Archived press release

Helen Baxendale joins train to Copenhagen climate talks

11 December 2009

Friends and Cold Feet actress Helen Baxendale joined Friends of the Earth activists on a Eurostar train to Copenhagen this morning (Friday 11 December), to put pressure on world leaders to commit to a strong and fair climate agreement at the UN talks.

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Helen is supporting Friends of the Earth's Demand Climate Change campaign to call for a strong and fair agreement to tackle climate change and has signed the green campaign group's international petition at www.demandclimatechange.org which will be presented to world leaders at the climate talks next week.

Commenting on joining Friends of the Earth in Copenhagen, Helen Baxendale said:

"I'm travelling to Copenhagen because climate change is the most urgent threat facing humanity and I want to add my voice to those from around the globe calling on world leaders to reach a strong and fair agreement at the UN climate talks.

"As a mother I feel it's important to provide a world which is safe and stable for all children to grow up in - we need world leaders to take action now to prevent climate catastrophe."

Friends of the Earth's Head of Climate Change Mike Childs said:

"We're thrilled Helen Baxendale is joining us on the streets of Copenhagen to call for a strong and fair deal to tackle climate change.

"Rich countries must agree to lead the way by cutting their emissions and providing money to enable developing countries to grow in a green way and deal with the floods, drought and storms already being cause by climate change.

"We have been steaming towards climate destruction for far too long - it's time for world leaders to choose the high speed route to a safer future for us all."

At the Copenhagen talks Friends of the Earth is calling for:

• Rich countries to fulfil their legal and moral responsibility to cut emissions first and fast - and pledge to cut emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2020 at home without offsetting
• The leaders of rich countries to abandon their promotion of carbon trading - an irresponsible and dangerous gamble which will do nothing to protect us from catastrophic climate change;
• Proposals to be scrapped which would allow rich countries to buy chunks of forest whilst continuing to pump out emissions: an approach which won't solve climate change or halt deforestation.

Notes to Editors:

1. Eurostar has provided a limited number of cut-price tickets for Friends of the Earth and Christian Aid to help their supporters travel to Copenhagen and join thousands of peaceful protestors to demand a strong and fair global agreement to tackle climate change.

2. Helen Baxendale has recently made the award-winning arctic comedy Beyond the Pole, starring Stephen Mangan, Rhys Thomas and Alexander Skarsgard. Due for release early next year, the film raises awareness about the impact of climate change.

3. Friends of the Earth and Eurostar are working in partnership. The environmental campaign group is advising on Tread Lightly, Eurostar's plan to cut its carbon emissions by 35 per cent by 2012 and Eurostar is supporting Friends of the Earth's climate campaigns.

4. Friends of the Earth is part of Stop Climate Chaos Coalition, the UK's largest group of people dedicated to action on climate change and limiting its impact on the world's poorest communities. The coalition's supporter base of more than 11 million people spans over 100 organisations, from environment and development charities to unions, faith, community and women's groups. Together we demand practical action by the UK to keep temperatures well below an average two degree rise. For further information visit http://www.stopclimatechaos.org/

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust