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Mark Hunter MP & the Cheadle Liberal Democrats
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MP pledges environmental support
May 12, 2006 3:41 PM
Mark pledges environmental support
Mark Hunter, Liberal Democrat MP for Cheadle, has pledged his support for new legislation to help tackle climate change.
The Climate Change Bill is the focus of Friends of the Earth's national Big Ask campaign, launched last year. The Big Ask calls on the Government to set legally binding targets to cut carbon dioxide emissions by three per cent per year. This would ensure that current and future governments meet the commitment of a 60 per cent reduction in emissions by 2050.
Although the Government initially committed to reducing carbon emissions by 20 per cent by 2010, it now appears from the latest government figures that the UK may not even reach the 12.5 per cent target set by the Kyoto Protocol. 157.4 million tonnes of carbon was released into the atmosphere in 2005 - 2.3 per cent more then when Labour came to power in 1997 and only 4.8 per cent below 1990 emission levels. Passing a law that mandates annual emission cuts will ensure critical measures to address climate change are made now, rather than being left for a future government to deal with.
Mark Hunter MP reaffirmed his commitment to the environment, stating that:
"As a developed nation, the UK needs to take the lead on implementing measures to tackle climate change. Making the reduction of greenhouse gases a legal obligation seems to me to be the most effective way of addressing this extremely important and far-reaching issue, and I will lend my full support to the bill."
Ali Abbas, lead climate campaigner at Manchester Friends of the Earth said:
"We're already seeing the effects of rising global temperatures, from the melting of the polar ice caps to the increase in frequency and severity of extreme weather events. Time is running out, and the Government needs to rise to the challenge of climate change and put a framework in place to deliver annual cuts in emissions before it's too late."
ENDS
Notes to Editors
1. Further information on the Friends of the Earth Big Ask campaign can be found at http://www.thebigask.com.
2. For details of the latest emissions figures, visit www.dti.gov.uk/energy/inform/energy_trends/mar_06.pdf.
3. Manchester Friends of the Earth is a prominent campaigns group, raising awareness and lobbying for policy changes at a local, regional, national and international level. The group consists entirely of volunteers, and its campaigns are funded by membership fees and individual donations. Up-to-date information is available on their website: http://www.manchesterfoe.org.uk. Manchester Friends of the Earth is part of a national network of local groups, affiliated to the national organisation (further information can be found at http://www.foe.co.uk).
4. Photos of Manchester Friends of the Earth's meeting with Mark Hunter (and a number of other Greater Manchester MPs) can be downloaded at: http://www.manchesterfoe.org.uk/mps/.
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