If you currently live in a marginal constituency, you have a unique opportunity to be a major influence at the next general election. WWF UK would like to use your influence to help preserve some of the world’s most incredible animals and create a better future for everyone in the country.

You may be wondering what links tigers, the general election and your future, and the answer is climate change. Rising temperatures are putting up to 30% of the world’s species at risk. Tackling climate change not only offers the opportunity to safeguard the wildlife at risk from a warming world, but also to help create a green economy right here in the UK. This could also open up the door for thousands of new green jobs during a time of high unemployment.

This years general election is the perfect opportunity to let your local politicians know that there is public support for action on a greener Britain. WWF UK has teamed up with CAFOD, Christian Aid, Tearfund, Greenpeace, Oxfam UK, RSPB and many other charities to encourage all of their supporters to ‘Ask the Climate Question’. This can be done by

1. Every time a member of a political party asks whatís important to you, list climate change in your top three issues.
2. Attend a candidates political meeting with family and friends to quiz them on climate change.
3. Get involved locally help with this campaign by writing letters to candidates

Marginal constituencies will be closely fought in the country, with political parties taking far greater interest in the views of voters in your area. With the ear of the politicians, now is a great time for you, your family, friends and neighbours to tell them that you are concerned about the future of not just humans, but also the countries wildlife and their habitats due to climate change.

> > Click here to visit the WWF campaign site

Help WWF UK with a Charity Gift

The WWF is a non profit organisation who can only sustain their tireless work in saving the planet and its inhabitants through donations. You can help raise funds through the WWF Adopt an Animal scheme.

From as little as £3 a month you receive a certificate, a print of your animal, a greetings card, and a soft toy that would make a fantastic charity gift for a loved one.

> > Click here to Adopt an Animal with WWF UK

View other top charity gifts

WWF UK is leading a coalition of environmental groups, alongside councils and residents, to battle against the government’s decision to expand Heathrow airport with a new runway. The coalition claims that the third runway will breach UK legal limits on noise and air pollution that in turn will seriously undermine government climate change targets.

WWF UK director of campaigns, David Norman, said –

The decision to allow a third runway at Heathrow blows the chances of setting the UK onto a low carbon pathway completely out of the water. If the targets set in the Climate Change Act are to be meaningful, the government must stop adopting policies that undermine them.

The coalition also claim that the consultation process for the new runway was flawed and that the costs of the project had not been properly assessed and will not benefit the economy. If the legal challenge is successful, the government may also be forced to review its entire aviation policy, with plans already afoot to expand nearly 30 airports across the UK.

The coalition is backed by Transport for London and London mayor Boris Johnson, alongside wildlife charities such as Greenpeace, WWF UK and the RSPB, all claiming that the expansion will increase carbon emissions incompatible with the need for climate change. If the third runway goes ahead the village of Sipson would have to be demolished, with the number of flights increasing by 220,000 a year.

How that can be seen as helping towards the decrease in global warming is anyone’s guess…

Help WWF with a Charity Gift

The WWF is a non profit organisiation who can only sustain their tireless work in saving the planet and its inhabitants through donations.

From as little as £3 a month you can help raise funds through the WWF Adopt an Animal scheme. The recipient gets -

• a soft toy of their selected animal
• a certificate
• a print of your animal
• a greetings card
• plus much more …

> > Click here to Adopt an Animal with WWF

View other top charity gifts

The WWF UK is calling on the European Parliament to reject parts of the deal agreed by European Head’s of Government for the EU Climate and Energy Package. The agreement has been jointly condemned as a failure by the Climate Action Network Europe, Friends of the Earth Europe, Greenpeace, Oxfam and WWF.

The WWF on the European Parliament to reject the ‘Effort Sharing Law’, which sets national emission targets for sectors not included in the EU’s emissions trading scheme such as transport, buildings and agriculture. This is seen as inconsistent with the EU’s long term target of keeping global warming below 2 degrees Celsius.

