Campaign over climate change (From York Press)

Campaign over climate change

9:03am Monday 3rd October 2011 in Eco info

CAMPAIGNERS from York joined hundreds of others in Manchester on Saturday, to campaign for the world’s poorest people.

More than 100 people from Yorkshire joined a gathering at Manchester Cathedral, to urge the Conservatives to strive to ensure global climate talks deliver.

On the eve of the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, Christian Aid, CAFOD and Tearfund told the party not to abandon its pledge to be the ‘greenest Government ever.’

The charities came together for an ecumenical service followed by a procession to the G-Mex centre, where the Conservative Party conference is being held, then on to Albert Square, where a candlelit vigil and minute’s silence were held.

Loretta Minghella, Christian Aid’s Director, said: “We need the Government to galvanise international support for the extension of the Kyoto Protocol, without which there would be no enforceable rules on carbon emissions and we would risk climate anarchy.”

The campaigners called for the UK to take a lead in the G20 and the upcoming international climate negotiations in Durban in November.

They fear the economic crisis may mean rich nations not delivering on a 2009 pledge to set up a special climate change support fund by 2013, to provide $100bn a year by 2020.

York campaigner Maurice Vassie said: “I want more from the Government than vague promises of possible action over the next 20 years.

"As a gardener I have experienced the effects it is causing here and now. The effect on the developing world is much more harmful. I want action now to help those without a voice.”