Archived press release

Parliament to vote on new climate change law

28 October 2008

Friends of the Earth hailed the world's first climate change law set to be passed by Parliament today (28 October 2008) as a victory for people power in the fight against climate change.

The environmental organisation, which has led the campaign for a strong climate change law through The Big Ask, said it would continue to press the Government to ensure that the majority of emissions reductions required by the law are made at home in the UK.

Over the last few weeks Ministers has bowed to pressure from the public and MPs to strengthen the Bill by increasing the target for cutting emissions from 60 per cent to 80 per cent by 2050 and closing a loophole that would have left emissions from international aviation and shipping emissions out of the Bill. The overwhelming majority of MPs have supported moves to strengthen the Bill and are expected to back these measures in a Parliamentary vote today. This adds to an earlier strengthening of the Bill through the inclusion of annual milestones, which Friends of the Earth also called for.

The Bill, which will be made law in November, is expected to usher in huge changes to Government policy and life in the UK. The Government will need to toughen up its climate change plans and rethink projects such as coal fired power stations that will lead to a big increase in greenhouse gas emissions. The British public should begin to notice real changes in everything from how they heat their homes to how they get around as the UK makes the switch to a low carbon economy.

Friends of the Earth Executive Director, Andy Atkins said:

"Today is a historic day. Hundreds of thousands of people across the UK who have demanded a strong law have forced the Government to listen and won a huge victory in the battle against climate change."

"Developing a low carbon economy here in the UK is the only way to deliver on the law, move Britain out of recession and into a greener more prosperous future."

Thom Yorke, Radiohead front man and supporter of The Big Ask, said:

"When I helped launch the Friends of the Earth campaign for a climate change law just over 3 years ago we were still arguing with climate change sceptics."

"Now the UK will have the world's first climate change law. It is a massive step forward for us all, as now we can engage in trying to fight climate change directly as a nation."

"And it came about simply because hundreds of thousands of people on the ground hassled their MP who in turn hassled the government. Amazing."

Notes:

1. Broadcast-quality footage and print-quality pictures of the campaign for a strong climate law - featuring Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Razorlight's Johnny Borrell - are available for download. Footage: www.blastmedia.eu and pictures: www.foe.co.uk/resource/images/thebigask

2. For information on how the law will affect Government policy and life in the UK go to: www.foe.co.uk/resource/media_briefing/climate_change_bill.pdf

3. Case studies of people who have campaigned for the Bill are also available.

4. Parliament will begin debating the Climate Change Bill at 3.30 today (28 October 2008) 1. Since Friends of the Earth launched its campaign for a strong law three and a half years ago more than 200,000 people have emailed, written to or visited their MP to ask them to support. The campaign has also received the backing of celebrities including Thom Yorke from Radiohead and Razorlight front man Johnny Borrell.

5. Friends of the Earth is also pressuring governments around Europe to commit to legally binding annual cuts in emissions. The Big Ask campaign was launched in 16 European countries in February 2008 and in Japan in August 2008. The introduction of a strong climate change law in the UK will up the pressure on these countries to follow suit.

6. Trading

Friends of the Earth is calling on the Government to ensure that the vast majority of the emissions reductions - required by the Bill - are made in the UK.

As it stands - there is nothing in the Bill to ensure that emissions reductions are made at home. It is possible that the Government will buy in carbon credits from abroad and count them towards national emissions reduction targets rather than making the changes that are needed at home (carbon credits are essentially investments in emissions reductions projects such as wind farms in developing countries).

The issue will need to be addressed in December when the Government announces the UK's carbon budget for the next five years and sets out where the cuts in emissions will be made.

The latest science shows that rich countries such as the UK must cut their emissions by at least 80 percent by 2050 if the world is going to avoid dangerous climate change. While it is important for the UK to support low carbon development in poor countries it is no substitute for cutting emissions at home.

4. Friends of the Earth believe the environment is for everyone. We want a healthy planet and a good quality of life for all those who live on it. We inspire people to act together for a thriving environment. We campaign on a range of issues including climate change, biodiversity, waste, transport and food.

5. Friends of the Earth is a founding member of the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition. The Stop Climate Chaos Coalition is the UK's largest group of people dedicated to action on climate change and limiting its impact on the world's poorest communities. With a combined supporter base of more than 4 million people, the coalition spans over 70 organisations, from environment and development charities to unions, faith, community and women's groups. Stop Climate Chaos Coalition demands political action in the UK to prevent global warming rising beyond the 2°C danger threshold. For more information visit: http://www.stopclimatechaos.org/

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust