bought by local people. In autumn 2015 it will be running a national share offer and fundraising effort to finance the building of a 5 MW solar farm in the nearby village of West Hoathly.
#itshappening The itshappening project showcases carbon reduction projects and success stories from around the world, aiming to overcome pessimism about the possibility of tackling climate change and build motivation for more ambitious action. As of January 2015, the gallery had been shared 11,635 times. Other people and organisations have also adopted the #itshappening hashtag to post their own carbon reduction success stories. The UNFCCC's Christiana Figueres has voiced her support for the project, and it has been praised by the RSA in its report "A New Agenda on Climate Change".
Solar Schools Solar Schools is a community crowdfunding programme that helps schools raise money for solar panels. Participating schools are given training, resources and personal support to run their own local crowdfunding campaign, with most aiming to raise around £10,000. The project is open to primary, secondary and middle schools, and sixth form colleges. There is no charge to take part. Following a successful pilot phase in the 2011–12 academic year, the project launched nationally in September 2012. Altogether, 27 schools participated in 2012–13, 17 participated in 2013–14, and 15 in 2014–15. Another 14 schools are due to start in September 2015. The project helps schools reduce their carbon footprint and earn income from the electricity they generate. But it also aims to strengthen the local community, provide pupils with opportunities to learn about climate change, and build public support for renewable energy by helping communities to benefit from it directly.
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