You can click on this link if you would like to send an e-mail or letter like the one below to your MP:
Dear ….
I do not know how many others will be sending you this e-mail. I suppose it's possible that I am the only one who will do so. Just in case you receive a large number of them, however, I thought I would at least write something a little different to the text prepared by the WWF at the top of my e-mail.
I am not sure how eloquent I can be, but I would like to appeal to your conscience and your reason. I'm sorry also, if that sounds like an assumption that you usually heed neither, but in these times it seems that it is rare for a politician even to possess those two things. We are seeing in the world now in at least two ways, how the politics of economic expansion is ultimately to the detriment of all. We are suffering for the greed of those with power not only through the loss of the beauty of our environment, and the squandering of resources, but also in economic instability. Can we afford to continue in such a short-sighted manner? I urge you sincerely to do the utmost in your power as a politician to support those changes in our society that will ensure we continue to have a coherent society. The words below are not my own, but I have read them and back them wholeheartedly. Thank you for reading:
I am writing to you as my MP to urge you to seize this last opportunity to help strengthen the Climate Change Bill. It is vital that three important changes are made to the Bill to ensure the UK does its fair share in tackling climate change.
Firstly, the emissions reduction target for 2050 must be increased to at least 80% in order to reflect the latest science. As you aware, the Committee on Climate Change has just given its advice to the Prime Minister that the UK should make a reduction of at least 80% by 2050 and it is vital that Parliament amends the Bill to reflect this. In addition, the 2020 reduction target must also be strengthened to 40% to ensure that the Government starts making substantial cuts straightaway and sets the UK on course towards a low-carbon economy.
Secondly, the UK’s fair share of emissions from international aviation and shipping must be included within the targets of the Bill. As you will be aware, the Committee on Climate Change also recommended that the 80% target cover all sectors including international aviation and shipping. It does not make sense to exclude the emissions from rapidly growing sectors when every other part of the economy will have to do its bit to meet the targets. Successful efforts to reduce emissions will be undermined by the growth in aviation and shipping unless they are brought into the Bill. Therefore, I urge you to vote to include international aviation and shipping within the targets of the Bill from the outset.
Finally, it is essential that the vast majority of these emissions reductions are actually achieved here in the UK. At present the Bill contains a loophole which allows the UK Government and business to buy an unlimited amount of carbon credits from overseas to achieve the reduction targets. Ultimately this loophole could open the door to a whole new generation of unabated coal-fired power stations, such as at Kingsnorth, which will ruin attempts to build a low-carbon economy. The Committee on Climate Change has called for a fully decarbonised power sector in the UK by 2030 so the overreliance on carbon credits is crucial. Therefore, it is vital that a requirement, added in the House of Lords, that 70% of the emission reductions are achieved domestically, is reinstated in the Bill.
The remaining stages of the Climate Change Bill mark a final opportunity to improve this legislation to ensure that the UK truly does its fair share to tackle climate change and is able to agree a strong global deal at Copenhagen next year.
Yours sincerely,
Quentin S. Crisp
