Essential background

What's going on?

Earlier in the year, Progressio campaigners took an online action to urge the Prime Minister to adopt an ambitious target for greenhouse gas emissions. When the news broke that the Government had adopted an even stronger target (of 50% of 1990 levels by 2025), it was cause for celebration! You helped make the difference.

But the gains we’ve made are in danger. During his speech at the Conservative Party Conference last week, the Chancellor, George Osborne MP, stated “let's at the very least resolve that we're going to cut our carbon emissions no slower but also no faster than our fellow countries in Europe."

Is that a u-turn?

The Government is arguing that this is not a u-turn. This is because the original announcement in May included a get out clause which said that they would review progress against other European countries in 2014, just in case the UK was out on a limb – Progressio warned at the time that this was a loophole. 

Mr Osborne’s speech now shows that he wants to go from this ‘just in case’ review to a firm ‘in any event’ position. That’s a clear threat to the emissions reductions target, and it shouldn’t go unchallenged. Take action now!

Why act now?

It’s important to act quickly because, before the end of the year, the Department for Energy and Climate Change will be setting out formally how it intends to achieve the emission reductions. It is important to know that the Government as a whole will be committed to these plans.

We need to show that there is public support for the emissions reduction targets and that at least some of us are watching what’s happening. Please write to your MP and ask them for reassurance from the Prime Minister that the Government will stick to its target.

Why are we handwriting?

Research shows that personal letters have more of an impact than postcard or email campaigns, so while this is a smaller-scale action, the impact will be big. Even if a few dozen MPs write to him, the Prime Minister will notice: more MPs means the issue gets pushed higher up the agenda.

We’ve written a very short draft letter, and you can download it here. Please copy it out (feel free to change it if you like) and send it to your MP. If you can get a few people to sign it, or copy it themselves, that would be great too. If you can also tell us what you did (by emailing daniel[at]progressio.org.uk) that would help us keep track.

What's the view in Progressio's work around the world?

Adapting to climate change and working for a sustainable environment is an important part of Progressio's work.

One of our development workers in El Salvador, Maggie von Vogt, works with communities devastated by climate change. Her message was clear when we asked her about this: “there really is no other option than to move forward with this kind of legislation – as of yesterday!”

Please act now in solidarity with Maggie and communities around the world.