Join us in telling the government to do more to stop climate change by suporting the Big Ask Campaign
Why we need a Climate Change Bill
All the major political parties support a cut in climate change gases, and all the party leaders have spoken of the need for action. So why do emissions keep rising?
There are three political obstacles to action:
- Ballot box thinking. Politicians are reluctant to take long-term decisions if it might threaten their election chances. A new law would make them do this.
- Global teamwork. Solving climate change requires global action. The world’s leaders aren’t used to this. The UK needs to show leadership.
- Resisting change. Groups with a vested interest in polluting activities, such as the oil and motor industries, resist change. Particularly if they think other countries are not taking the issue
seriously. The Government needs to tackle this.
The politicians have a choice over how to make cuts in carbon emissions: either take a gradual slope down from current levels now, or leap off a cliff later.
Tackling climate change
A change in Government policy would make the greatest difference in cutting the UK’s carbon emissions. They can:
- Introduce new laws and taxes to encourage cleaner technologies
- Clean up inefficient, polluting industries including dirty power stations
- Force car manufacturers to make more efficient cars
- Make fossil fuel companies switch to renewable fuels
- Force energy companies to focus on saving energy (rather than making money by selling more energy)
- Invest in more fuel-efficient travel options
- Plan for more energy-efficient homes