The UK Climate Change Act 2008

A brief history of the campaign2005-2008

Background

• Government promised in 1997, 2001,and 2005 elections to cut CO2 by 20% by 2010, and 60% by 2050, but emissions were same as at the start

• Increasing scientific understanding was showing that 60% was not enough

• Some increase in coverage and understanding – Al Gore, Tony Blair and David Attenborough

The UK problem with CO2

• Politicians could not be held to account to long term targets

• Long term targets didn’t do what the science required – can’t just make cuts in 2049

• Business were complaining they could not invest in low carbon products/services because policies always changed

Solution – the first climate bill

• Bill required 3% cuts every year (c. 80% by 2050)

• Gave new powers to Parliament to tackle Ministers who failed to meet them

• Could use FOE’s strength at local level in pushing local MPs to support new law – and build support from bottom up.

Local group activity

• Postcards and street stalls• Public Meetings with MPs• Film screenings followed by Q&A session with

MPs• Photo opportunities with local MPs• Bad puns (“The Big Cask” pub crawl)

Effect of local groups on MPs

• Gossip in bars about size of lobbying• Boasting about mailbag in Parliament debates• 100% of MPs who did meetings backed Bill• Highest number of signatures on EDM (an MP

petition) in years

“Top-down” lobbying

• Supported “cross-party consensus” between Opposition parties to isolate Government, and plotted how to keep growing pressure

• Found “compromise” positions with parties who backed much of what we asked for but not all

• Kept Ministers briefed on what we were doing..how support was growing, even tipping off about Cameron’s support

Autumn 2006 – announcement leaks

• Massive lobby where we tried to visit every single MP - about 625/650 done

• We got a Bill (just in time for activist party!)• November – Queen formally announces Bill to

Parliament

March 2007 - Draft Bill

Government publishes draft Bill containing

• 60% cuts by 2050• 5-year carbon budgets• Aviation emissions excluded• New expert Committee on Climate Change

FOE welcome the Bill as huge step forward, but say it must be strengthened. Stress Parliament will decide on target, and we welcome debate.

Draft Bill scrutiny

• Ruthlessly prioritise the Bills faults – find three main points

• Launch campaign around 3 points.• Thousands reply to consultation on 3 points• Three Parliamentary Committees set up to

look at Bill – we convince all to agree with three weaknesses (9-0 to us!)

Compromises...(and other dirty words)

• Recognise we could not change everything• We would have biggest impact on things public

would understand and lobby for• If we couldn’t win, could we “nudge” or set

traps for the future?• Have confidence in being right on science –

does it mean we don’t need to win now?• If you settle for a deal, welcome it! (Or why

would they settle next time?)

Autumn 2007 - “Real” Bill published

• Real Bill does not concede any key points, just offers more scrutiny etc

• Bill starts in Lords – we defeat the 5 times!• We continue to build MP support for further

changes – 160 Labour MPs call for Bill to be toughened

Local Group pressure maintained

• More postcards, more lobbying• MPs told to stick to what they supported• Photo opportunities with Gordon Brown

ignoring aviation• Operate telephone lobby from office – able to

get access because FOE so connected to Bill now.

Winning bit by bit....

• At each stage Government made concessions.• As debate went on, parties got “trapped” – ie.

“out-of-date” science point – enabled us to suggest ways round they could not refuse.

• Convinced Government our “rebels” would stay firm (enough).

• Overheard Minister say “we can’t win these votes” to his aide.

Bill becomes law – October 2008

• Big Party! (with all parties)• Support for Big Ask Europe links with Foreign

Office work singing praises of Government around Europe.

Has it worked?

• Recession means emissions fell very fast anyway – not fully tested yet

• Committee stopped Government claiming credit for fall caused by recession

• Used in Greenpeace aviation legal case• First big test – 4th carbon budget. It passed!• Current Government policies under huge scrutiny

(Green Deal).• Civil servants “complaining” about second currency.