We joined the Campaign Against Climate Change’s Candlelit Procession down Whitehall at midnight on Saturday 15 May, part of the Climate Emergency overnight vigil, to highlight to the new government that climate change should be their priority.

The 300-strong procession started at Trafalgar Square (where ‘Climate SOS’ was written in red candles) and we made our way to the Houses of Parliament by candlelight. Video by You and I films below:

Outside Parliament we stopped to hear speakers from the UK Youth Coalition on Climate Change, the UK Tar Sands Network, and John McDonnell, MP for Hayes and Harlington spoke about the great news that the third runway at Heathrow Airport has been scrapped. We hope that the the new government can follow this up with even bolder action on climate change!

The Hampstead & Kilburn Resilience Hustings was an excellent evening, six prospective parliamentary candidates turned up (although Glenda Jackson didn’t stay) and up to around 200 interested people. We didn’t have time to ask all the questions but have since sent on the unanswered questions to all the candidates. So far we’ve received answers for the Friends of the Earth questions from:

• Tamsin Omond - Independent (view PDF of answers)
• Chris Philp - Conservative (view PDF of answers)

You can read further eco-questions asked by members of the public, and the MP candidates’ answers, on the Camden CAN website.

Following the election we aim to review the answers given by the winning candidate and go back to them where we have concerns. If they didn’t answer, we will send the questions again to re-emphasize their importance to us.

Back in March we presented a deputation to Camden council asking for local parties to support the Get Serious About CO2 campaign in their manifestos, and to commit to a target of at least 40% CO2 emissions reductions in Camden by 2020.

Good news… the local Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat parties have adopted the target in their manifestos, and the Greens have gone better, in line with their national target. Here’s the relevant sections from each party’s manifesto:

Camden Conservative Manifesto 2010: “aiming to reduce the borough’s carbon emissions, alongside the Conservative government’s programme, by 40% by 2020.”

Camden Green Party Manifesto 2010: “Leading the way as the greenest borough in London: setting and achieving greenhouse gas reduction targets, in line with our national targets of a 90% cut in GHG emissions by 2030 and 65% cuts by 2020″

Camden Labour Manifesto 2010: “Camden Labour will: Sign up to the Friends of the Earth Get Serious About CO2 campaign to reduce emissions by 40 per cent by 2020″

Camden Liberal Democrats Manifesto 2010: “…we pledge to cut Camden’s carbon footprint by 40% by 2020.”

Have you received a local election leaflet with the Get Serious target on? Do let us know…