Taxpayer Funded Environmentalism - The TaxPayers' Alliance

“On behalf of Greg Clark, Caroline Spelman and myself, I can confirm that
we recognise the need for local carbon budgets as part of the
implementation of the Climate Change Act.”
Chris Huhne, now Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, said: 45
“A local carbon budget for every local authority: that caps CO2 in the local
area in line with the scientific demands for emissions cuts and local
circumstances.”
Local Friends of the Earth groups have had some success in influencing local council’s
policy decisions. Councils including Birmingham, Brighton, Harrogate and Haringey have
passed motions committing to cut CO2 in their area by at least 40 per cent by 2020.
• “International Climate” is a campaign calling for rich countries to cut their emissions
by at least 40 per cent by 2020 without carbon offsetting. Friends of the Earth want
rich countries to reaffirm their commitment to the Kyoto Protocol, they emphasise
the need for rich countries to accept responsibility for causing climate change and
agree to cut their emissions first and fastest.
Friends of the Earth also want to see rich countries financially supporting developing
countries to tackle the impacts of climate change and to support non-carbon intensive
development paths.
Friends of the Earth also have a page on their website devoted to encouraging
members of the public to pressure the MPs into supporting the Friends of the Earth’s
agenda. It is known as “The Big Climate Connection”: 46
“200,000 people called on their MPs to introduce a Climate Change Act
and the Government acted. And with a new coalition in place, now’s the
time to make sure this Government steps up to the plate to tackle climate
change. The Big Climate Connection is calling on people to lobby their MPs
to ensure the new Government hears public opinion on climate change.
In May this year more than 200 new MPs were elected. We must remind
our MPs that climate change demands an urgent response at international,
national and local level.”
Friends of the Earth receive funding from public sector sources in Britain and the
European Commission.
45 http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefings/gs_campaign_intro.pdf
46 http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/climate/press_for_change/big_connection_24989.html
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