3 Big Asks - and a good reply

1 October 2007

Katie Elliott, Friends of the Earth's Parliamentary Campaigner, with the Prime Minister at the Labour Party Conference

In amongst the 'will he or won't he call a general election?' hype over the last few weeks, you may have missed this announcement from Gordon Brown:

I am proud that Britain will now become the first country in the world to write into law binding limits on carbon emissions.

But I am not satisfied: so I am asking the new independent climate change committee to report on whether the 60 per cent reduction in emissions by 2050, which is already bigger than most other countries, should be even stronger still.

This may sound a bit dry - but it is brilliant news. It means the Government has listened to one of our key requests under The Big Ask.

The Draft Climate Change Bill proposes a cut in carbon dioxide of 60% by 2050. We have been calling for it to be strengthened, in line with the science, to at least 80%.

This is effectively what Gordon Brown has now committed to.

Big success

Although we were always fairly confident this was one argument we could win, we didn't expect to do it so quickly - and in such a high profile way.

And this wasn't a low key announcement. It was part of the Prime Minister's speech at the Labour Party conference. It doesn't come much more high profile than that.

This is a brilliant result for The Big Ask. And it is thanks to the tens of thousands of you who have contacted your MP to call for a strong Climate Change law.

Big Push

Gordon Brown has indicated that the Government is shifting its position. But we need to keep the pressure on MPs.

You can help. Please join The Big Ask online march, to make your voice heard.

Thank you.