CHRISTIAN ECOLOGY LINK PRESS RELEASE   24 Nov 2011

(See also pr-111126-minister-fight-for-climate-in-durban.htm on 26 Nov 2011)

Battle for the Planet in Bexhill

Greg Barker MP for Bexhill and Battle to face questions from African Climate Connection ahead of United Nations conference in Durban.


A strong coalition of charities and environmental campaign groups will be asking Greg Barker MP, the UK Government's Minister for Climate Change, some hard questions this weekend, 26 November.

The Rt Hon. Gregory Barker, Member of Parliament for Bexhill and Battle, has been made an offer he can't refuse to attend a question and answer session, and the screening of a film that draws the links between local climate change action and the international climate change conference to be held in Durban, South Africa in December.

The event is part of the African Climate Connection, a coordinated national campaign which will see dozens of local groups organising African-themed events during the first week of the United Nations climate talks, 26th November to 3rd December 2011. [1]

Groups at the Bexhill meeting will call for the Government to take a clear lead at the climate talks by ensuring more finance is made available for developing countries - to adapt to the effects of climate change, develop low carbon economies and protect forests. [2]

Barbara Echlin of Christian Ecology Link said, "Asking Mr Barker questions on the role the United Kingdom plays in the UN climate negotiations is a chance to let him know that we, his constituents, want him to show strong leadership in Durban. We want agreement on
legally binding international cuts in carbon emissions at a level adequate to stop catastrophic climate change. And to have such a deal in place by 2015." [3]

The Bexhill World Development Movement group will present Mr Barker with a chain of linked pledges, as a sign of the responsibility he bears in the coming talks. The organisation network for the event is a mix of local branches of national charities and agencies, and locally based groups. These include Bexhill Environmental Group, CAFOD and Christian Aid, Christian Ecology Link, Fairtrade Bexhill, Friends of the Earth, Operation Noah, Rother Environmental Group, Tearfund, United Nations Association and the World Development Movement.

The event will take place on Saturday 26th November 2011, between 11:00 am and 12:00 noon; St Peter’s Church, Old Town, Bexhill TN40 2HE. This event will be just days before Mr Barker, the climate change minister, is scheduled to fly to Durban to participate in the
negotiations, and the organisers of the event hope he will be both challenged and encouraged to do what it takes to secure a global climate treaty.

ENDS -----

CONTACT DETAILS : For further information, contact Barbara Echlin :
07708 564782 or email : secretary@christian-ecology.org.uk

FURTHER INFORMATION:

[1] Updated information on the number of events and people attending
will be available at http://www.the-african-connection.org

[2] The benefits of the policy demands include : "Greater resources
for developing countries to respond and adapt to extreme weather
events, and for developing countries to conserve rainforests so that
they continue to store carbon and protect wildlife... Increased trust
in international climate negotiations through action at home to reduce
our emissions and through delivering on our commitments for climate
finance that will support developing countries to respond and adapt to
extreme weather events."

[3] To replace the Kyoto Protocol, currently the European Union is
looking at a timeline of ‘by’ 2020, which could theoretically include
shorter timelines. However with China and India having called for a 2020
date and the United States also pushing ambition as far into the
future as it possibly can, this is worrying politically - and in terms
of limiting the impacts of climate change. We need the UK and the EU
to support agreement of a fair, ambitious and binding deal by 2015
based on the IPCC AR5, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Assessment Report 5, entering into force (or provisionally applied) by
2018 to cover the period 2018 - 2022.