seeking justice in a changing climate
We’ve got some great news to share with you! Last week Ed Miliband, the new Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, announced that the target for reducing the UK’s emissions by 2050 would be raised from 60% to 80% in the Climate Change Bill.
For over two years Tearfund has been asking you to join thousands of other supporters in campaigning, praying and making changes in your lifestyle as part of the campaign run as part of the Stop Climate Chaos coalition. It’s been a long haul, sometimes it may even have seemed like we were asking you to bang your head on a brick wall – BUT, it’s paid off. The campaign has been asking for three things which will ensure that the UK plays its part in keeping the global temperature rise below 2 degrees, these were:
• Ensure that 80% of UK emissions are cut by 2050
• Include annual targets and milestones (to keep progress on track)
• Include the UK’s share of international aviation and shipping in emissions reduction targets.
Be encouraged, CAMPAIGNING WORKS! Two of the three asks have now been accepted by the government, but we’re still pushing for international aviation and shipping to be included in the Bill. Aviation is still the fastest growing source of CO2 emissions and needs to be included in this new law.
Climate change is a justice issue because the poorest who are being hit hardest have contributed the least to the problem. Our energy hungry lifestyles have caused and are causing irreparable damage to the climate, and we’re not the ones having to adapt.
So hopefully you’re encouraged at what can happen when we all shout with one voice, and we’d like you to write to your MP one last time. They will be voting on the Climate Change Bill next week. We need to try to get aviation and shipping emissions built into the Bill.
Click here to take this action.