Climate Change
The climate is changing and it is happening now.
Global climate change is the single biggest environmental threat facing the planet.
Extreme weather events are predicted to become more frequent because of climate change
Much can be done to stop catastrophic climate change but decisive action is needed from governments and industry now.
Are you worried about climate change?
What can you do?
Read on for more information and to find out lots of ways you can tackle climate change.
Join the National Climate Change Protests
Climate Camp is an annual protest which gathers people for an event lasting for several days at a site responsible for major greenhouse gas emissions. Previous protests have been held at Drax Power Station, Heathrow Airport and Kingsnorth Power Station. For details of the next event click on “Subscribe” on the website home page.
The Campaign Against Climate Change organize an annual major climate change march in London. The next march will be on Saturday 6th December. Coach tickets from York are available from Fairer World, Gillygate, telephone 655116. Speakers at the event include George Monbiot, Caroline Lucas – MEP, and Michael Meacher.
What have we been doing locally?
We have campaigned on many aspects of climate change. If you want to
get involved, please contact our climate change campaign group:
jennie_dodson(at)hotmail.com.
We have been campaigning on the
Climate Change Bill. We are trying to ensure
that this new law will cut greenhouse gas emissions by the amount that
scientists say is necessary. We want the government to set annual
targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions (at least 3% per year) and
we want emissions from aviation and shipping to be included when the
government estimates greenhouse gas emissions from the UK. We have had
numerous stalls on climate change and hundreds of people have signed
postcards asking the government to support a tough climate change law.
We visited our MP to ask him to support the climate change bill. We worked hard to persuade him to support the new law and put pressure on the government to make sure that the new law makes the UK a world leader in tackling climate change.
Great news! Climate law a world first
Parliament voted on 28th October for the world-beating legislation after a 3 and a half year campaign by Friends of the Earth. The law commits the Government to deep cuts in the UK's emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050. The first of its kind in the world, the law is a huge step in the fight against climate change.
In York and around the country the public demanded a strong climate law and the Government has been forced to listen.
The law means:
- Big cuts
At least 80% cuts in greenhouse gases by 2050. - Monitoring
Regular reporting to Parliament to check we're on track. - Policy
Government will have to consider climate impacts in all of it's policies. - Solutions
Clear direction will give business the confidence to invest in solutions to climate change.
Only the start...
The hard work doesn't stop here, find out more about climate change and
what you can do
What you can do:
Keep the pressure on your local MP to support laws that fight climate change such as a strong renewable energy strategy for the UK. Join the energy revolution
Local MPs are Hugh Bayley at York, Ann McIntosh at Vale of York, John Greenway at Ryedale and John Grogan at Selby.
Their websites and contact details are all at http://www.WriteToThem.com or
http://www.TheyWorkForYou.com
Also have a look at Hugh
Bayley's website
Renewable Energy
One of the easiest ways of cutting your carbon dioxide emissions is to switch your electricity supplier to one that supplies you with electricity generated only from renewable energy sources.
Companies offering "Green electricity" include:
Good Energy
Ecotricity
RSPB
energy
Energy Efficiency
You can get free advice on making your home more energy efficient from the Energy Advice Centre.
See http://www.energypartnership.org.uk/
Or http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/content/view/full/368
The Science of climate change
The Royal
Society and the Met
Office both have some excellent
information about the science of climate change on their websites.
Other useful websites about climate change
See Climate Ark for the latest news at http://www.climateark.org/
Also articles by George Monbiot at http://www.monbiot.com/