Brussels, 6 May 2008 – Friends of the Earth will be joining Radiohead on the European leg of their world tour which kicks off in Ireland this June. Radiohead invited the environmental organisation to join the tour as part of a programme of action aimed at tackling climate change.
Friends of the Earth groups in Ireland, France, Italy, England, Scotland, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Belgium and Demark will be asking concert goers to take action in support of The Big Ask. The Europe wide campaign calls on governments and the European Union to help tackle climate change by committing to legally binding annual cuts in climate change emissions [1]. People can find out more and take action at www.thebigask.eu
Thom Yorke, the band’s front man, helped launch the European Big Ask at a packed press conference in Brussels on 27 February 2008. The launch was also marked with events in many of the 17 countries across Europe taking part in the campaign [2]. The musician has supported The Big Ask campaign in the UK where Friends of the Earth has successfully persuaded the government to introduce a ground-breaking climate change law [3]. Thom Yorke and Radiohead are now bringing the campaign to the rest of Europe.
Last year, Radiohead commissioned carbon footprint analysts Best Foot Forward to calculate the carbon impact of their tours. Since then Radiohead has made a huge effort to cut their tour emissions by using energy efficient lighting, transporting equipment by train or ship rather than plane, and using recycled materials in tour merchandise.
The band is also encouraging fans to car share or use public transport to get to gigs. They are mainly playing in city centre venues where transport links are better and are working with venues to offer incentives to fans who leave their cars at home. More information is available at www.radiohead.com
Thom Yorke said: “Everyone can do their bit to tackle climate change – we are doing what we can and encouraging our fans to do the same. Its time our politicians play their part as they are the only ones who can put the structures in place that will help us. That’s why I am supporting The Big Ask and asking anyone who cares about climate change to support them too – either by taking action at one of our concerts or online at www.thebigask.eu.”
Sonja Meister, climate campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe said: “Radiohead have shown that we can all do our bit to fight climate change. Now it’s time for politicians – nationally and in the European Union – to act by committing to making annual cuts to our climate change emissions. Year on year targets that can be legally enforced are the only way to make sure we get the cuts in emissions we urgently need. Through our collaboration with Radiohead, Friends of the Earth is giving people across Europe the chance to pressure their politicians to act on climate change.”
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NOTES
[1] The Big Ask brings together Friends of the Earth groups from 17 European countries each of which is asking its government to commit to legally binding annual cuts in climate changing emissions. Together they are asking the European Union to force all member states to cut their emissions year-on-year. The Big Ask calls on the European Union to commit to at least 30 per cent reductions in greenhouse gas emissions within Europe by 2020 and 90 per cent by 2050. For more information go to www.thebigask.eu
[2] For more information on the European Big Ask campaign launch go to www.thebigask.eu
[3] Thom Yorke launched The Big Ask campaign in the UK in 2005 and has successfully persuaded the Government to introduce a Climate Change Bill. The Bill, which is currently being debated in Parliament before being made law later this year will make the UK the first country in the world to commit to legally binding reductions in carbon dioxide emissions. The Bill is groundbreaking but it still needs to be strengthened if the UK is going to play its part in tackling climate change. Friends of the Earth is now calling on Government and MPs to ensure the law covers all emissions, including the UK’s share of emissions from international aviation and shipping and an 80 percent cut in carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 – the overall cut in emissions scientists say are needed. More than 200,000 people from across the UK have taken action in support of the campaign. For more information and to take action go to www.thebigask.com.
