Climate change department "not enough"

Sisters Cornelia Nabututu and Euphasia Katambani join CAFOD's climate change lobby of parliament. [Marcella Haddad/CAFOD]

CAFOD welcomes the government's decision to set up a new energy and climate change department, but says it is not enough without "courageous" action to back it up

In response to the cabinet reshuffle and the announcement of a new department focusing on climate change, CAFOD is calling for poor people to be at the centre of UK policy.

Liz Gallagher, CAFOD climate change policy researcher, says: “This is good news and a step in the right direction, but just setting up a department is not enough.

The government needs to be courageous in its choices over the next few years and, especially as the purse strings tighten, ensure that climate change remains at the top of the agenda

Liz Gallagher, CAFOD

“People living in poverty in the developing world are being hit first and hardest by climate change."

Need for courage

CAFOD is calling for a reduction in carbon emissions of at least 80% by 2050, so that people living in poverty do not continue to suffer the worsening effects of climate change.

This will strengthen the Climate Change Bill which currently sets the reduction in carbon emissions at only 60%.

Although this Bill means that the UK is likely to be one of the first countries to pass national laws to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, CAFOD is pressurising the government to make it more effective.

“The government needs to be courageous in its choices over the next few years and, especially as the purse strings tighten, ensure that climate change remains at the top of the agenda,” says Liz Gallagher.

Campaigning by CAFOD supporters has contributed to more than 80 MPs signing two amendments to strengthen the Bill, ahead of the final vote on the bill later this month.

For interviews contact Anna Ford, advocacy press officer, on 0207 095 5459, 07785 950585, aford@cafod.org.uk

Published on 03/10/2008, last updated on 20/10/2008

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