The Future Starts Here: Parliament debates 10:10
Posted on 19. Oct, 2009 by annied in campaign
This week Parliament is debating signing up to 10:10. Tracey Todhunter of 10:10 tells us why this is such a watershed:
Our world leaders have finally recognized and accepted that reducing the levels of greenhouse gases that we emit could significantly reduce or reverse the impacts of climate change and many are launching initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide. This post isn’t about the scientific debate, though, it’s a personal plea to our Government to take notice of citizen demand for action on dealing with the situation we find ourselves in.
In recent months, President Obama has seized hold of the climate change agenda and the UK’s Climate Change Act has become the first legislation in the world to set legally binding targets for reducing greenhouse gases . All the evidence points to that fact that current policies intended to increase energy efficiency and cut emissions are not working well enough, we need smarter, faster, deeper cuts in emissions if we are to have any hope of achieving the UK Government’s ambition of 80% by 2050.
This week our Government has the opportunity to take a bold leap towards immediate cuts in our emissions. The Liberal Democrats have tabled a motion to garner cross party support for 10:10 Based on one simple ask, 10:10 calls on all of us to commit to a 10% reduction in our carbon emissions in 2010. On Wednesday, the motion being discussed will call on parliament, the government estate and the public sector to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 10% in 2010 compared to 2009 levels. Gordon Brown, his cabinet, the shadow cabinet and the Liberal Democrat party have already signed up. At the time of writing, the 10:10 campaign has gathered over 35,000 supporters from all sectors. The motion may just have enough support to pass.
The UK population wants strong, imaginative leaders. Yes, we know it won’t be easy, but is that a good enough reason not to try? The time has come for all politicians to put their differences aside and do what needs to be done. While David Cameron was quick to be seen signing up his entire shadow cabinet to 10:10, not one Conservative led council has followed his lead, my own MP has had 5 weeks to answer my simple: Have you signed up to 10:10? I’m still waiting for him to find time to reply, though he has found the time to make his opposition to local wind farms very loud and very public. On Wednesday he has a chance to redeem himself, maybe even capture my vote at the forthcoming election.
The campaign organization 38 Degrees have devised a simply way for UK citizens to ask their MP to support 10:10, and I spent most of my weekend phoning friends, colleagues and contacts at other organizations asking them to get the word out, get on the phone, email, whatever works for you, and ask your elected representative that they TO take action now. After all: they work for us – and many certainly haven’t done much recently to inspire confidence. Let’s not give our politicians another opportunity to let us down.
I’m an optimist, not always easy when you work in the climate change arena, but when I was Campaign Manager at the Low Carbon Communities Network I witnessed the creativity and strength that exists at the grass roots in response to climate change. Believe me, it’s not enough to simply hope your elected representative takes the bold step to support a 10% reduction on Wednesday. Please, click on the 38 Degrees link now and join us in demanding cross party support for this bold motion. If you still need convincing, the UK Youth Delegation to Copenhagen have written passionately and eloquently [here] outlining how you can make your voice heard and why this vote matters. As I write this piece, Gordon Brown is preparing to speak to the Major Economies Forum ahead of Copenhagen, according to Radio 4’s Today programme he will tell them “There is no plan B.” Wednesday will show whether the government he leads is capable of more than just rhetoric.
Tracey Todhunter is a co founder of the Low Carbon Communities Network and Community Liaison at 10:10.
Watch: how you can get your council involved. It’s all about acting local!
thruflo
Oct 19th, 2009
This really is a question for every MP when they wake up, stumble into the bathroom and take an early morning look in the mirror.
Are they worthy of being our representative? You can be damn sure that as a imperative of climate change inexorably grows in force they’ll need to be.
A vote for 10:10 is a vote for their continued constitutional relevance.