Head of Campaigns at WWF UK, Colin Butfield, said -

‘EU politicians may be hoping to trumpet today’s deal on climate change as a great success, but in reality this is a significant failure. Europe has essentially decided to off-set almost two thirds of its own greenhouse gas emissions, to have consumers pay for emissions permits that polluting companies will have received for free and to avoid supporting poorer countries in the fight to tackle climate change. By refusing to place a pollution limit on fossil fuel power stations as part of the Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Directive, EU Heads of Government have also failed to ensure that heavily polluting power stations will no longer be part of our future and are leaving the door open for new unabated coal throughout Europe.’

The way we live in the UK is leading to environmental threats such as climate change, species extinction, deforestation, water shortages and the collapse of fisheries. WWF’s One Planet Future Campaign is working to help people live a good quality of life within the earth’s capacity.

Help WWF UK this Christmas with a Charity Gift

The WWF is a non profit organisation who can only sustain their tireless work in saving the planet and its inhabitants through donations. You can help raise funds through the WWF Adopt an Animal scheme. From as little as £3 a month you receive a certificate, a print of your animal, a greetings card, and a soft toy and would make a fantastic charity gift for a loved one this Christmas.

> > click here to adopt an Animal with WWF UK

View Top Christmas Charity Gifts

The Government is now facing a critical test of its environmental stance due to the continued expansion of UK airports. Last month the Government signed up to the most ambitious long-term climate change targets in the world after pledging an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The WWF UK is asking the Government to consider the alternatives to the expansion of Heathrow, alongside a coalition of environmental groups including Greenpeace UK,  the National Trust, Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), Campaign for Better Transport, Friends of the Earth.

Chief Executive of WWF-UK, David Nussbaum, said - 

‘The UK’s most progressive businesses are already saving time, money and carbon through technological alternatives such as videoconferencing, proving that we don’t need the huge carbon liability created by a third runway in order to stay connected. If companies can improve their productivity while flying less, then the economic case for the third runway at Heathrow begins to evaporate’

Whilst Executive Director of Greenpeace, John Sauven, said -

‘The Heathrow decision is a test of Gordon Brown’s credibility on climate change. We simply can’t meet our emissions targets if aviation continues to grow at the rate predicted. MPs should back a high-speed rail link that would cut pollution while providing investment and jobs across Britain’

The expansion of Heathrow would be highly detrimental to the quality of life for the people who use the green spaces across West London, with the further expansion of Heathrow not just destroying surrounding villages, but also the tranquillity of wide tracts of our countryside.

With aviation becoming one of Britain’s fastest growing sources of carbon dioxide, cutting growth in air travel would help battle climate change and help Britain develop a new green economy by reducing our dependence on insecure fossil fuels.

Help WWF UK this Christmas with a Charity Gift

The WWF is a non profit organisiation who can only sustain their tireless work in saving the planet and its inhabitants through donations. You can help raise funds through the WWF Adopt an Animal scheme. From as little as £3 a month you receive a certificate, a print of your animal, a greetings card, and a soft toy and would make a fantastic charity gift for a loved one this Christmas.

> > click here to Adopt an Animal with WWF UK

View Top Christmas Charity Gifts

The latest WWF and Greenpeace report calls on the Government to take a serious stance about renewables and energy efficiency, not build major new power stations.

If the Government were to achieve its commitment to the EU’s renewable energy targets, then new power stations would not be needed to meet electricity requirements. The report also points out that a stronger stance for energy efficiency and renewable energy can help reduce emissions and assist the countries energy security. Government ministers are claiming new power stations are essential to help plug the ‘energy gap’ alongside E.ON, who are currently engaging in a high profile campaign to assert the need for new coal plants.

WWF and Greenpeace findings prove that if the British Government decides to deliver on their promises in line with the National Energy Action Plan, there would be no
gap to plug. If followed correctly, the Plan would reduce the UK’s CO2 emissions by up to 37% by 2020, rendering the new power stations redundant. As campaigners from across the UK and Europe prepare to gather at this year’s Climate Camp, E.ON has already sought to counter by claiming new coal plants are vital for national energy stability.

