Why does a deal matter?

The deal we got at Copenhagen is the start of a new chapter in the fight for action on climate change - now let's go further. The stakes could not be higher. We will all be affected by climate change:

• Extreme Weather: Summer temperatures experienced in 2003 – a record breaking heat-wave in Europe which killed 35,000 people – could become the norm.
• Sea Level Rise: Steep increases in global sea levels will cause severe flooding in many countries. In Asia, 94 million people could be left homeless, leading to large-scale migration.
• Water shortages: Glaciers could shrink by up to 60%, and the rivers they feed could start to dry up. This would affect drinking water supplies for around a sixth of the world’s population.
• Food Shortages: Drought in parts of Africa could reduce harvests by 50% by 2020.
• Extinctions: Up to a third of known plant and animal species will be at risk of extinction. Entire natural environments – like coral reefs and rainforests – would be under threat.

There are alarming signs that these changes are already well underway. Storms, floods, and droughts are happening more often and are more extreme. Arctic summer sea ice is melting faster than previously predicted.

.

What we want you to do and why

• Sign the pledge – show that you want world leaders to work for a better future
• Follow on Twitter – get informed and keep in touch with the latest news
• Share with friends – Tell your friends and family about what they can do

Is this just for governments to sort out? No - change happens because of pressure from the public.  So we need you to join us in working for a global agreement. Every one of us can help spread the message and get our friends and family involved.

Our policies

Labour has led the way internationally on climate change: we were the first to put climate change at the heart of the G8, the first to call a UN Security Council meeting on climate change, and the first to introduce a long term legally binding framework for emissions reduction.

And we have now put in place a plan for Britain’s transition to a low carbon economy. The measures mean that by 2020:

• More than 1.2 million people will be in green jobs
• 7 million homes will get home energy makeovers, and over 1.5 million households will be supported to produce their own clean energy
• 40% of electricity will be from low carbon sources, from renewables, nuclear and clean coal
• We will be importing half the amount of gas that we otherwise would
• The average new car will emit 40% less carbon than now.

Our record

Climate Change Act – a world first, binding the UK government by law to reduce carbon emissions by a third by 2020 and by 80% by 2050.

The UK’s greenhouse gas emissions are now 21% below 1990 levels, beating our Kyoto target.

The Great British Refurb – We have insulated 5 million homes between 2002 and 2008. By regulating the energy companies we are insulating 6m homes between 2008 and 2012, with every suitable loft and cavity being insulated by 2015. A quarter of British homes should have had full eco-makeovers by 2020.

Green Fiscal Stimulus - In the teeth of a recession we had a budget which found £1.4bn for new investment in developing a low carbon economy. More than 20% of public investment since last November has been on sustainable and green projects.

Renewable energy has doubled in five years. We aim to generate 15% of our energy from renewables by 2020. Britain now has more offshore wind capacity than any country in the world. Wind last year provided the electricity for 2m homes.

Clean Coal - We are leading the world in clean coal technology. Our policy is the most environmentally ambitious of any country in the world. We’re proposing no new coal fired power stations will be built in Britain without carbon capture and storage.

Nuclear - Setting the framework for nuclear power enabling nuclear energy to contribute approaching 20% of the UK’s electricity in a low carbon way for the past 12 years