Wed, 21 Oct 2009

Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats have placed the party at the forefront of the debate on climate change by putting the most ambitious policy motion to date before the House of Commons.

Nick Clegg yesterday spoke on the urgency of the issue (see video below) and how you can help by visiting political activism organisation 38 Degrees to email your MP urging them to vote for the motion. You can also take action in support of the motion by calling your MP.

The full text of the motion being debated this afternoon as submitted by Simon Hughes MP, the Liberal Democrat Shadow Energy & Climate Change Secretary:

Submitted by: Nick Clegg, Vince Cable, Simon Hughes, Martin Horwood, David Heath, Paul Burstow

That this House believes it is vital that the UK demonstrates political leadership at all levels in response to the climate crisis, and that this is particularly important ahead of the United Nations Climate Change summit in Copenhagen if there is to be an international agreement which will avert the worst effects of catastrophic climate change; further believes that immediate practical responses to the crisis should include a massive expansion of renewable energy and energy efficiency and a commitment for all homes in Britain to be warm homes within ten years; acknowledges that action taken now to tackle the climate crisis will cost less than action taken in the future; notes the declared support of Labour and Conservative frontbenchers to the objective of the 10:10 campaign which calls for 10 per cent greenhouse gas emission reductions by the end of 2010; agrees that the House will sign up to the 10:10 campaign; calls on Her Majesty’s government and all public sector bodies now to make it their policy to achieve a 10 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by the end of 2010; and further calls on the government to bring a delivery plan before this House by the end of 2009 on how these objectives will be achieved.