'The greenest government ever'?

Decades of increasing emissions have meant the UK owes a massive climate debt to the world’s poorest people to compensate for climate devastation already caused. With every ton of carbon dioxide released, crops continue to be destroyed, water becomes scarcer, disease continues to spread at an unprecedented level, and weather related disasters become more common. Ultimately, more and more lives are wrecked, and the climate debt continues to increase. 

When I speak with campaigners from the global south about climate debt, it quickly becomes apparent that whist they believe paying the debt is critical, it is also essential that the debt does not continue to grow. This is why WDM played a critical role in campaigning for the Climate Change Bill, which became an Act in 2008. Together with our allies around the UK, we pushed for, and won, the strongest climate change legislation in the world. What made this such a powerful piece of legislation was that it was supported by all political parties, not only the ruling Labour party. 

During his time in opposition, David Cameron spearheaded the Tories in speaking out on climate change. He revamped his party’s image and boosted his green credentials by campaigning for climate legislation. Climate change “is the biggest threat facing our planet” he declared boldly. He also said there must be an independent body to set targets and enforce the Government to “take the politics out of climate change and show our intention to get to grips with the problem”. The Climate Change Act was passed, and now the UK has a legally binding target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050.  

With Cameron having now been in power for nearly a year however, very little has actually been done. Whilst some concessions have been made to the climate movement, such as cancelling the third runway at Heathrow, airport expansion continues around the country and coal fired power stations would still be on the agenda, if any company still wanted to build them. 

However, under the Climate Change Act, the government has to set five year ‘carbon budgets’. The Committee on Climate Change has recommended that the Government reduce the UK’s carbon pollution by 60% by 2030, and the government is considering its response right now. To hit the 2050 target, the government must accept the committee’s advice in full. However, there are fears abound that this advice will be ignored and that it would slip by unnoticed. This makes it critical that Cameron is reminded of his promises, and made aware that we will hold him to account on his words. Please take a few minutes to join us, and other Stop Climate Chaos members, in making sure Cameron knows we won’t stand by and let empty promises go unnoticed on this. 

TAKE ACTION! Tell Cameron to take the advice of the Climate Change Committee

• Phone: ask supporters to ring the No 10 switchboard (020 7930 4433) and leave a message for the PM.
• Write: good old-fashioned letter to 10 Downing Street, London, SW1A 2AA
• Web: cut-and-paste the text below directly into the No 10 webform - https://email.number10.gov.uk/ 
• Fax: 020 7925 0918
• Tweet No 10: twitter.com/number10gov  
• Facebook Cameron: facebook.com/DavidCameron

 Suggested text

Subject: Deliver on the Climate Change Act

Dear Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister,  

When you came to power, you promised you would make this the ‘greenest government ever’.   Living up to that pledge means accepting the advice of the Committee on Climate Change on the UK’s carbon targets.  

I am asking you to accept that advice in full, including:

• Setting a domestic fourth carbon budget of 1950 MtCO2e.  
• Agreeing a target to reduce emissions by at least 60% by 2030, from 1990 levels. 
• Delivering at least a 37% carbon reduction by 2020, reflecting your support for an unconditional target of at least 30% for the EU.

Accepting these targets would ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in climate change policy, reduce emissions in line with our 2050 target, and help create a low-carbon economy.

Yours,