Make the Climate Change Bill Count: How to Meet your MP

Transcription

1 If we choose, we can make our politicians take the action needed. They cannot resist us all. Together, we can stop climate chaos

2 Page 2 Autumn 2007 is a critical time for the I Count campaign. Through the Climate Change Bill we have a fantastic opportunity to set the UK on track to cut its emissions. The Bill would: legally commit the UK to take action to prevent climate change; give the UK a strong mandate in international negotiations; be a world first and set an international precedent. But to be effective the Bill needs to be made stronger, which is why we re calling for the following Top 3 Changes. 1Increase the carbon dioxide reduction target, from 60, to at least 80 per cent by Ensure that the UK s share of emissions from international aviation & shipping are included in the reduction targets. 3Set binding carbon budgets with annual milestones, to make sure that emissions reductions do not go off track.* * To find out why it s so important that MPs support these Top 3 Changes go to the I Count Communities map, at and follow the links to the I Count & the Climate Change Bill briefing. It was pressure on MPs from people like you that led to a draft Climate Change Bill. Now, pressure on MPs again could make the Climate Change Bill count. Meet your MP, your voice counts: make the Climate Change Bill count. This how-to guide provides you with everything you need to set up a meeting with your MP - from teaming up with other groups to make your voice louder, to different ways to meet them. Experience tells us that meeting MPs face to face is the most powerful way of lobbying them. Go to the I Count Communities map, at, where you can also find: I Count & the Climate Change Bill How to Use Local Media How to Write to your MP (if you can t meet them face to face) What is the Climate Change Bill? The Climate Change Bill is a proposal for a new piece of legislation that will set UK carbon dioxide reduction targets and help stop climate chaos, if it becomes law. I Count has been campaigning hard for this and there is now all-party support for the Bill. Over the next 5 months, the Bill will probably pass through various stages for consultation and changes and this is when your MP could make the Bill stronger and more effective. To find out more about the Bill and the Top 3 Changes we re calling for see I Count & the Climate Change Bill, on the I Count Communities map, at.

3 Page 3 1. How Your MP Can Make The Bill Count Your MP could make the Climate Change Bill count. Your MP represents you; let them know what you want. Your MP will vote on the Bill, and you can influence how they vote. We will need the majority of MPs to support our Top 3 Changes to the Bill (see below). This could mean that your MP will have to rebel against the party line, so they will need to feel strongly convinced, and that you their constituents really want them to do this. 1Increase the carbon dioxide reduction target, from 60, to at least 80 per cent by Ensure that the UK s share of emissions from international aviation & shipping are included in the reduction targets. 3Set binding carbon budgets with annual milestones, to make sure that emissions reductions do not go off track. What are MPs saying about making the Climate Change Bill Count? So that you re prepared, here s a bit of background on what MPs from the major parties are already saying about making the Climate Change Bill stronger. Liberal Democrat MPs have publicly supported our Top 3 Changes to the Bill. Conservative MPs broadly support these changes though they haven t explicitly called for international aviation emissions to be included. They are still developing their policy lines. The government position is that 60 per cent is already an ambitious target, that international aviation emissions should be included once there is an international agreement in place, and that five year carbon budgets in line with the Kyoto protocol are adequate. Many Labour MPs will support this line and will need to be convinced by you to rebel! Three different parliamentary committees, representing all the major parties, have now agreed that a 60 per cent carbon dioxide reduction target by 2050 does not reflect the latest science in preventing climate change; that excluding international aviation and shipping emissions from the targets weakens the bill; and that binding carbon budgets with annual milestones need to be set in order to properly track progress. How do I find my MP? Call or go to

