Archived press release

Thom Yorke edits climate change special edition of the Observer Magazine

20 March 2008

Radiohead front man, Thom Yorke is editing a climate change special edition of the Observer Magazine due out this Sunday (23 March 2008). Thom Yorke is guest editing the magazine as part of his work in support of The Big Ask, Friends of the Earth's campaign for a strong Climate Change Law.

The climate change special includes the following features:

• Interview with Thom Yorke: Thom talks about his green conversion and why he is a climate optimist;

• Thom meets Ken: Thom Yorke interviews Ken Livingstone - the controversial Mayor of London - on everything from the congestion charge to composting;

• Living the dream: what's life like inside the world's greenest city;

• Reinventing the wheel: an investigation into how the motor industry is dealing with climate change;

The Big Ask campaign was launched by Thom Yorke in May 2005 and has successfully persuaded the Government to introduce a ground-breaking Climate Change Law. However the law needs to be strengthened if it is to deliver the cuts in emissions that science tells us are needed. Friends of the Earth is calling for a strong law that covers all emissions, including the UK's share of emissions from international aviation and shipping and which cuts the UK's carbon dioxide emissions by at least eighty percent by 2050.

Thom Yorke says:

"I hope this climate change special of the Observer magazine will help get the message out that the solutions to climate change are out there - we just need political leadership to make them happen."

"With The Big Ask we started campaigning from the grass roots, asking people to persuade their MP that we needed a Law to limit carbon emissions, and then asking them to put pressure on the Prime Minister to make sure it happens. The Government have said they will introduce a law which is fantastic news. Now we just need to make sure it is strong enough. One big problem is that the UK's share of emissions from international aviation isn't covered at the moment."

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