2. The climate is changing. It’s time to ask questions.
Hello. My name is __________ and I’m here to talk to you about The Big Ask – Friends of the Earth’s climate change campaign.
It’s all about getting the government to really do something about climate change – not in 20 years, but now.

3. The climate is changing
Climate change is real, it’s already happening, and if we don’t start something about it very soon it’s going to have horrendous impacts on people, ecosystems and wildlife .

4. Greenhouse gases
We no longer need to argue about the science[i]. We know that since the Industrial Revolution, climate changing gases – mainly carbon dioxide - have been building up in the atmosphere, thanks to the burning of coal, oil and gas. The so-called ‘greenhouse effect’ means that these gases warm the Earth by creating a ‘blanket’ around the Earth that traps heat. Levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are now higher than at any point in the last 400,000 years.
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[i] Some quotes to support:
Dr Geoff Jenkins, UK Met Office's Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research: "Over the last few decades there's been much more evidence for the human influence on climate. We've reached the point where it's only by including human activity that we can explain what's happening." – see
United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: “There is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities… Changes in sea level, snow cover, ice extent, and precipitation are consistent with a warming climate near the Earth’s surface.” -
The Guardian

5. Temperature rising
As a result, the Earth is warming. Globally, the ten warmest years on record have all been since 1990 – including the record-breaking 2003, in which temperatures soared over 38 degrees Celsius (that’s 100 degrees Fareinheit) in the UK for the first time. And it’s predicted that at the rate we’re going, before too much longer every other year will be even hotter than 2003[i].
[i] Research by the Hadley Centre, as reported by BBC: - or see
Hadley Centre

6. Impacts at home
The effects of climate change will have huge impacts on people’s health, even in rich European countries such as the UK. Indeed, an estimated 26,000 Europeans died prematurely during the 2003 heatwave[i].
There’ll be huge economic impacts too. Already in England and Wales over four million people and properties are at risk of flooding .
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[i] DEFRA: Scientific and Technical Report, 2004

7. Impacts globally
Rich nations are responsible for the vast majority of the emissions that cause climate change, but the impacts of climate change will fall unfairly upon the poor. Because the rich nations have more money, they’re more able to make the expensive changes necessary to adapt to the harsh impacts of climate change[i].
But it’s not as simple as that for the world’s poor. In Africa, because 70 per cent of the working population are dependent on direct rainfall to feed the small-scale crops they farm and need to survive[ii], climate change could have an appalling impact. As sea levels rise with the temperatures, so countries such as Bangladesh will lose vast tracts of their territory to the waves, with obvious consequences for people’s lives and health. And some low-lying island states, such as the Maldives, may become entirely uninhabitable. ---
[i] The economic cost of climate change may reach $150 billion per year within the next ten years.
[ii] Africa: Up in smoke? The second report from the Working Group on Climate Change and Development
[iii] Cited in New Scientist, October 2003: see

8. Katrina: a warning
We saw in the horrific scenes in New Orleans in September 2005 the power of natural disasters. It’s now thought that climate change will lead to more of the kind of vicious hurricanes and other extreme weather events that led to that situation[i]. We all know the impacts that it had on people in as rich a country as the USA. Now just imagine if the same thing happened in a nation much less able to react quickly .
[i] See Nature, 4 August 2005:

9. Biodiversity at risk
Climate change is also likely to lead to irreversible and accelerated losses of biodiversity. Over a third of land species could be made extinct by For example, melting Arctic sea ice will spell the end for the polar bear[i].
[i] Dr Andrew Derocher, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada: “As the sea ice changes in distribution and pattern we can expect this to have fundamental changes on the ecology of polar bears. As the sea ice disappears, so will the polar bears” – see

10. Temperature rising
We’ve already seen the impacts that such a small amount of warming can have. Only a degree or two more – that’s all - and we’re beginning to get in deep trouble. Scientists are crystal clear that we can’t let temperatures rise by more than two degrees if we are to have any chance at all of avoiding the worst impacts.
Hadley Centre

11. Does Blair agree? “
Climate change is… the world’s greatest environmental challenge … so far reaching in its impact and irreversible in its destructive power, that it alters radically human existence
September 2004 “
“I believe [climate change] to be the world’s greatest environmental challenge … so far reaching in its impact and irreversible in its destructive power, that it alters radically human existence” – Tony Blair, September 2004
But what is he actually doing about it? Not much, is the honest answer. His government has committed itself to reductions of 20 per cent of carbon dioxide on 1990 levels by the year But since Labour came to power in 1997, emissions of carbon dioxide have actually increased by 5.5 per cent.
As one of the world’s richest and most powerful nations the UK has a responsibility to act at home to reduce its share of carbon dioxide emissions, and prove to the rest of the world that it can be done.
It’s clear that voluntary action alone isn’t going to get us anywhere.

12. Climate Change Bill
sets an annual target for cuts in carbon dioxide emissions – three per cent every year
requires annual reports on progress to Parliament
holds Government to account if they fall behind
So Friends of the Earth have tabled a Climate Change Bill to force Government to reduce emissions. Only legally-binding cuts will make them take action.
Our Climate Change Bill:
sets an annual target for cuts in carbon dioxide emissions
requires annual reports on progress
holds Government to account if they fall behind.

