The Big Ask - The Draft Climate Bill
The second stage of The Big Ask is in full swing and we need your help. The closing date for responses to the draft Climate Change Bill has passed but we are not finished there.
The Government will take some time to update the Bill and we hope it will have several improvements as explained below.
It is a fantastic achievement to get the government to propose this in the first place but as I’m sure you are aware it could do with some toughening up. This is where we come in. We need to tell the government what we think of it and what needs to be improved.
Please write to your MP (details and example letter below) outlining your concerns.
In a nutshell the bill will:
Set legal reductions for carbon dioxide emissions for the next few decades, with 5 year targets.
Require annual reports to Parliament.
Set up a statutory advisory group to advise the Government on what sectors of the economy should reduce emissions and by how much.
Call to strengthen it as follows:
The Government are excluding international aviation & shipping emissions from the target, we want to include these. In fact the government seems set on allowing air travel to expand massively by planning new runways and refusing to put duty on fuel. How can we control emissions when an area like this is allowed to expand un-checked.
The Government want to reach a 60% cut by 2050 which is based on outdated science. More and more scientists are concluding we need reductions of at least 80%.
The Government want to set five year targets; we want shorter term targets, ideally year on year. Five years is potentially the length of a government. It would be too easy for one administration to blame the previous one for missing targets.
The Government want an advisory group to advise it, we want it to have real teeth to keep the Government on track.
How to Contact your MP
We need you to tell your MP to vote for a strong climate bill when it comes to Parliament later this year. Download our example letter, modify it to make it more individual and send it to you MP.
Below is a list of the local MPs to Winchester. Clicking on their name will take you to their website where you can find their constituency address. If yours is not there is can be found by going to www.writetothem.com.
Mark Oaten. Winchester. (LD)
Chris Huhne. Eastleigh. (LD)
Sandra Gidley. Romsey. (LD)
John Denham. Southampton Itchen. (LAB)
Alan Whitehead. Southampton Test. (LAB)
Sir George Young. North West Hampshire. (CON)
Peter Viggers. Gosport. (CON)
Sarah McCarthy-Fry. Portsmouth North. (LAB)
Mike Hancock CBE. Portsmouth South. (LD)
Michael Mates. Hampshire East. (CON)
Mark Hoban. Fareham. (CON)
David Willets. Havant. (CON)
Maria Miller. Basingstoke. (CON)
