Ashok Sinha
Encyclopedia
Ashok Sinha is a British
environmental
campaigner and commentator, best known for his involvement with the Jubilee Debt Campaign, for jointly founding Make Poverty History
and leading the Stop Climate Chaos
coalition.
at the University of Bristol
and completed his Ph.D. in renewable energy at Cambridge
. Following his qualifications he spent a number of years pursuing research into climate change science
before moving into policy work with Forum for the Future
.
In 2005 he became Director of the newly-founded Stop Climate Chaos coalition. The coalition gained a high profile with its I Count
campaign, which was the UK's campaign partner with the UK Live Earth
event, mobilised 25,000 people for a rally in Trafalgar Square
in 2006 and was the main campaign promoted at Glastonbury 2007
. Stop Climate Chaos was also instrumental in helping to secure the UK's Climate Change Act and helping to put a brake on the building of new unabated coal-fired power stations. Most recently, on 5 December 2009, Ashok led SCC in delivering The Wave (ahead of the UN climate summit in Copenhagen) which was at the time the biggest single climate march and campaign event ever held.
He has also been a Board member (and Vice Chair) of Amnesty International UK and of the London Cycling Campaign.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
environmental
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
campaigner and commentator, best known for his involvement with the Jubilee Debt Campaign, for jointly founding Make Poverty History
Make Poverty History
Make Poverty History is the name of a campaign that exists in a number of countries, including Australia, Canada, Denmark , Finland, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Romania, the United Arab Emirates, Great Britain and Ireland...
and leading the Stop Climate Chaos
Stop Climate Chaos
Stop Climate Chaos is a climate change coalition of primarily environmental and international development NGOs that was formed in September 2005. The coalition ran the big I Count campaign in 2006–07 and organised The Wave - a campaign focused on the climatic impacts of energy production which...
coalition.
Scientific background
Sinha studied physicsPhysics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
at the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
and completed his Ph.D. in renewable energy at Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. Following his qualifications he spent a number of years pursuing research into climate change science
History of climate change science
The history of the scientific discovery of climate change began in the early 19th century when natural changes in paleoclimate were first suspected and the natural greenhouse effect first identified. In the late 19th century, scientists first argued that human emissions of greenhouse gases could...
before moving into policy work with Forum for the Future
Forum for the Future
Forum for the Future is a British non-profit organisation with a mission to promote sustainable development. Its vision is of "businesses and communities thriving in a future that’s environmentally sustainable and socially just". It runs partnerships with more than 90 organisations across business...
.
Career
Ashok Sinha was one of the group of UK NGO activists who found and lead the UK Make Poverty History campaign, which he did whilst he was the coordinator for the Jubilee Debt Campaign.In 2005 he became Director of the newly-founded Stop Climate Chaos coalition. The coalition gained a high profile with its I Count
I Count
I Count is a campaign of the Stop Climate Chaos coalition of UK NGOs.The campaign aims to ensure that world leaders act on rising global greenhouse gas emissions in order to keep average global temperature increase to under 2°C and so avoiding the more serious consequences of global warming.In...
campaign, which was the UK's campaign partner with the UK Live Earth
Live Earth
-Background:Founded by Emmy-winning producer Kevin Wall, in partnership with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, Live Earth was built upon the belief that entertainment has the power to transcend social and cultural barriers to move the world community to action...
event, mobilised 25,000 people for a rally in Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is a public space and tourist attraction in central London, England, United Kingdom. At its centre is Nelson's Column, which is guarded by four lion statues at its base. There are a number of statues and sculptures in the square, with one plinth displaying changing pieces of...
in 2006 and was the main campaign promoted at Glastonbury 2007
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
. Stop Climate Chaos was also instrumental in helping to secure the UK's Climate Change Act and helping to put a brake on the building of new unabated coal-fired power stations. Most recently, on 5 December 2009, Ashok led SCC in delivering The Wave (ahead of the UN climate summit in Copenhagen) which was at the time the biggest single climate march and campaign event ever held.
He has also been a Board member (and Vice Chair) of Amnesty International UK and of the London Cycling Campaign.