4 Page 4 2. Bill & Campaign Timeline When What you need to do! What will be happening in Parliament This is when we expect things to happen in Parliament but timings can shift so keep an checking the I Count Communities map, at, to get the latest information Oct Nov Use the I Count Communities map, at, to team up with others in your area. Take a peek at the message boards to find out who is planning what, how you can get involved and to tell others what you re planning to do. Convince your MP to support a stronger Bill: Invite your MP to a public meeting Visit your MP together Write a joint letter to your local paper MPs return to Parliament Queen s Speech (November 6): when the Bill is expected to be introduced to Parliament. 2 nd reading (mid-end November): the Bill is debated in Parliament. This is when we want MPs to call for a stronger Bill. Dec - Jan Feb - Mar Get ready to increase the pressure in February for the latest information, keep checking February 9th 16th Keep checking the I Count Communities map, at, to find out more about our big February push for a strong Climate Change Bill. Committee stage: the Bill is discussed in detail by a committee of MPs who can propose/vote amendments. Report stage: all MPs vote on detailed amendments. This is when we need MPs to vote in favour of amendments to strengthen the Bill. Lords stage (mid Mar May): Lords consider the Bill. They can vote to agree with MPs in which case it becomes law in July. Or they can send it back to the Commons if they think some parts need looking at again, for example target levels. If amendments to the Bill become controversial, the Lords could keep returning the Bill until Oct Work With Other Groups To Persuade Your MP When enough people do and say the same thing no politician can afford to ignore us Experience tells us that meeting MPs face to face is the most powerful way of lobbying them, so even if you ve never done this before, you can work with others who have. 1Team up with other groups in your area. There are over 60 different organisations in the Stop Climate Chaos coalition and they re all gearing up to make the Climate Change Bill count. To find groups near you, use the I Count Communities map, at. Through the map you can find other people near you who are taking action to stop climate change and meeting their MP. Use the message boards at to announce your plans find out who else is planning what & how you can get involved ask for support if you ve got a great idea, but need other people to help make it happen. 2 Working together with other groups, convince your MP to support our Top 3 Changes. Invite your MP to a public meeting, team up with other groups and

5 Page 5 make it high-profile with local MPs and political figures; Visit your MP together; Write a joint letter to your local paper. MPs act when they know lots of people want them to do the same thing. There are more than 60 national organisations in the Stop Climate Chaos coalition, with about 4 million supporters between them. That s a lot of voices calling for a strong and effective Bill. To help you advertise a meeting with other groups and your MP we ve included a poster template for you to use. 4. Meet Your MP Meet your MP: it s the loudest way to make your voice heard. Tell them why you re concerned about climate change and what you want them to do to make the Bill stronger. 1) Before the meeting a) Arrange a meeting: It s easiest to talk to your MP at their surgery. Call your MP s office to find out when and where their surgery is. Or you could invite your MP to a public meeting, team up with other groups and make it high-profile with local MPs and political figures. Invite a local celebrity or other high-profile person to open the meeting. Use the poster at the end of this briefing to let people in the area know it s happening. What is a surgery? Most MPs hold a surgery to give the people in their constituency an opportunity to meet them. Constituents can turn up at an MP's office to discuss matters that concern them. MPs usually hold surgeries once a week and advertise them in the local press and sometimes in the local library. b) Team up with others in your local area and visit your MP together if possible. The I Count Communities map, at, makes it really easy for you to find other groups, go to to see for yourself. Use the message boards to find out who else is planning what and how you can get involved. Use them to ask for support if you ve got a great idea, but need other people to help make it happen. c) Brief yourself! Go to the I Count Communities map, at, where we ve provided you with a briefing about the Bill I Count & the Climate Change Bill. This will help you answer any awkward questions. And if your MP asks you something you don t know about, just tell them that you ll find out the answer and get back to them. 2) During the meeting Tell your MP why you re particularly concerned. Climate change will have a huge range of impacts on people, wildlife and ecosystems. Your MP needs to know why you care about climate change, and why you believe it s critical to stop climate chaos. Climate change could cause the extinction of many wild and wonderful plants and animals - as well as the habitats they depend on around the world.

6 Page 6 Climate change will hit the poor first and worst, and yet they are least able to cope with its impacts. They are the most vulnerable to 'natural' disasters; while being the least able to move from affected regions, and the most reliant on harvests coming at the right time. The World Health Organisation says that 150,000 people already die every year from climate change. Ask your MP to support the following Top 3 Changes to the Bill: 1Increase the carbon dioxide reduction target, from 60, to at least 80 per cent by Ensure that the UK s share of emissions from international aviation & shipping are included in the reduction targets. 3Set binding carbon budgets with annual milestones, to make sure that emissions reductions do not go off track. Keep the discussion on track: your MP is more likely to listen to you. Make notes during the meeting so you can remind your MP what they say, and to feed back to us. Give your MP a copy of the MP s briefing included below. 3) After the meeting a) Write to your MP thanking them for their time, reminding them of the Top 3 Changes and what they said in the meeting. Make sure your letter will be noticed: Use your own words and make it personal write directly from your own experience, remind them of what they said in the meeting. Be clear that you want your MP to support the Top 3 Changes to the Bill (above) Keep it short and to the point (if writing a letter one side of A4 should be enough). Remember to include your full name and address and ask for a reply. Write a joint letter from all the groups in your area, find the groups on the I Count Communities map, at How do I find my MP s address? To post a letter to your MP use this address: House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA. To your MP, find their address (if they have one) on