Head of Climate Change at WWF, Keith Allott, said –

‘This report should be good news for the Government. If it gets real on its targets on renewables and energy efficiency then we can keep the lights on, reduce our reliance on expensive fossil fuel imports and dramatically cut our carbon emissions. But a green light to Kingsnorth would at a stroke undermine the Government’s other policies on climate change and Gordon Brown’s promise of a clean energy revolution.’

Whilst Robin Oakley, head of the climate and energy team at Greenpeace, said -

‘Coal is the single most climate-wrecking form of electricity generation. The only reason anyone is even considering building Britain’s first coal fired power station in decades is the claim that we need it to keep the lights on. E.ON’s spin machine and the Labour government have teamed up to hoodwink the public into believing it, but this report busts their argument wide open.’

With both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown making commitments to a national target of only 15% renewable energy, it is widely accepted that at least 35% of Britain’s electricity will need to come from renewables by 2020. It is time for the Government to face facts and start the big push for renewable energy today.

> > click here to make a donation to the WWF

> > click here to make a donation to Greenpeace

4 activists from the Greenpeace charity climbed to the top of a 140metre smokestack at a coal fired power plant in Queensland, Australia. In sub zero temperatures the 4 climbers occupied the smokestack for 33 hours overnight, whilst writing ‘Go Solar’ on the chimney – a clear message to the Australian Parliament.

Of the 13 activists’ who tried to occupy the Swanbank B coal-fired plant in the early hours of Friday 11th July, 9 were arrested upon the start of their ascent. 4 of the other climbers managed to slip through the police net and were only arrested upon their descent the following day.

Swanbank B power plant is responsible for more than 2million tonnes of carbon emissions a year, the equivalent amount of pollution caused by 300,000 cars.  .

With Australia way behind many of the world’s countries in developing renewable energy, it is time for the Australian government to stand up and be counted. In the next 18 months, the Spanish government will have commissioned enough solar power to replace FOUR power stations of similar size to Swanbank.

Professor Ross Garnaut, the Australian Government’s climate change advisor, claims that if Australians do not successfully combat climate change, the Great Barrier Reef will die. This will not only cost the economy $5 billion in tourism dollars each year alone, but also 50,000 livelihoods. Jobs in coal can be replaced by jobs in renewable energy; there is absolutely no way to replace the Great Barrier Reef.

After his two-hour descent from the Swanbank chimney, Greenpeace energy campaigner Julien Vincent said -

‘We did this to get the message out that Australia urgently needs to cut greenhouse gas emissions. They must start replacing old and dirty coal fired power stations, with true clean renewable energy like solar. It is tragic that Queensland, with the best solar resources in the world, is not a leader in the booming global renewable energy industry.’

> > click here to make a donation to Greenpeace

> > click here to find out more about the work of Greenpeace

Environmental charities WWF and Greenpeace have once again called for greater urgency to the closure of the Mediterranean bluefin tuna fishing.

The conservation groups have obtained evidence that reveals two Italian spotter planes are illegally being used to give aerial assistance to industrial fleets fishing in the central Mediterranean. Aerial spotting is completely banned by international law, as it gives a huge advantage to fleets who’s catches are far exceeding the capacity recommended by scientists.

This damning evidence of illegal plane activity in the Mediterranean adds to the WWF argument that this stretch of ocean is now out of control and must be closed. Marine reserves must be established to protect these breeding areas of Bluefin Tuna to halt the species steady decline into extinction.

Greenpeace and WWF are once again calling on the European Commission to step in and help in the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna. In April false Bolivian and Libyan flags were flown by illegal tuna vessels involved in the Bluefin Tuna fishery in the same area of the Mediterranean.

If we want fish for tomorrow, we need to create marine reserves today to avoid any further damage to the Bluefin Tuna stock, which is in a critical situation according to the international scientific community.

> > click here to find out more about the work of the WWF

> > click here to find out more about the work of Greenpeace

Greenpeace and the WWF are calling for the British Government’s energy policy to be in line with the EU’s target for renewable energy by 2020. This however is looking unlikely due to the building of new unabated coal-fired power stations in the UK.