13. Three per cent per year …
80% by
2050
To avoid the worst of climate change, we need cuts in emissions of three per cent every year – taking us to 80% by 2050[i]
[i] The three main parties all support a target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent of 1990 levels by Many scientists[i] believe that an even tougher target, closer to 80 per cent by 2050, is needed if we are to avoid going over that very dangerous two degree threshold that Gordon Brown mentioned earlier. So the maths is straightforward enough: cuts in emissions of three per cent every year will be needed as soon as possible.

14. Annual reports
We want the Government to take this target seriously, and to be seen to be taking it seriously. Every year the Chancellor delivers his Budget, going into great detail about how much tax will be raised and how much will be spent. We want the Prime Minister to do the same for his carbon dioxide target – report to Parliament every year on progress against his emissions ‘budget’ for that year.
And if the target isn’t met? The Climate Change Bill calls for measures to bring Government failure to account, depending on how much targets are being missed by[i]. It’s a tough Bill, but then climate change is a tough problem. #
---- [i] Measures: Announcing new policies to get emission cuts back on track; Powers for Select Committees to put forward policies to be voted on in Parliament; Ultimately, pay cuts for the Ministers responsible for cutting carbon dioxide.

15. We’ve done this before
Getting government to take this seriously will take a long time. But we know it can be done. Indeed, since 1997 we’ve helped get eight key laws passed. Most recently, over 6,000 letters sent by members of the public helped persuade MPs to make a law to guarantee kerbside recycling collection for every household by 2010 [see picture]. We’re under no illusions, though: getting the Climate Change Bill passed will be a bigger challenge than anything we’ve managed before. We need to get tens of thousands of people putting pressure on their representatives to support the Climate Change Bill.
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(picture shows Joan Ruddock MP with Tony Juniper, Executive Director of Friends of the Earth England Wales & Northern Ireland, in the ultimately successful campaign to get the Doorstep Recycling Bill introduced – 2003)

16. Is the Government doing enough about climate change?
NOP survey for Friends of the Earth. May 2005
Climate change is fast moving up the public agenda. In a recent National Opinion Poll conducted for Friends of the Earth [May 2005], 73% of those surveyed said that they didn’t believe that the government is doing enough about climate change.
The Big Ask campaign will turn this dissatisfaction into political pressure.

17. The Big Ask calls for the public to put pressure on their MPs to support the Climate Change Bill. We think that we’ll need at least 400 MPs to be prepared to vote for the Bill when the time comes[i] – not just saying they will, but actually doing it – and this means that we’ll need to create a huge public movement behind the Bill.
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[i] The 400 MPs is not any concrete limit, but is our best estimate as to the level we’ll need to succeed . If we take the Bill forward as a Private Members Bill then in theory a single MP could block the Bill by timewasting – but if we had 400 MPs we think the pressure on the remainder would be enough to dissuade them from so doing. Also, with 400 MPs, we'd stand a better chance of getting the Government to introduce the Bill themselves, meaning that one MP would be practically unable to block it.

18. What can I do? Sign our petition at www.thebigask.com
Ask your MP to support our Climate Change Bill: complete a postcard, write them a letter, or through
Spread the word
Of course, individuals can make a huge difference in their own homes, offices and lifestyles[i]. But the single most important thing that the individual can do is put pressure on their MP to support the Climate Change Bill. Political pressure is so important, and it’s pressure that really does work – as we’ve seen. So:
Sign the petition - visit to sign up to the campaign and add your name to the petition in support of the Climate Change Bill. You can also join the Big Ask list to keep up to date with monthly campaign news and actions
Ask your MP to support the solution –MPs must realise that their constituents take climate change seriously and want to see real progress, not just promises. Write to your MP and convince them to back the Climate Change Bill. You can do this easily with one of our Big Ask postcards [hold up if some are present] or write them a letter yourself. Remember – every time an MP gets a postcard or letter, they take notice.
Spread the word – [if applicable] give one of our leaflets to a friend, family member or colleague and get them to ask questions about climate change too. By spreading the word and recruiting more people to the Big Ask campaign, you’ll be helping to make a difference.
[i] For example – they can cut down their own car and plane use; they can switch to green electricity (Energy Savings Trust have more information on this); they can ensure that their roofs are fully insulated. If more information is required, direct to . But although it’s true that there are many things that the individual can do in their own lives to make a difference , The Big Ask is concentrated on getting political action. Friends of the Earth believe that politicians not only have the power, but the responsibility, to do something about climate change – now.

19. What can I do? <<TO BE ADDED BY PRESENTER>>
 What are we asking the specific audience to do? - see notes[i]
This bit to be expanded upon by the presenter – how do we want the group or audience to work with Friends of the Earth at the local or regional level? This will have to be tailored to the individual audience, naturally…
Are the local group organising a public meeting? If so, are we asking them to join in or collaborate?
Are we asking them to contact their membership?
Are we asking them to mention the Big Ask in their publicity materials – and what possibilities exist for cross-promotion between Friends of the Earth and the audience, if a group?
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[i] If asked, Friends of the Earth are founder members of Stop Climate Chaos, the coalition of environment, faith and development groups working together to raise public awareness of climate change. This is separate from The Big Ask – and it’s The Big Ask that we’re asking people and groups to support today in the ways outlined above.

20. More information www.thebigask.com Freephone 0808 800 1111
Or, for more information on The Big Ask, go to
You can also dial Friends of the Earth’s Information team free on

21. Your local group Friends of the Earth
This part to be completed by presenter
Group name
Contact
Web address
Forthcoming activities – what are the local group doing locally / regionally on The Big Ask?
“Join your local group”…

22. Thanks for your time – and if you have any questions please do come and speak to me afterwards.