After cancelling their planned Spring 'rebellion' due to the coronavirus pandemic, Extinction Rebellion (XR) are returning with another series of protests and direct actions designed to force the government to take decisive and drastic action on the climate crisis. 

The Croydon Guardian spoke with former airline pilot Todd Smith about the upcoming actions, his reasons for joining the Croydon branch of XR and to what extent he is hopeful the group's demands will be met. 

What's going on in the upcoming rebellion?

We want to build up interest and make sure people join us on September 1.

As far as Extinction Rebellion Croydon is concerned on August 29 we have an action planned around the Beddington Incinerator and there will be two groups explaining to members of the public why the incinerator is so bad for the environment.

They'll also be people advising residents about the toxicity of the plumes from the incinerator.

What has the impact of coronavirus been on Extinction Rebellion and the climate movement?

We had to cancel our previous rebellion planned in the spring but we realized that two thirds of the UK population believe that the climate crisis is just as serious as Covid, and we know that this is in fact a much bigger threat to all of humanity and our eco-system.

As far as taking action in relation to Covid is concerned, we'll all be distancing and wearing masks of course and following the guidelines as much as possible.

We feel it's necessary, the International Energy Agency said we have just six months to act on the climate crisis and that was two months ago.

Time is of the essence. We have to put things into proportion. The sooner we act, the easier the recovery will be.

How did you decide to get involved with Extinction Rebellion?

As a former airline pilot for Thomas Cook, I was medically grounded because I was bitten by a tick in Richmond Park and diagnosed with Lyme Disease.

Climate-related diseases are becoming much more prevalent with our milder winters and warmer summers.

The time I had off was a moment for me to reflect and the time I had off made me realise that I no longer want to fly passenger jets. It was a big wake-up call for me. It shows we have vulnerabilities. We have to take the natural world seriously.

The WHO have pointed out that our vulnerability to diseases is increased by our exploitation of animals and switching to a plant-base system is something that could reduce future pandemics and also reduce the impact of climate change and biodiversity loss.

France convened a Citizens' Assembly on Climate. Is that something XR hope to see here?

It's probably not exactly how it would run in the UK. The process of asking for it in the UK is independent of Extinction Rebellion but there seems to be some positive conversations going on. Emmanuel Macron is now considering making ecocide a crime against humanity and I think the process is a good one.

How confident are you of getting the government to accept your demands?

We've got a climate and ecological emergency bill and we're going to be presenting that to them on September 1 and ask them to debate our three demands. Telling the truth, forming a citizens assembly and achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2025.

Even Stephen Fry agrees with us on these points, and he's spoken out against the climate denial. The science is very clear. We don't have until 2050. In actual fact of the government's 21 key indicators on climate change, they are currently failing on 14 of them according to the Committee on Climate Change.

In fact, the committee has now told the government to prepare for a world that is four degrees warmer. We know that would render most of the Earth uninhabitable and see millions of people lose their lives.

But do you think we and the government are willing or able to act in time?

I think since the coronavirus crisis the country has been united in a common goal, and in a common consciousness if you like. Only nine per cent of people in the UK want to return to normal after the pandemic. So there is a huge appetite for change. Exposure of the government's lies over things like the actions of Dominic Cummings and so on. So I think that with the support of the public and this appetite for change. If we can get the climate and ecological emergency bill passed through parliament then a citizens assembly could take place.

How do you suggest people in Croydon should respond to the climate crisis?

Contact our local MP Sarah Jones. We welcome people who are able and willing to join us on September 1 at Parliament Square. But if not they can write to their MP and there are actions online they can also join if they don't feel comfortable leaving their house. It's important to have conversations with their friends and family.

Climate change, the Covid crisis and racial injustice are all symptoms of the same toxic system. To have an economy built on infinite growth on a planet with finite resources is just embarrassing. There are plenty of alternative models and we need to come together and work on the solutions now.