The Big Ask

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Residents ask MPs to help tackle climate change

Hundreds of borough residents are supporting Friends of the Earth’s campaign The Big Ask, which is calling for a new climate change law to reduce global warming. Hammersmith and Fulham Friends of the Earth group has gathered hundreds of postcards from supporters asking local MPs to sign up their support.

The UK Government is failing to meet its climate change targets and the new law would make the Government commit to reducing carbon dioxide emissions, the main greenhouse gas, by three per cent every year. So far Andrew Slaughter, MP for Ealing, Acton and Shepherd’s Bush has signed up to the Early Day Motion 178 asking for the climate change bill but Greg Hands, MP for Hammersmith and Fulham has not.

An NOP survey in May 2005 showed that nearly three quarters of the public believes the Government is not doing enough to tackle climate change.

Hammersmith and Fulham Friends of the Earth coordinator Paula White said:
“No sensible person can any longer be in doubt that man-made global warming is a reality. The climate is changing – threatening millions of homes, lives and livelihoods in the UK and around the world. Most people agree that the Government is not doing enough to tackle climate change. Supporting this bill is the most important thing you can do to make a difference. Despite Government promises to cut carbon dioxide levels, emissions are rising. The Government has set a target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 60% by 2050 but they have not said how they are going to do it. We’re concerned that without annual targets, nothing will be done until it’s too late. This will be catastrophic. We need the public to help by asking the Government to do more, and asking their MPs to back the Climate Change Bill.”
Hammersmith and Fulham Friends of the Earth will be asking people to sign postcards to send to their MP over the next few months.

October 30, 2005