Lobby MP to push Government to take urgent action on Climate Change
Update: Monday, 15 November 2010
Support from Craig Whittaker MP
Craig Whittaker MP said: "I've heard from Friends of the Earth today on how important it is that we all take urgent action to tackle climate change. I support the Coalition Government Agreement that, at the forthcoming international negotiations in Cancun, we should be pressing for an increase in the EU proposed reductions to 30% (that's more than the existing 20% target), and I have listened to the argument from Friends of the Earth that we need to go further - to 40% reductions. I also support the measures in the government's new Energy Security and Green Economy Bill that will improve energy efficiency, which will also help tackle fuel poverty, and again I will listen to the arguments from groups like Friends of the Earth where they believe the bill may need to be strengthened.
But my view is that here in Calderdale, and the UK, we need to lead the way, set an example and become a beacon for others. We have many great local companies working on various aspects of energy efficiency - like Ploughcroft, solar panel installers; Evoco Energy Ltd, manufacturing wind turbines; and Q Gen Heat Pumps, and TEV Ltd, manufacturers of air and ground source heat pumps - who can only benefit from the low carbon economy of the future.
For that reason I would like to see Calderdale Council set an emissions reductions framework that will over the long-term produce outcomes broadly equal to the government's national 2020 targets, and which will therefore provide the certainty to encourage more investment, more jobs, and greater energy savings and security for everyone."
Source: Calderdale Friends of the Earth news
Thursday, 28 October 2010
In early November environmental and other groups - including Friends of the Earth - up and down the country will be meeting their MPs to urge immediate action on
climate change: at the international negotiations at Cancun, Mexico in early December, and here in the UK by supporting a new Energy
Bill in Parliament that will provide the framework for stronger energy efficiency measures, including creating a Green Investment
Bank and regulating carbon emissions from coal-fired power stations.
We also want our MPs to push for immediate action here in Calderdale.
This is part of the Big Climate Connection organised by the Stop Climate Chaos coalition and you can find out more here. There's also information on the Calderdale FOE website. If you live around Hebden Bridge your MP is Craig Whitaker, and we'll also be meeting Linda Riordan, MP for Halifax. To push for local action we intend to lobby Leader of the Council Janet Battye as well.
We've arranged meetings with Craig on Saturday 6th November, in Todmorden (Town Hall) at 11am & Brighouse (Constituency Office, 1st Floor 16 Church Lane Brighouse HD6 1AT) at 2.15pm.
Just come along and join us in this simple action to protect our global and local environment. Further information from Calderdale Coordinator for SCC/FOE Anthony Rae: ar@anthonyrae.com or tel: 01422 845061. Please also tell your friends and colleagues that they can come as well, and let us know what you're planning so that we have an idea of numbers.