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Mass lobby on climate change
9 May 2012

The Get in the Game campaign for a Northern Ireland Climate Change Act scored an important goal on 8 May. Activists from Stop Climate Chaos descended on Stormont to tackle their MLAs about the Assembly's poor record on climate change.

Thanks to devolution, Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK without binding targets to reduce emissions. Scotland passed its own law in 2009, which complements the 2008 Westminster Act.

Get in the Game is a Stop Climate Chaos Northern Ireland campaign, and has been using a sport theme since its launch in 2009. We're asking MLAs to pledge their support by signing rugby balls. The balls will then be passed to the Environment Minister.

Over 50 activists turned up, and almost a third of Northern Ireland's 108 MLAs made the time to commit to voting for a Climate Change Bill, when it comes before the Assembly.

Among the politicians who turned up and signed a rugby ball was Environment Minister, Alex Attwood. He repeated his intention to put legislation before the Assembly.

More significantly, four MLAs from the only party to oppose the campaign, the formidable DUP, turned up and signed a ball. This is a testimony to the transformative power of activism.

Activists will now focus on getting MLAs who didn't show up to sign a rugby ball.

image of Anna Lo MLA

© Friends of the Earth

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