Get Involved with our Campaign for tougher cuts in CO2 emissions
The campaign to persuade the government to set a binding target of an 80% cut in CO2 emissions by 2050 rather than 60% is important if we are going to tackle climate change.
Almost all MPs have a regular advice surgery where people who live in their constituency can come and see them in person. On www.canvassyourmp.com we have listed either surgery details or websites where you can find out more. Some MPs require you to make an appointment before you see them, whilst others have an open-access surgery where people can simply turn up and wait their turn. You will need to look up how your local MP runs their surgery.
There are a number of things to bear in mind:
a) MPs will usually only see people who live in their constituency; if you put your home postcode into our website you can check who your local MP is;
b) Before you go, find out a bit more about your local MP and their attitude to climate change; for example, have a look on their website to see if they have put out press releases on the subject; you can also look to see if they have signed supportive motions about climate change targets in the past (eg see: http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=34898&SESSION=891 for a list of MPs who have signed a recent motion); if they have been supportive in the past, make sure you thank them!
c) Remember that most MPs are not experts on every subject and that you may know more about climate change than they do; explain to them why climate change matters to you, and why you would like them to vote for an 80% cut in CO2 emissions by 2050 as part of the Climate Change Bill;
d) Try to pin them down! See if they are happy for you to report back to ‘canvassyourmp.com’ that they are pledged to back 80%, not just that they are ‘sympathetic’; if they don’t want to commit, find out why – if there are facts they are unsure about or they need more information, let us know and we can help supply it;
e) Make sure to report back to canvassyourmp.com; please be as precise and accurate as you can – we want to accurately report MPs’ opinions; if they are supportive, why not get a photo we can use on the site, and offer to write a letter to the local paper welcoming their support;
Thanks for helping to make sure that MPs understand how many people want to see this legislation strengthened.
Join the Facebook Group
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Climate-Change-60-cut-is-not-enough/11917166969
Please encourage all your friends to join this group - together we can make a difference to the future of the planet!