Click
here to email your MSPs to ask them to support UNISON’s
four priorities for the Bill
Climate
Change Rally
Lobby MSPs for a strong Scottish Climate Change
Bill
Date: Wednesday 22
April 2009
Time: Midday – 2pm
Place: Outside the
Scottish Parliament
UNISON Scotland, a member of Stop Climate Chaos
Scotland, is urging all branches and members to
support the Climate Change Rally at the Scottish
Parliament on Wed 22 April.
Why is it happening?
2009 is a pivotal time for climate change legislation.
We are counting down to the talks in Copenhagen
in December where world leaders will agree on future
global emissions reductions. For many, this is seen
as our last chance to get the world’s greenhouse
gas emissions under control – if we don’t manage
it this time we may have to deal with the devastating
future consequences of runaway climate change.
Scotland’s Climate Change Bill could act as a lever
in negotiations. It is due to become an Act just
before Copenhagen, so could set the example for
other countries to follow. Scotland could lead the
way.
With a target of 80% reductions in greenhouse gas
emissions by 2050, our Bill is pretty strong, but
it still needs toughening to give it more urgency.
So we need to influence our MSPs to make sure they
propose and vote for amendments that sharpen up
the Bill.
UNISON is concerned to show the ‘need to lead’
internationally and the need for action at home.
This requires strong legislation that sets annual
targets for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions
of at least 3% from the start, and that includes
aviation and shipping emissions from the beginning.
We also want the Bill to establish a statutory climate
change duty on public bodies, covering emissions
reduction and adaptation measures.
The Rally seeks to demonstrate to MSPs the widespread
public support for a stronger Bill – so we need
as many people as possible to turn up and show MSPs
that people in Scotland really care.
What’s happening?
The Rally is being held on a Wednesday because
this is when most MSPs will be sitting in Parliament.
We need them to understand the strength of public
support for a strong Scottish Climate Change Bill
so when they come to vote in the first parliamentary
debate on the Bill (the "Stage One" debate)
- which will be soon after the Rally – they will
vote in favour of a strong Bill.
The Rally will start at midday and go on til 2pm.
Come to all or part of this but the crucial time
is between 1 – 1.30pm as that’s when we’ll call
the MSP photoshoot, so that’s when we need most
people.
You will be able to:
-
"Plant some people" to symbolise the
thousands of people in Scotland who want a strong
Bill (Download your ‘stick person’ here, put it
on card, fill it in with your name, home town
and/or a message to your MSPs and bring it on
the day. Or, if you can’t come, send or email
it to Gail Wilson, SCCS Coordinator: gail.wilson@rspb.org.uk
RSPB Scotland HQ, Dunedin House, 25 Ravelston
Terrace, Edinburgh, EH4 3TP There will be more
available at the rally for filling in on the day.
They will then be ‘planted’ in grass outside the
Parliament.)
- Hear short speeches from Mike Robinson, Chair
of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland (at 12.30pm), and
from MSPs, including members of the committee
which is scrutinising the Bill
- Enjoy some climate change-themed performance
art
- Meet with MSPs as well as staff and supporters
from the Stop Climate Chaos Scotland coalition,
who will be mingling in the crowd.
The Rally is being held by Stop Climate Chaos
Scotland (SCCS) - a diverse, growing coalition of
organisations campaigning on climate change. The
SCCS Coalition has 30 Scottish members, representing
more than 1.5 million supporters, ranging from environment
and development groups to faith organisations, trade
unions, student societies, care providers and many
more. For full details and briefings on our key
priorities for the Bill, visit www.stopclimatechaos.org/scotland
Tell your MSP you’re
coming!
All MSPs will be encouraged to come out of the
parliament to see what’s happening and be part of
a photoshoot, demonstrating their own support for
a strong Scottish Climate Change Bill. They will
receive a letter from Stop Climate Chaos about the
event, but there’s nothing like a letter from their
constituents to persuade them!
So why not send a letter or email to your MSPs
saying that you’ll be there and you hope they will
join in too? You have one constituency and seven
regional MSPs and you can find out who they are
and their contact details using the Scottish Parliament’s
postcode finder at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/membersPages/
MSPAddressPostcodeFinder.htm
Once you know who they are, you can use the form
on the UNISON Scotland website to email them in
turn, and, if you haven’t already done so, to ask
them to support UNISON’s four priorities for the
Bill. Just click here to do so www.unison-scotland.org.uk/greenworkplace/respondmsp.html
You can write into the email form that you will
be at the Rally on 22 April and you hope they will
join in.
How to get there
The Scottish Parliament building is located in
the Holyrood area of central Edinburgh at the foot
of the Royal Mile near to the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
More detailed information and a map can be found
on the Scottish Parliament’s website at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/visitingHolyrood/howToFindUs.htm
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