More than 100 MPs have so far signed an early day motion calling on the UK government to urge the EU to take a stronger stand in tackling climate change.

With less than a month to go to the crucial UN climate change summit in Copenhagen, the motion says industrialised countries bear the greatest responsibility for global warming.

It calls on EU governments to commit to 40 per cent cuts in carbon emissions by 2020. The present target is 20 per cent, rising to 30 per cent if a global deal is reached at Copenhagen.

In addition, the motion says that by 2020 the EU must provide at least 35 billion Euros annually to help poorer countries adapt to climate change and develop in a carbon clean manner.

It also calls on the UK government to reject plans for any new coal-fired power stations unless they are fitted with equipment to capture and store carbon emissions – a technology still being developed.

So far the motion has been signed by 51 Labour MPs, 41 Liberal Democrats, 7 Conservatives, including former Secretary of State for the Environment John Gummer, two SDLP MPs and two independents.

It was tabled on behalf of Stop Climate Chaos, a coalition of more than 100 UK organisations, including Christian Aid, with a combined supporter base of more than 11 million.

Director of Stop Climate Chaos Coalition, Ashok Sinha said:

It is encouraging that more than 100 MPs have shown how seriously they take the threat of climate change. However, we hope more will sign.

The present EU target for cutting emissions is woefully inadequate and will do little to keep global warming below 2oC, the point beyond which scientists predict climate catastrophe.

It is also essential that rich countries reveal just how much money they are prepared to pay to help developing countries counter climate change. It was a scandal that there was no such announcement during the recent meeting of G20 finance ministers.

The 35 billion Euros proposed in the early day motion is a minimum for the EU alone. If rich countries, which bear most of the responsibility for climate change, do not show that they are prepared to shoulder such costs, the prospect of reaching a fair, ambitious and binding agreement at Copenhagen is remote.

Stop Climate Chaos is encouraging thousands of people to join the UK’s biggest ever demonstration, The Wave, on 5 December in London to support action on climate change and to draw attention to Copenhagen. For more information go to: www.the-wave.org.uk.

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Editor's notes

The Stop Climate Chaos Coalition brings together 11 million members across 100 UK organisations, from the Women’s Institute and RSPB to Christian Aid and Unison. All are united in their demand for an end to dirty coal, and a fair and just international climate change deal that protects the worlds’ poorest communities.

For further information on The Wave, including the procession route and importantly how to get to the event from across the UK, visit http://www.stopclimatechaos.org/the-wave

Images are available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/stopclimatechaos

There are a total of 103 signatures on the EDM http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=39282&SESSION=899

Wording of EDM proposed by Alun Michael MP:
That this House believes that climate change poses a serious threat to all; welcomes the Prime Minister's pledge to lead the UK delegation to Copenhagen this December; acknowledges the urgent need for a fair, ambitious and binding agreement there; notes that industrialised countries are most responsible for causing climate change with more capacity to respond to it; recognises that they must provide the necessary finance for developing countries to develop cleanly and adapt to climate change; understands that industrialised countries must make ambitious cuts in their own emissions; calls on the Government to reject new unabated coal power, to urge the EU to commit to at least 40 per cent. cuts below 1990 levels in carbon dioxide emissions by 2020 and to immediately raise significant finance for developing countries by providing at least 35 billion euros annually by 2020, additional to aid and carbon market finance funding, and which rests within the authority of the United Nations; and further calls on the Government to commit itself now to meet the UK's share of these targets and resources.