A panel of six eminent experts has warned voters that the next Parliament will be the last in which to stop runaway climate change.
The group of eminent leaders, which includes Jonathon Porritt, Barbara Stocking, CEO Oxfam, Steve Holliday, CEO National Grid, Stephen Hale, director Green Alliance, James Cameron, executive director Climate Change Capital, and Professor Lord Robert May, member of the Committee on Climate Change, said urgent action was needed.
In a new report published by Green Alliance: The Last Parliament – Priorities for Urgent Action on Climate Change, the panel unveil an agenda to support the switch to a cleaner and greener future.
Despite their different sectoral backgrounds the experts joined forces to give politicians a clear message that the right decisions need to be taken urgently to avoid the worst effects of climate change and to benefit from the opportunities offered by a low-carbon economy.
A five-minute Last Parliament film, presented by Sir Trevor McDonald, celebrates past achievements of Parliament, from the abolition of slavery, to the creation of the NHS – and asks if today’s politicians will similarly rise to the challenge of climate change.
The respected TV news anchor concludes: “MPs in the next parliament have a choice. If they fail to take this opportunity, they may go down in history as villains, who understood the risks, but did nothing. But, if they rise to the challenge, they will be remembered alongside history’s greatest heroes.”
The report from the panel of six, states: “The UK’s new Parliament, to be elected in 2010, has a historic responsibility. It is the last Parliament that can take action to avoid runaway climate change. The science tells us that global emissions of carbon dioxide need to peak during the current decade and decline steeply thereafter. Failure to stabilise emissions within this timeframe will drastically reduce our chances of keeping warming within the crucial threshold of two degrees centigrade.
“Politicians elected in 2010 will need to lead the UK toward its low carbon future, work to raise the ambition of other developed countries, and support developing countries to move to a low carbon trajectory and adapt to a changing climate.
“Reducing greenhouse gases brings benefits beyond a stable climate. There are huge economic opportunities for countries that can lead the way in low carbon technologies and approaches. Moving away from fossil fuels builds energy security. Increasing the energy efficiency of housing improves quality of life and has health benefits too. Community level energy provision and carbon cutting helps to create sociable, resilient neighbourhoods.
“The new Parliament in 2010 is the last window of opportunity to seize these opportunities, and act to prevent serious, irreversible climate change. In other words, it is the Last Parliament.
“That is why we have come together, as individuals from different backgrounds, with different experience and perspectives, to urge new Parliamentarians to seize their historic responsibility and set an ambitious agenda for action.”
The report sets out an ambitious agenda, that includes:
* The new Parliament must build support for action on climate change. It must be absolutely clear about what the science tells us, where uncertainties remain, and the likely consequences for our society and economy.
* The Parliament must ensure that the UK and EU lead the international community toward a comprehensive agreement on climate finance. $100 billion a year was pledged at the Copenhagen summit, but it is very unclear how this pledge will be honoured. At the next international meeting in Mexico, there must be concrete agreement on sources, governance and national contributions.
* Politicians must set out a route map for low-carbon infrastructure renewal, with detailed, costed plans for the next 10-15 years.
* The Parliament must unlock finance for low-carbon growth, by ensuring a stable carbon price and long-term incentives for investment, and by establishing a Sustainable Infrastructure Bank to lower the cost of investment capital.
* There is an urgent need to green our communities, through an immediate drive to upgrade existing housing stock. A new mechanism is needed, which allows local companies, voluntary bodies, community groups and local authorities to bid for funding, replacing the current CERT scheme.
Leading commentator Jonathon Porritt said: “We need to legislate for the low-carbon economy that this country so urgently needs. Parliament has a good track record: it passed the Climate Change Act with cross-party support. They willed the end; now politicians need to will the means.”
Oxfam chief Barbara Stocking, added: “Climate change is already threatening the lives and livelihoods of millions of the world’s poorest people. The UK must push for new and innovative ways of raising the cash needed to help poor countries cope, rather than repackaging old aid commitments.
“Raiding tomorrow’s schools and hospitals to pay for flood defences and drought resistant seeds is not the answer and must be avoided at all costs.”
Steve Holliday, said: “Business is ready to invest, but it needs a clear framework from government. We can replace our high-carbon infrastructure with low-carbon solutions for electricity, for transport and for buildings – if the incentives are there.” And Stephen Hale concluded: “This is achievable. MPs could help to build the foundations for a prosperous, low-carbon economy. But the truth is, if it doesn’t happen now, it may be too late. We want to tell the new Parliament they are the Last Parliament.”
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