Our election issues

Campaigners at The Wave, December 2010, calling for climate justice [CAFOD/Karen Toftera]

The decisions taken by the next government, and the next parliament, on aid, climate change and regulating business will have far-reaching consequences for poor communities worldwide. Find out more about why this matters and what we're calling for.

Climate justice

The world is a gift from God and its future is intimately bound up with our own lives and choices. Climate change not only threatens the natural world, but also the lives and livelihoods of our global neighbours, especially the world’s poorest communities.

climate justice: why now?

The election will come at a vitally important time for climate justice. Global talks are continuing through 2010, with the next international meeting in June – shortly after the general election.

Climate change risks pushing millions of people deeper into poverty. Droughts, floods and extreme weather conditions will intensify. Homes and crops will be lost, and shortages of resources like water could cause conflict. The poorest will be most vulnerable – yet they have done least to cause the problem.

In December 2009, thousands of campaigners marched in London and worldwide, yet leaders at the climate talks in Copenhagen failed to agree the fair, ambitious and binding deal the world so desperately needs.

The talks resulted in a political ‘accord’ rather than a legally binding agreement. There was no new money to help countries cope with climate change – nor targets for developed countries to cut their greenhouse gas emissions.

Rich countries like ours are most responsible for polluting the world’s atmosphere. We have a moral duty to lead in cutting emissions and to provide money to help poorer countries grow sustainably and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Money from existing aid commitments shouldn’t be diverted and money should be given as grants, not loans, so that it does not increase poor countries’ debts.

Aid

aid: why now?

There’s a draft bill before parliament at the moment to turn this pledge into UK law, making it harder for any future government to cut aid spending, but it’s very unlikely to pass before the general election. All parties need to commit to passing this bill if they get into government.

Our faith calls us to share what we have with those in need. Aid that is well targeted and well-managed can make an enormous difference to people in poverty.

It can help train teachers, equip hospitals, boost local businesses and much more. But there’s not enough of it. In addition, aid may not be targeted to meet the needs of the poorest and can come with potentially harmful conditions attached.

In 1970, rich countries at the United Nations pledged to give 0.7 per cent of their national income in aid. Today, only a handful of countries have met this target although some are working towards it.

After years of lobbying and campaigning, in particular through MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY in 2005, all the main UK political parties have now committed to meeting this aid target over time if in government. We need to make sure they keep this promise in tough economic times.

Making business work for the poor

business: why now?

All the parties say that they will give the private sector a central role in development. Parliament is already considering a Bribery Bill, but a detailed anti-corruption strategy and sufficient resources are still needed to combat bribery and corruption by UK companies or their subsidiaries.

Many powerful global companies are based in the UK or listed on the London Stock Exchange. As our Clean up your Computer and Unearth Justice campaigns showed, multinational businesses can have a huge impact on people in the developing world.

Despite voluntary initiatives and a growing Corporate Social Responsibility industry, problems are still being reported. Businesses can bring jobs and investment. But in the worst cases they can contribute to corruption, human rights abuses and environmental damage.

We’re calling on the next UK government to ensure companies publish information about their behaviour and their impacts - in particular making public all payments, including taxes, that they make to governments in each country where they operate.

what we're calling for

We urge all prospective candidates to support three things:

1) Climate Justice. Working towards a fair and binding global climate deal as an immediate priority. This deal should:

• be legally binding
• include emissions cuts from developed countries of more than 40 per cent on 1990 levels by 2020
• include $195 billion each year by 2020 on top of existing aid pledges to help poor countries cope with climate change

2) Aid. Turning the UK’s commitment to give 0.7 per cent of gross national income as aid into law

3) Making business work for the poor. Supporting measures to ensure that international companies act responsibly, and do not contribute to tax evasion or corruption overseas.

Find our more about our election issues

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