South Tyneside

The Big Ask - Still asking one year on

South Tyneside Friends of the Earth will be in King Street, South Shields, on Saturday 3rd June between 10.00am and 12 midday to tell everyone about The Big Ask and climate change.

Bryan Atkinson, South Tyneside FOE spokesperson said:

"The Big Ask is a simple idea. Call on the Government to introduce legislation that will commit it to making cuts of three per cent each year in the UK's carbon dioxide emissions. Early Day Motion 178, tabled by Michael Meacher MP, calls for the implementation of the Climate Change Bill which would bring in a framework requiring annual reductions in CO2.

"Climate change is the number one issue facing our planet, so realistic measures are required. It's been exactly one year since our first Big Ask event, but the UK's CO2 emissions are still rising and it looks like the Government is going to miss it's goal of cutting emissions by 20 per cent by 2010 (based on 1990 levels).

"But it's not all bad news, as 369 MPs, including Jarrow MP Stephen Hepburn, have signed up to the Climate Change Bill. A recent poll suggested that 75 per cent of the public also backed the Bill. However, South Shields MP David Miliband, who is now Secretary of State for the Environment, has yet to pledge any support for the measures outlined in the Bill.

"To take part in The Big Ask, and join the call to tackle climate change simply come along and see us on Saturday morning, or go to The Big Ask website, www.thebigask.com."

Notes

1. The Big Ask: http://www.thebigask.com

2. Early Day Motion 178: http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=28373 :

"That this House agrees with the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser that climate change is a threat to civilisation; welcomes the cross-party agreement in favour of major cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, and particularly in carbon dioxide emissions, by 2050; believes that such a long-term target will best be met through a series of more regular milestones; and therefore notes the Climate Change Bill that was presented by a cross-party group of honourable Members in the final days before the General Election, and hopes that such a Bill will be brought forward in this Parliament so that annual cuts in carbon dioxide emissions of 3 per cent. can be delivered in a framework that includes regular reporting and new scrutiny and corrective processes."

3. 75 percent back new climate law. A national online survey, conducted for Friends of the Earth by TNS, asked 1000 people aged between the ages of 16 and 64 if they would support the introduction of a new law requiring the Government to tackle climate change by making annual reductions in UK carbon dioxide emissions, as called for by `The Big Ask' campaign.

4. South Tyneside FOE online: http://www.negg.org/stfoe/

5. FOE England, Northern Ireland & Wales: http://www.foe.co.uk/


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