celebrities & VIPs

Mark Lynas - climate campaigner 

Aubrey Meyer - founder of 'Contraction & Convergence' 

Jonathon Porritt - Chair of the Sustainable Development Commission 

Tim Smit - Chief Executive of the Eden Project 

Michael Caines - chef and businessman 

John Grimshaw - Chief Executive of Sustrans 

 
Mark Lynas – author and climate change campaigner

“Joining the Fair Shares, Fair Choice movement is a fantastic way to support real progress on cutting CO2 emissions. A personal carbon budget gives us a realistic idea about what we each need to do to help avert the extremes of climate change.”

Mark Lynas has campaigned on human rights and sustainability for many years – in 2000 he decided to concentrate his efforts on climate change. Mark’s a broadcast commentator and journalist and has written for publications including the Guardian, Observer, Independent and New Statesman. His influential book High Tide: News from a Warming World was published in 2004. Mark’s latest book, Six Degrees: Our Future on a Hotter Planet, outlines – degree by degree – what climate change has in store for humanity and the planet over this century if we don’t take serious action soon.

Mark was selected as one of US science journal Seed Magazine’s ‘Revolutionary Minds’ in 2004. In 2006 he was selected by National Geographic as one of its “uniquely gifted and inspiring” ‘Emerging Explorers’.  He lives in Oxford with his family, is Secretary of the Upper Wolvercote Allotments Association and apparently grows the best leeks in the village!

Aubrey Meyer – founder of the 'Contraction & Convergence' carbon reduction model

“Fair Shares, Fair Choice introduces a whole new audience to the principles of ‘Contraction and Convergence’ – safe and fair carbon shares for everyone across the world. By joining in you can send a clear message to Government that you support a truly effective, global approach to tackling climate change. This action by Sustainability South West is praiseworthy and really deserves to be supported. It needs to be taken up widely and urgently."

Born in the UK but raised in South Africa, Aubrey Meyer studied music at Cape Town University and the Royal College of Music in London, before embarking on a notable career as a viola player and composer. In 1988, whilst looking for the subject for a ‘musical’, he discovered the story of Chico Mendez’s assassination in the Brazilian Rainforest. This led to an interest the UK Green Party and the co-founding of the UK think tank, the Global Commons Institute (GCI), in 1990. 

During the nineties Aubrey campaigned at the United Nations climate negotiations. His work paved the way for a more effective and equitable approach. By 1996 he had developed the ‘Contraction and Convergence’ (C&C) model which, not only identifies what global reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are needed, but how these can be achieved in a socially just way.  C&C has been endorsed by a huge range of bodies – the Australia Institute, for instance, suggest it’s, “destined to become one of the most important principles governing international relations in the 21st Century.”

Aubrey continues to influence international climate negotiations. He won the Andrew Lees Memorial Award in 1998 and in 2000, the Schumacher Award. In 2005 the City of London gave him a ‘lifetime achievement’ for his leadership on climate change.

  
Jonathon Porritt – Chair, Sustainable Development Commission 

“I am delighted to endorse Fair Shares, Fair Choice as an initiative which seeks to engage all people and organisations in positive choices for low carbon living and working.”

Jonathon Porritt is Programme Director and Co-Founder of Forum for the Future (a leading UK sustainable development charity) and Chairman of the UK Sustainable Development Commission. He is a well known and respected writer, broadcaster and commentator.

Jonathon was appointed by the PM as the first Chair of the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) in 2000. The SDC provides Government with independent advice on sustainable development and has a ‘watchdog’ role. It produces regular public reports on the Government’s progress in major areas of sustainability (including climate change and energy).

Jonathon is on the Board of the South West Regional Development Agency, a Co-Director of The Prince of Wales's Business and Environment Programme, a Non-Executive Director of Wessex Water and a Trustee of the Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy.

Jonathon’s former appointments include: Director of Friends of the Earth (1984-90); co-chair of the Green Party (1980-83) of which he is still a member; chairman of Sustainability South West (1999-2001) of which he is now ‘President’ and a Trustee of WWF UK (1991-2005).

Jonathon received a CBE in January 2000 for services to environmental protection. His latest book, Capitalism As If The World Matters, was published in 2005.

Tim Smit – Chief Executive, The Eden Project

“Both I, personally, and The Eden Project supports The Fair Shares, Fair Choice project.”

Tim Smit was born in Holland and educated in Britain reading Archaeology and Anthropology at Durham University. He worked as an archaeologist for two years and for ten years in the music industry as composer/producer.

In 1987 Tim moved to Cornwall and oversaw the restoration of the Lost Gardens of Heligan – the most visited private garden in the UK – of which he remains a Director.

Tim is Chief Executive of the Eden Project. His awards include an Honorary CBE in January 2002, and in 2006 he was a awarded an honorary Doctor of Design degree by the University of the West of England, "in recognition of his outstanding achievements in promoting the understanding and practise of the responsible management of the vital relationship between plants, people and resources, which have made a major contribution regionally, nationally and internationally to sustainable development, tourism, architecture and landscape architecture."

Tim lives in Fowey, Cornwall and is a regular speaker at conferences, dinners and other events.

Michael Caines – acclaimed chef and businessman

“I support the principles of Fair Shares, Fair Choice and I am reviewing our practices to see what further carbon savings we can make. Sourcing more produce locally represents a real carbon-saving opportunity – luckily fresh, local food happens to be a real passion of mine!”

Michael grew up in Exeter and developed his love of food via big home-cooked (and sometimes home-grown!) family meals. After leaving college Michael spent 18 months at Park’s Lanes Grosvenor House Hotel and 3 years with mentor Raymond Blanc before a considerable stint with various ‘super chefs’ in France. He is now Executive Chef of Gidleigh Park, in Chagford on the edge of Dartmoor, where he’s been based since 1994. It was in 1994 that Michael also lost his arm in a car accident, amazingly returning to the kitchen within 2 weeks.

Michael founded ‘Michael Caines Restaurants’ in 1999 and took over food operations at The Royal Clarence, Exeter (purchased with Andrew Brownsword in 2003). He’s also a co-founder/partner of the UK hotel group ABode. Michael has cooked for the PM and took part in BBC 2’s ‘Great British Menu' (a competition to cook for the Queen's 80th). In 2001 he was awarded Cateys ‘Chef of the Year’ and in 2006 an MBE. Michael lives in mid-Devon with his partner Ruth and their two children.

 
John Grimshaw – Chief Executive, Sustrans

“Sustrans works tirelessly to offer practical ways for people to reduce to their carbon footprint. We support Fair Shares, Fair Choice as a way to better understand what a fair and safe carbon footprint is."

John Grimshaw’s mission to change the world ‘one mile at a time’ inspired him and others to set up the pioneering sustainable transport charity, Sustrans, over 30 years ago. Beginning with the 13 mile Bristol to Bath cycle and pedestrian route, the National Cycle Network is now used to make hundreds of millions of trips across the UK. Sustrans latest programme Connect2 hopes to support an extra 5 million people to make more local journeys on foot or by bicycle.

John, himself a non-car owner, believes that we need to make it easier for people to walk and cycle their everyday journeys. Sustrans advocate pedestrian and cyclist focussed transport policies to help both communities and the planet to keep healthy – including supporting each of us to take action on climate change.

John’s commitment to practical environmentalism was recognised by the City of Bristol in 2007, with the presentation of a Bristol blue glass plaque. He has also received honorary degrees from Bristol, York and Glasgow Universities.