Our top 10 wins from 201118 January 2012
January isn't the happiest of months - what with money being tight and trousers tighter after the December indulgence-fest.
So allow us to cheer you up with news about the good things Friends of the Earth got up to in 2011.
1. Mega incinerator scrapped
It would have cost £400 million, burnt valuable materials and belched out climate-changing emissions. But, supporting the local community, we made sure this dirty proposal went up in smoke.
2. Slashing councils' CO2 emissions
Along with our amazing local groups all over the UK, we ran a campaign called Get Serious About CO2. It aimed to get councils cutting CO2 emissions - and it worked. More than 20 now have targets to slash emissions by at least 40% by 2020.
3. Warmer rented homes
An incredible 100,000 people supported our 2-year campaign to make cold homes more energy efficient. We got a law passed so that from 2018 landlords will be fined if they don't improve the coldest rented homes.
4. A greener bank
Our campaign with other groups got all 3 major political parties to commit to a Green Investment Bank. The bank will help promote the growth of clean energy and energy-saving technology.
5. Energy-efficient homes in Northern Ireland
Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland led a coalition of groups in a campaign to tackle energy-leaking homes. It convinced the Assembly to commit to a major programme of renovating homes so they use less energy.
6. Fewer plastic bags in Wales
Our local groups in Wales succeeded in cutting the carriers. Their campaign got the Welsh Assembly to introduce a 5p charge on carrier bags, meaning less waste and more resources.
7. Love story in milk
Two milk bottles met, fell in love and went viral. Nearly a million people watched their touching tale of why recycling is so important. They even won us an award. See what you think of our own dairy-based Romeo and Juliet.
8. About 3,000 people laughed at us
Our comedy gig sold out and brought the house down, with stars including Tim Minchin, Richard Herring and Badly Drawn Boy. The money raised helps fund our fight against climate change.
9. Our High Court victory
We took the Government to court after it slashed payments for solar energy without waiting for its own consultation to end. And we won.
The Government is now back in court trying to overturn the decision. Win or lose, David Cameron must support UK solar to help more families free themselves from soaring fuel bills.
10. A fund to tackle climate change
We successfully lobbied for a Green Climate Fund, where rich countries provide money for developing countries to tackle climate change. We now need to make sure that developing nations have a say in how the fund is run.
How do we do it?
Through your support.
Thank you for making it all possible. Here's to an even better 2012.
© Friends of the Earth
