Local MP shows royal support for climate bill
News Release
For immediate release: 30th October 2006
Contacts
Ali Abbas: 07786 090520
Paul Waring: 0161 224 2303
Photo
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Members of Manchester Friends of the Earth with John Leech |
John Leech MP has shown he's a keen supporter of the climate change bill that is currently going through Parliament. The Lib Dem MP for Manchester Withington last week met with campaigners from Manchester Friends of the Earth [1] and agreed to put pressure on the Government to include a climate change bill in this year's Queen's Speech.
Taking place in November, the Queen's Speech sets out the legislative agenda for the year ahead. Although it is delivered by the reigning monarch, it is written by the Government and ultimately it is the Cabinet that decides which bills make the speech. During October, Friends of the Earth members are lobbying their MPs to ask them to call on government to include a climate change bill on that list.
John Leech MP said:
"Since 1997 Tony Blair has grabbed the headlines with impressive targets on cutting carbon emissions. But the hard fact is the Labour Government isn't doing enough about climate change - things are getting worse, not better. Emissions have actually gone up since 1997 and they are still rising [2]. A climate change bill needs to be included in the Queen's Speech so that Parliament has to make time to debate and pass such a bill into law."
John Leech was one of the first MPs to back Friends of the Earth's campaign, The Big Ask [3], which calls for a new climate change law that would commit the Government to cutting the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by the UK by three per cent year on year. The bill has already received the support of 380 cross-party MPs.
Manchester Friends of the Earth campaigner Paul Waring said:
"Long term targets for cutting carbon dioxide have not led to cuts in emission - because they are so distant they have not been given the priority they require. A climate change bill would set annual targets for carbon reductions, with annual reports and independent scrutiny of progress. It would force the current government to face up to the problem of climate change, rather than leaving it for a future government and future generation to deal with."
ENDS
Notes to Editors
[1] Manchester Friends of the Earth is a prominent campaigns group, raising awareness and lobbying for policy changes at a local, regional, national and international level. The group consists entirely of volunteers, and its campaigns are funded by membership fees and individual donations. Up-to-date information is available on its website: http://www.manchesterfoe.org.uk. Manchester Friends of the Earth is part of a national network of local groups, affiliated to the national organisation (further information can be found at http://www.foe.co.uk).
[2] The report 'Energy Trends' is produced on a quarterly
basis by the DTI:
http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/statistics/publications/trends
[3] Further information on the Friends of the Earth Big Ask campaign can be found at http://www.thebigask.com.