The Big Ask

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FoE gather nearly 100 postcards

Campaigners from Hammersmith and Fulham Friends of the Earth gathered nearly 100 postcards from members of the public in support of ‘The Big Ask’ climate change campaign at Fulham Broadway Shopping Centre on Saturday 26 November. The postcards will be sent to MPs, urging them to sign up to a new law to reduce global warming. This comes as world leaders are gathering in Montreal for the international UN Climate Change Conference.

The UK is failing to meet its climate change targets and The Big Ask campaign, launched by Friends of the Earth in June, challenges the Government to bring in a new climate change law. The law – Early Day Motion 178 - would force the Government to take responsibility for the UK's contribution to global warming by reducing carbon dioxide emissions by three per cent every year.

In Labour's 1997 manifesto, Tony Blair promised to reduce carbon dioxide emissions on 1990 levels by 20% by 2010. However, emissions have increased rather than decreased since then and these targets are unlikely to be met. Friends of the Earth wants the Government to pass a law to make it legally responsible for reducing carbon dioxide emissions by regular milestones of 3% a year. 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. At a local level, London is exposed to far greater potential damage from flooding than any other urban area in the UK. A significant proportion of London lies within the floodplain of the River Thames and its tributaries.

So far, 300 MPs have signed up to EDM 178, including 156 Labour, 71 Conservatives, and 57 Liberal Democrats. These include Andrew Slaughter, Labour MP for Ealing, Acton and Shepherd’s Bush. However, Greg Hands, Conservative MP for Hammersmith and Fulham, has said he does not intend to sign the EDM.

Hammersmith and Fulham Friends of the Earth coordinator Paula White said:
"The climate is changing – threatening millions of homes, lives and livelihoods in the UK and around the world. 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. We need the public to help by asking the Government to do more, and asking their MPs to back the Climate Change Bill.”

November 27, 2005