Archived press release

Yorke backs climate change campaign

25 May 2005

New Campaign for UK climate change law (including Northern Ireland) – 73 per cent say Ministers are not doing enough.

Radiohead's Thom Yorke calls for public to back “The Big Ask” campiagn as new report gives UK solution to climate change.

Radiohead front man Thom Yorke is today (May 25) calling for thousands of people across the country to back The Big Ask, a new national climate change campaign to make the Government legally responsible for reducing the UK’s impact on global warming.

It comes as a NOP survey shows that nearly three quarters of the public believes the Government is not doing enough to tackle climate change.

The UK is failing to meet its climate change targets and The Big Ask campaign [1], launched by Friends of the Earth, challenges the Government to bring in a new climate change law. The law 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.

The Big Ask campaign is backed by a new report by Friends of the Earth which shows how the Government can meet carbon dioxide reduction targets without nuclear power. Carbon dioxide emissions have risen under Labour.

The new law [2] would force the Government to cut emissions of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, by three per cent every year. This would make it easier and more affordable for the UK to meet its target of cutting 1990 carbon dioxide levels by 60 per cent by 2050, and avoid the need for more expensive and drastic action in the future. The public can back the campaign by logging onto www.thebigask.com.

A NOP survey for Friends of the Earth [3], published today, confirms that the public wants the Government to show leadership on climate change. The poll revealed that:

• 73 per cent do not think that the Government is doing enough to tackle climate change;
• 55 per cent think that the Government should be taking the lead on climate change – 26 per cent said individuals; 13 per cent plumped for business.

Friends of the Earth director, Tony Juniper said:

“Climate change is the biggest threat the planet faces. Urgent action is desperately needed. But despite Government promises to cut carbon dioxide levels, emissions are continuing to rise [4]. The Big Ask campaign aims to make the Government legally responsible for tackling climate change. We want a new law requiring ministers to cut pollution by three per cent each year, making it easier and cheaper to meet the UK’s carbon dioxide reduction targets [5]. But we also need the public to help by asking the Government why it isn’t acting on global warming, and asking their MPs to back the Climate Change Bill. It could be the most
important question you ever ask.”

Friends of the Earth's Northern Ireland Director, John Woods, said:

"Since 1990 Northern Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions have risen by 1 per cent while they have fallen by 5 per cent in Scotland and 6 per cent in Wales. We are clearly failing to do our bit. Transport emissions are the main culprit. While these rose 7.5 per cent between 1990 and 2002 in Scotland and Wales, in Northern Ireland transport emissions rose by a staggering 77 per cent. We need to curb the ambitions of Roads Service for yet more motorways and switch investment to public transport."

John Woods continued:

"Northern Ireland needs to set its own target for reducing carbon dioxide emissions and critical to its achievement will be the closure of the highly polluting Kilroot power station. Amazingly, the American owners, AES, are currently trying to force electricity consumers to pay the £35 million it will cost to extend the life of the station until 2025. We need Government to act on this now."

For a full media pack on The Big Ask and climate change – including the advert [6] and visuals – contact the media team at Friends of the Earth – [email protected] / 020 75661649

Briefings on The Big Ask; Climate change and How to achieve 3 per cent cuts:

Climate change impacts
The Big Ask media brief
Twelve point plan

Notes

1. (back) The Big Ask is a multi-media campaign to raise public awareness of climate change and getting people asking questions such as what the Government what it is doing to tackle climate change, why emissions are rising, and why it hasn’t been made cheaper and easier for people to reduce their own contribution to climate change. The Big Ask calls on the public to ask their MP to back the Climate Change Bill. A Big Ask cinema ad will run in dozens of cinemas over the summer. Still pictures and video clips of the ad are available on request.
2. (back)The Climate Change Bill is supported by former environment minister Michael Meacher (Labour), with the backing of former Environment Secretary John Gummer (Conservative) and Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Norman Baker, and a coalition of organizations.
3. (back) The NOP survey, commissioned by Friends of the Earth, interviewed 1000 people across Britain between 6-8 May 2005. Weighting was applied to the data to bring it in line with national profiles. A full breakdown of results is available from Friends of the Earth – including by region; sex and age.
4. (back) Despite Government promises to cut carbon dioxide levels by 20 per cent by 2010 (based on 1990 levels) and 60 per cent by 2050, emissions have risen since Labour came to power in 1997 and meeting these targets is already in doubt. Carbon dioxide levels are now three per cent higher than 1997, and the Government has admitted that current Climate Change strategy is inadequate for meeting its 2010 target. The strategy is currently being reviewed, and an announcement is expected over the summer.
5. (back) Measures that the Government could introduce to tackle global warming range from incentives to buy fuel efficient cars and appliances, a comprehensive programme of energy efficiency measures, higher standards for new houses to the replacement of old-inefficient coal-fired power stations with state of the art models, the development of more renewable energy and massive investment in public transport. More information can be found here.
6. (back) The Big Ask cinema ad has been produced on a pro bono basis by creative agency, Clemmow Hornby Inge, (CHI). CHI is known for its innovative approach to campaigns. Commercial clients include Tango, English Heritage, Heart FM and The Spectator. The ad features children, aged 3 -11, speaking about climate change. www.chiadvertising.com/

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Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland
7 Donegall Street Place
BELFAST
BT1 2FN
Tel: 028 9023 3488
Fax: 028 9024 7556
Email: [email protected]

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust