Nouslife: Put climate change at the top of the Government's to-do list

04 September 2006

Put climate change at the top of the Government's to-do list

A campaign for British citizen readers to consider adding your weight to. If you agree, just click on the title of this post.

secure a place for a Climate Change Bill in the Queen’s Speech. The Queen’s Speech will take place in November at the state opening of Parliament. It will detail the new laws that the Government intends to introduce during the next session of Parliament. It’s the Cabinet who decides what to include in the speech. The Prime Minister is sympathetic to our Bill but he still needs convincing. We need to persuade Mr Blair that we need legally binding targets to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.This will give us the chance to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. It will commit the UK to the level of action that’s needed. And it will also inspire other countries to follow suit.

I altered the form letter, as I tend to think that it carries more weight if it's not just the same words as several thousand others. Here's what I wrote.

Dear Mr Blair,
Over the summer it has become clear that climate change is the biggest challenge we face.
I'm sure that you don't really need reminding of the scientific position, your visit to California made clear where you are willing to stand publically on the issue of climate change.
What I am concerned to remind you though is not to lose your nerve domestically on the issue. 75 per cent of the UK population would support a law to reduce carbon dioxide emissions every year. Almost 400 MPs have signed EDM 178 in support of a Climate Change Bill. And all parties support long term targets for cutting carbon dioxide. So now really is the time to make legacy decisions and none can be more far reaching than those to reduce or mitigate climate change.
Please, please, please, for the sake of our children and grandchildren, include a Climate Change Bill in the Queen’s Speech this November, that will commit UK governments to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 3 per cent every year.
This really is your opportunity to be remembered for introducing a law that will benefit generations to come. It’s not too late to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Please act now and include a Climate Change Bill in the Queen’s Speech.