7 Page 7 Sample Letter to MP [INSERT YOUR MP S ADDRESS] [INSERT DATE] Dear [INSERT MP S NAME] You can make the Climate Change Bill Count! [INSERT YOUR ADDRESS] Thank you very much for meeting with us. We were very pleased to have the opportunity to tell you why it s so important to stop climate change now. [INSERT THE REASONS WHY YOU ARE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE]. We have a fantastic opportunity to set the UK on track to cut emissions with the Climate Change Bill. To make the Bill really Count it s critical that you vote in favour of our Top 3 changes: Increase the carbon dioxide reduction target, from 60, to at least 80 per cent by Ensure that the UK s share of emissions from international aviation & shipping are included in the reduction targets. Set binding carbon budgets with annual milestones, to make sure that emissions reductions do not go off track. During the meeting, you agreed that [INSERT QUOTE FROM MP] We hope that you support these changes as the Bill passes through Parliament and that you make sure the UK has a strong and effective Climate Change Act. Yours sincerely, [INSERT THE NAMES OF MEMBERS OF YOUR GROUPS HERE] b) Please tell us what your MP said. We want to make sure that we have the support of a majority of MPs so it s critical that we know which MPs are supportive of our changes and which MPs are wavering. If you re part of a national organisation, feed back to the main office. So if you re a local Friends of the Earth group, get back to FoE and tell them how the meeting went; if you re a local CAFOD campaigner, get back to CAFOD, etc. If you re not a member of any, please send your feedback via the I Count Communities map, at

8 MAKE THE CLIMATE CHANGE BILL COUNT! What s happening? Where? Which day? What time? Other info

9 MP BRIEFING We welcome the introduction of the Climate Change Bill, and want to make sure that it is as strong and effective as possible. The Bill would: Legally commit the UK to take action to prevent climate change; Give the UK a strong mandate in international negotiations; Be a world first and set an international precedent. There are 3 Top Changes we want to see to strengthen the Bill. These changes will make sure the UK does its fair share in keeping global warming to no more than 2 C. Global warming beyond 2 C will make the world a much more dangerous place, with positive feedback mechanisms, where the effects of climate change are themselves speeding up global warming. 1Increase the carbon dioxide reduction target, from 60, to at least 80 per cent by Ensure that the UK s share of emissions from international aviation & shipping are included in the reduction targets. 3Set binding carbon budgets with annual milestones, to make sure that emissions reductions do not go off track. For I Count there are 3 key criteria for setting the emissions reduction target: that we need to keep global warming to within 2 C; that the UK does its fair share in cutting emissions; that we use the latest science to set the reduction target. Why is I Count calling for an 80% cut in UK emissions by 2050? Broadly speaking the difference between the Government s proposed 60% cut, and I Count s 80% (including aviation and shipping) is the difference between 2 and 4 C of global warming. 2 C of warming won t mean that there s no climate change. But go beyond 2 C, and the risks grow hugely, according to the Government s own Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change. Why should aviation and shipping be included? In the UK, international shipping accounts for about 1 per cent of UK emissions. Currently the UK's carbon dioxide emissions from aviation account for 6.3 per cent of the UK's total CO2 emissions but, using a multiplier of 2.5 to account for the release at altitude (the multiplier used by the Department of Transport) then aviation accounts for 12.4 per cent of the UK's contribution to climate change. If the growth in aviation continues as predicted, and the planned reductions take place from all others sectors of the UK economy, flying will account for almost half of the UK s contribution to climate change by Why do we need annual milestones? The draft Bill proposes legally binding 5 year CO2 reduction targets. The problem with this is that governments don t have neat 5 year life spans, meaning that during any 5 year period there could be 2 different governments. Annual milestones would: bring greater transparency; help keep governments on track; make it easier to set in place new measures if reductions were falling behind schedule. I Count is the campaign of Stop Climate Chaos, a coalition of more than 60 organisations, including Christian Aid, Friends of the Earth, Oxfam, RSPB, Unison, Women s Institute and the World Development Movement..