Tearfund urges supporters to help make history in climate change efforts

Leading Christian relief and development agency Tearfund is this week urging people to take part in the UK wide I Count Week of Action on climate change.

Running from 31 March - 5 April, the Week of Action, led by the Stop Climate Chaos coalition that Tearfund is part of, will see campaigners lobbying their local MPs to make history, by supporting firmer emission targets as the Government reviews its Climate Change Bill.

After talking with his MP, Tearfund campaigner Phil Bamber from Stourbridge saw success as local politicians added their support for a stronger Climate Change Bill.

"I have always been absolutely convinced that we need to do more about climate change, particularly for the poorest communities who are feeling the effects now," said Mr Bamber. "Initiatives like the Week of Action are vital in applying political pressure and I have been really encouraged by my local MP's response."

This is a great way of getting involved to help those most vulnerable to climate change, he adds.

Campaigners up and down the country will be asking their MPs to support a target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 80 per cent by the year 2050, a figure scientists say is necessary for Britain to play its part in keeping global temperature rise below 2ºC.

Current proposals are only for a 60 per cent reduction but this will be too little, too late for those living in poor communities like the Orissa region of India, where floods have engulfed villages, preventing the growth of crops.