LABOUR HAS FAILED YET AGAIN TO MATCH CLIMATE RHETORIC WITH REAL ACTION - HUGHES

“Britain needs a Government which sets an example and delivers immediate and ambitious carbon reductions in the UK,” said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Simon Hughes.

Commenting after the defeat of a Liberal Democrat Opposition day motion calling for Government, Parliament, and all public sector bodies to cut their carbon pollution by 10% by the end of 2010, Simon Hughes said: “This is a bad day for Parliament, Labour and the planet.

“The Government has failed to understand the level of public support for the 10:10 campaign or to get the message that people want real political action now to tackle dangerous climate change.

“Britain needs a Government which sets an example and delivers immediate and ambitious carbon reductions in the UK. Today the Government has stopped a clear message from going to the rest of the world that Britain will take action on climate change now.

“Last year Liberal Democrats successfully added an 80% emission reduction target to the Climate Change Act.

“We will continue to show political leadership in dealing with the climate crisis and we will continue to give the strongest backing to the 10:10 campaign.”

ACT NOW FOR THE ENVIRONMENT SAYS SIMON HUGHES

The Liberal Democrat Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Simon Hughes calls upon the public to help to support the Liberal Democrat motion on 10:10 this Wednesday.

This Wednesday, the Liberal Democrats have secured a debate in the House of Commons on climate change. The motion calls for Parliament and the Government to sign up to the 10:10 campaign and commit to achieving a 10% reduction in emissions by the end of 2010.

You can get involved by asking your MP to vote in favour of this motion, if enough MPs join us then we can make a huge change to Britain's future. Political activism organisation 38 Degrees is working hard to make sure that MPs sign up to the 1010 campaign and if you don't know your MP's contact details, you can quickly email them through their website - here.

We endorsed the 10:10 campaign at our recent federal conference and many Liberal Democrat run councils have shown the way. Now we are calling for the whole public sector to sign up. Once again, the Liberal Democrats are demonstrating leadership on the environment.

Commenting on Gordon Brown’s warning of climate catastrophe if there is no agreement at UN talks in Copenhagen in 50 days time, Simon Hughes said: “Gordon Brown’s warning today to the most heavily polluting nations would be more credible if Labour’s policies were consistent with the Prime Minister’s words.

“Expansion of the UK’s largest airport and continued plans for dirty coal power stations are not the policies of a government with the authority to lecture the world on averting the climate crisis.

“A vote in Parliament this Wednesday to back Liberal Democrat proposals to make 10% cuts in public sector emissions by 2010 will be a much stronger sign that Labour understands the urgency of the climate crisis.”

This is a big opportunity for Liberal Democrats and for the environment. Under this government there has been a shameful lack of action on climate change.

Liberal Democrats have the power to make a real change. Leadership now is what Britain needs. So please take a moment to email your MP and call on them to support the environment this Wednesday.

KINGSNORTH DECISION A VICTORY FOR CAMPAIGNERS - HUGHES

“Liberal Democrats will only support new coal if carbon capture and storage technology is ready from day one," said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Simon Hughes.

Commenting on E.On’s decision to delay plans for a new dirty coal power station at Kingsnorth in Kent, Simon Hughes said: “This is a deserved victory for environmental campaigners across the UK.

“We are facing the very real threat of catastrophic climate change that will impact all of our lives. If the Government takes this seriously it cannot build new dirty coal power stations.

“E.On’s decision exposes the Tories’ irresponsible scaremongering about the lights going out.
“There are solutions other than dirty coal and nuclear power which can maintain energy security, make bills fairer and protect the environment.

“Liberal Democrats will only support new coal if carbon capture and storage technology is ready from day one. Funding for CCS demonstration must be focussed on retrofitting existing power stations.”

LIGHTS OUT FOR EARTH HOUR!

Simon Hughes is pressing for the Houses of Parliament to be plunged into darkness in support of the WWF's global Earth Hour campaign.

On 28 March at 8.30pm (GMT) individuals, communities, businesses are being asked to turn off their lights for one hour in support of taking action against climate change. The campaign is hoping that over a billion people will sign up. WWF is encouraging councils throughout the UK to join the big switch off by dimming and switching off lights of civic buildings and iconic landmarks. Restaurants and bars are asked to get involved by holding candlelit dinners on the night and members of the public can also hold their own events such as lights out parties. People can sign up to support WWF's Earth Hour by visiting

wwf.org.uk/earthhour or by texting Earth to 84880.

Mr Hughes has written to the Speaker of the House of Commons requesting that the Palace of Westminster participates in the global act. In his letter, Mr Hughes said, "I believe that this single act will make a very important statement that through small individual and collective actions we can make a difference to help protect our environment."

So far many iconic landmarks from around the world will switch off their lights. This includes the Forth Bridge, the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Table Mountain in Cape Town and Sydney Opera House.

The Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly have both announced their participation and it is now time for the UK parliament to follow suit.

Commenting Simon Hughes said: "I am very supportive of the WWF Earth Hour campaign. In this vital year for our economy and our environment, we all need to be part of the solution to the difficulties we face. I believe that this single act - switching off our lights for one hour - will make a very important statement that through small individual and collective actions we can make a difference to help protect our environment. I hope you will join me and a billion other people around the world on 28th March.

Colin Butfield, head of campaigns at WWF UK, said: "We are delighted that Simon Hughes is backing WWF's Earth Hour. Negotiations for a global deal to tackle climate change are going on right now and it is essential that politicians demand the UK Government takes a strong leadership position.

In the year of the critical Copenhagen Climate Change Summit, parliament as well as people need to show their firm commitment to take action. Participation in Earth Hour would be a symbolic gesture of our determination to do so."