Climate Change Campaigners Urge Blair to Leave Legacy

As the 'I Count' rally approaches, churches and environmental campaigners are increasingly urging the public to take part in the fight against climate change. Taking place 4 November, the aim is to urge the UK government to take responsibility on a national scale to reduce the causes of climate change.

|PIC1|Campaigners recently urged Tony Blair to take action on climate change as they unveiled a metre-high ice sculpture of his head with a copy of a new book inside, produced by the Stop Climate Chaos coalition to encourage personal and political action against global warming.

The coalition said that, as Mr Blair's premiership melts away, climate change was the most important single issue on which he could leave a lasting legacy.

Following the launch in London's Trafalgar Square, a copy of the book - I Count: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Climate Bliss - was sent to 10 Downing Street.

The book, which will be available in shops from 19 October, outlines a 16-step guide to reducing personal carbon dioxide emissions and encourages the reader to put pressure on politicians to take action.

Stop Climate Chaos, which describes itself as an "unprecedented and growing coalition", brings together more than 35 environmental and development organisations, unions, faith communities and women's groups.

Christian members include Oxfam, Tearfund, Christian Aid, while other members include Friends of the Earth, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Greenpeace, the World Wildlife Fund, the Women's Institute and Unison.

The I Count campaign is calling for the UK Government to push for international action on greenhouse emissions to ensure they are in irreversible decline by 2015. It is also pressing for developing countries to be helped in adapting to climate change and adopting clean energy measures.