On 1st March 2006 a mass lobby of politicians took place at Methodist Central Hall, Westminster. The lobby of MPs, peers, researchers and civil servants was organised by Stop Climate Chaos - a coalition of organisations that are campaigning on the issue of climate change. Operation Noah, the Churches' climate change campaign is a member of Stop Climate Chaos.
The lobby had a theme of 'Carbon Dating' - a cross between political lobbying and speed dating. MPs were given 10 minutes to win over a group of campaigners, before being rushed off to the next table.
Senior members of all political parties were present, including David Cameron for the Conservatives, all three leadership contenders for the Lib Dems (Menzies Campbell, Simon Hughes and Chris Huhne) and Margaret Beckett, Secretary of State for the Environment representing the Government.
The lobby was very successful, with over 70 MPs attending. The event was also successful at energising the grass roots members. The lobbyists were addressed by a speaker from Bangladesh, a country threatened by rising sea levels, and Elaine Storkey, President of Tearfund.
The event highlights the importance of engaging with politicians. Through persistent activism and lobbying the decision-makers will get the message that there is enough popular support behind measures to limit the impact of climate change. The importance of political engagement on this issue cannot be underestimated. In recent years campaigners have got Environmental issues onto the mainstream political agenda. The UK looks to be well on course to meet its Kyoto commitments to cut down greenhouse gas emissions. The Government also made an ambitious manifesto pledge to go further than Kyoto, by promising to reduce Carbon Dioxide emissions by 20% by 2010 from 1990 levels. Recent evidence suggests that the UK is not on course to meet this self-imposed target, and the Government have responded by saying they must do more. Campaigners must keep the pressure on politicians to ensure that they do all that is possible to reduce emissions, and stave off the worst effects of climate change.