Archived press release

Mayor joins Friends of the Earth to call for Climate Bill

31 October 2006

The Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, today (Tuesday 31 October) joined with Friends of the Earth to support their `The Big Ask' climate change campaign and its call for a Climate Change Bill requiring annual cuts in UK carbon dioxide emissions.

The Mayor was joined by Tony Juniper, Director of Friends of the Earth, at his weekly press conference to support the inclusion of a climate change Bill in the Queen's speech on the 15 November, which would commit the Government to cutting UK carbon dioxide emissions by three per cent each year.

Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said: "Climate change is the single biggest threat to the development of human civilisation and as Mayor it is my top priority for London. This is a problem we cannot ignore. As the Stern review has shown this week, the future of our economy as well as our environment rests on taking action now rather than waiting for problems to unfold.

"I am pleased to support Friends of the Earth's `Big Ask' climate campaign and its call for a climate change Bill requiring annual cuts in UK carbon dioxide emissions. In London we are already developing a climate change action plan which will set targets and sector by sector measures aimed at cutting the capital's emissions every year. We will concentrate on the areas where we can have the biggest and quickest impact. As a major world city we can set an example that others follow so that we cut global carbon emissions to levels that avert catastrophic climate change."

Tony Juniper, Director of Friends of the Earth said:

"In backing Friends of the Earth's Big Ask campaign the Mayor of London joins a hundred thousand people around the country and more than half of all MPs who are calling for a climate change law requiring year on year cuts in UK carbon dioxide emissions. If the UK is serious about tackling climate change we need legislation to ensure that this happens.

"Mr Livingstone has played a prominent role in tackling London's impact on climate change. We welcome his call today for national year on year cuts in carbon dioxide, and news that he proposes similar measures for the Capital. Hopefully London can show the rest of the world how to develop a low-carbon capital city."

The Big Ask is Friends of the Earth's climate change campaign. It focuses on the solutions to climate change and is also calling people to encourage their MP to back the introduction of a climate change law that would commit the UK to making annual reductions on its carbon emissions. The Big Ask was launched by Thom Yorke, lead singer of Radiohead, in May 2005 and already has the backing of over half of UK MPs. Almost 93,000 members of the public have written to their MPs asking them to support the introduction of a Climate Change law. www.thebigask.com

Notes

1. Friends of the Earth is a member of the Stop Climate Chaos coalition which launched the 'I Count' campaign earlier this month. "I Count" is designed to inspire personal and political action and counter the view that climate change is too big a problem to fix. More information at: icount.org.uk

Members of the public are encouraged to sign up to the campaign at icount.org.uk or by texting `I Count' to 84424. They are also urged to attend a mass event at London's Trafalgar Square, on Saturday 4th November, 2006, 1-3pm - on the eve of international climate change talks in Nairobi, Kenya.

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