Tell your MP that all councils must cut CO2

Councils play a major part in UK emissions.

To get serious about climate change every council will have to do its bit to cut CO2.

Councils have a big say in how we heat and power our homes and how we get around.

And some councils already have ambitious targets in place to cut their emissions.

But most councils are simply not doing enough to tackle climate change.

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The good news is if your council gets serious about climate change it will:

• boost the local economy
• create jobs
• slash your fuel bills.

 

And there is a way forward.

We’re calling for every local council to have a local carbon budget – that’s a budget limiting the carbon dioxide their area can emit.

Call for local carbon budgets >

Don't fudge it, carbon budget!

Secretary of State for Local Government, John Denham MP, recently announced a pilot project of Local Carbon Frameworks.

These Frameworks are excellent news.

They are a big step along the way towards introducing the local carbon budgets we have been calling for.

Ten councils will get Government help to develop strategies to take action on climate change.

But the plans need to be improved.

We think the Government should improve on Local Carbon Frameworks by adopting Local Carbon Budgets which limit the amount of carbon emitted in each area.

We need to take action to make sure the planned local carbon frameworks:

• Are for every council
  Councils can’t opt out of climate change
• Come with financial support
  To fund climate-saving projects
• Are set in line with the science
  So we can avoid dangerous climate change.

Backing for budgets

Runaway climate change would mean a billion people around the world will be made hungry and homeless.

And the UK will suffer from rising food prices, and more floods and droughts.

Without councils we won’t make the emissions cuts needed.

Take action >

Email your MP

Ask your MP to suppport our call to introduce Local Carbon Budgets and make sure every council does its bit on climate change.

If you can personalise this letter it will have an even bigger impact. For example you could name your council and mention any good things or bad things it has done to tackle emissions.

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It's a three step process:

1. Find your local MP
2. Choose a contact method
3. Send a letter by email, fax or print out to post*

Step 1 of 3: Find your local MP   

Type your postcode in the box below and press Go:

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Urgent and ambitious action is needed from a global to local scale if we are to avert runaway climate change. Local Government is crucial to delivering climate solutions, having a huge say in how we plan our communities, how we power and heat our homes, and how we get around. Councils are also well placed to understand local communities' interests in building a green future. There are huge benefits to local action on climate change. If councils get serious about climate change, it will boost local economies, create jobs and slash fuel bills, reduce health problems and improve public transport. But although there has been inspirational leadership from some councils, much more ambitious action is needed from most councils if we are to meet our national climate commitments. A response on a wholly different scale is needed. I welcome Secretary of State for Local Government John Denham's announcement in January of a pilot scheme for Local Carbon Frameworks. The pilots include several councils that have adopted emissions reduction targets in their area of at least 40 per cent by 2020; they will be helped to develop climate change strategies and delivery plans; and will work in partnership with national government to make the emissions cuts needed locally. But I agree with Friends of the Earth's call for Local Carbon Budgets, rather than Frameworks, that would place a cap on emissions in each local authority area and would be: - For all councils - not just those currently prioritising action - Set in line with the science and local circumstances - Supported by national government including more and better-coordinated financial support, and technical advice - Use high quality and accessible data - for robust measurement of emissions cuts, and accountability for local people - Timed in line with national carbon budgets - with five-year budget periods and transparency on annual progress More information about Local Carbon Budgets is available here: http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefings/local_carbon_budgets.pdf. Please write to Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, John Denham MP, asking him to take these points into account while going forward with the Local Carbon Frameworks initiative. I look forward to hearing from you. Here's an example you can use (but a personal message from you would be <strong>much more effective</strong>).

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