The high emissions from new coal plants would severely undermine progress towards targets under the Climate Change Bill. Allowing new unabated coal stations would also damage the UK’s credibility as a main player in international climate negotiations.

Carbon Capture and Storage (C.S.S.) will help reductions that are needed to avoid climate chaos. However, the technology has not yet been proven on an integrated power plant and it may not be technically possible. Building capture ready stations now would therefore impose unacceptable risks to the taxpayer, who may well end up footing the bill for any future refit.

Greenpeace and the WWF are calling the British Government to focus on renewable energy efficiency, whilst introducing greenhouse gas emission standards for all new power plants. New legal standards should be set to limit the CO2 emissions for all new plants that have yet to secure planning permission

Any pre planned CCS demonstration plants should be established solely for technical reasons and to also form part of a clear European strategy to assess the various technical options. It is vital for the planets future that regulations are established through independent monitoring to ensure that the storage of all CO2 is safe, and environmentally sound.

> > Click here to donate to Greenpeace

Leonardo DiCaprio is narrating and also producing ‘The 11th Hour’, a documentary about environmental issues to be broadcast on Channel 4 later this month.

The documentary, to be transmitted on May 25, will feature leading scientific and political arguments about the environmental disaster the Earth is currently facing. Guest speakers will include professor Stephen Hawking, Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai, and former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. The film itself will be narrated DiCaprio, and was written and directed by sisters Leila Conners Petersen and Nadia Conners, co founders of the Tree Media Group.

Tree Media have been in operation for 9 years, and thier mission is to use the media to support and sustain civil society. The film calls for action to change global human activity through technology, whilst claiming that not since a meteor hit earth 55million years ago have so many forms of life become extinct on this planet.

The film itself received critical acclaim when it premiered at the Canne Film Festival last year. Channel 4 has recently purchased the broadcast rights to the documentary from Warner Bros, who will also be releasing a DVD of the film in June.

It’s great to see big screen stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio using their voice to help save the environment, as future generations really need to sit up and take notice off the climate change issue. Hopefully with such a high profile star fronting this campaign, more people will sit up and take notice.

You too can help the planet’s enviromental problems by making a donation to Greenpeace, or even help save half an acre of rain forest with the World Trust. 

> > click here to help Greenpeace protect the environment

> > click here to save a save half an acre of rainforest

Environmental issues is one of the modern world’s top priorities, and today (Tuesday 22nd April) the globe becomes the stage for the annual ‘Earth Day’.

Earth Day was founded in 1970 by American Senator Gaylord Nelson, who organised the event as a nationwide demonstration on environmental issues. With thousands of colleges also getting involved in the organisation, more than 20 million people took to the streets and parks of America to show their solidarity against the harmful effect the U.S was having on the environment.

By 1992, Earth Day was being supported by 200 million people in 141 countries, and through this global support, the first ever United Nations Earth Summit was held in South America. Over 100 countries sent their heads of state to attend, and with over 170 governments involved, this was the largest environmental meeting in the history of mankind. From this summit, the Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD) was set up. The CSD now hold annual meetings at U.N. headquarters to discuss the global prevention of pollution and climate change. With the global recognition of Earth Day, their international network now reaches over 17,000 organizations in 174 countries, with more than a half billion people participating in the event every year.

Along with Earth Day is Wednesday 29th March’s ‘Earth Hour’ supported by the World Wildlife Fund. Over a 250,000 people and 20,000 businesses worldwide have signed up to turn their lights off for one hour during the working day, with power companies set up to monitor the current change. Last year in Bangkok alone, the one hour electricity shut down caused the decrease of 73.34 Megawatts, or the equivalent to 41.6 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

It’s good to see so many people across the world getting involved with the enviromental problems the Earth is enduring. The more people who become aware of these issues the closer we get to save guarding the future, not just our families, but the world around us.

 > > click here to find out more about the work of the WWF

> > click here to help Greenpeace protect the environment