Opposition to 10:10 Campaign Nearsighted (North East and Central Fife Liberal Democrats)

North East and Central Fife Liberal Democrats <hq@necflibdems.org.uk>

Opposition to 10:10 Campaign Nearsighted

October 26, 2009 9:09 AM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

Borders MP Michael Moore has expressed his disappointment at the Government's opposition to a Liberal Democrat motion that would have committed public bodies and Government departments to supporting the 10:10 climate change campaign.

The 10:10 campaign is working to encourage individuals and businesses to reduce their carbon emissions by 10% before the end of 2010. At the recent Liberal Democrat party conference, delegates voted through an ambitious green agenda that included calls for global greenhouse gas emissions to peak no later than 2015 and for industrialised countries, including the UK, to commit to reduce their emissions by 40% by 2020.Michael Moore MP: Borders

Mr Moore is encouraging his constituents to join him in signing up to the 10:10 campaign.

Commenting, Mr Moore said;

'As the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference approaches, we are reaching a critical point in the fight against man-made climate change. Immediate action to reduce carbon emissions is required if we are to avoid catastrophic damage to the global environment.

'It is difficult to see how Ministers can claim that the UK is taking the lead in the fight against climate change after their opposition to a motion that would have reduced the Government's own carbon emissions significantly.

'The Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has signed up to the 10:10 campaign, as have a number of my other Parliamentary colleagues. Staff at my Parliamentary and Constituency offices and I will be joining them in attempting to cut our carbon emissions and I would encourage all of my constituents to do likewise.'

Notes:

The full text of the motion tabled by the Liberal Democrats is as follows:

'That this House believes that it is vital that the UK demonstrates political leadership at all levels in response to the climate crisis, and that this is particularly important ahead of the United Nations Climate Change summit in Copenhagen if there is to be an international agreement which will avert the worst effects of catastrophic climate change; further believes that immediate practical responses to the crisis should include a massive expansion of renewable energy and energy efficiency and a commitment for all homes in Britain to be warm homes within 10 years; acknowledges that action taken now to tackle the climate crisis will cost less than action taken in the future; notes the declared support of Labour and Conservative frontbenchers to the objective of the 10:10 campaign which calls for 10 per cent. greenhouse gas emission reductions by the end of 2010; agrees that the House will sign up to the 10:10 campaign; calls on Her Majesty's Government and all public sector bodies now to make it their policy to achieve a 10 per cent. reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by the end of 2010; and further calls on the Government to bring a delivery plan before this House by the end of 2009 on how these objectives will be achieved.'

The full text of the opposition day debate is available online at:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm091021/debtext/91021-0014.htm#09102134000003