South Tyneside

Press Release 3rd May 2005: Choose life when you choose your MP 

If any of the local candidates in the forthcoming election want to tackle climate change, then they would turn their words into action, says South Tyneside Friends of the Earth (South Tyneside FOE).

The environmental campaign group say that it's about time real action was taken to stop the increase in climate damaging pollution, and this election is an opportunity to quiz the candidates. 

Bryan Atkinson, South Tyneside FOE spokesperson said: 

"The three major parties rightly talk of climate change as one of the greatest problems facing humanity.  Unfortunately, apart from a few token projects, they have failed to demonstrate their concerns in practical terms, and the emission of greenhouse gases in the UK is rising. 

"This is from the increase in car use, the growth of air journeys, and the soaring energy use we require to power our lifestyles. 

"These all have considerable local, national and global negative environmental and health impacts, and contribute to the global effects of climate change.  We are seeing the effects on lives and property now, and human suffering will only get worse if nothing is done. 

"But it is up to us as responsible citizens to be part of the solution to minimise the impacts of climate change.  Partly by changing our habits and lifestyles, and in the forthcoming election by making it clear to candidates that we want real action now.  This needs to be treated as a matter of urgency on a local and national level to solve what is a global problem. 

"Action must be taken now on global warming.  Let's call candidates to account - what real steps are they planning to take to avert this disaster?" 

Notes
1. PM Tony Blair's comments on climate change: http://politics.guardian.co.uk/green/story/0,,1305030,00.html

2. Conservative leader Michael Howard's climate change claims: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3651052.stm

3. Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Norman Baker's climate change position:
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/libdems2004/story/0,14992,1309444,00.html

4. The Green Party and climate change: http://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/1943

5.  Causes of climate change:
http://www.carbontrust.org.uk/carbontrust/climate_change/iocc4_1_2.html

6.  South Tyneside FOE online: http://www.negg.org/stfoe/; uk: http://www.foe.co.uk/

7.  Road transport is currently responsible for around 22 per cent of UK carbon dioxide emissions, and that level is expected to rise.

8.  Traffic levels have risen under Labour, despite a promise by Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, to reduce them.  Traffic levels are now over ten per cent higher than when Labour came to power in 1997.