History of The Big Ask

History of The Big Ask

History of the bill - watch here...

It all began in the UK. There Friends of the Earth started a campaign for a climate change law. The campaign was called The Big Ask. Here in a nutshell is a history of the UK campaign.

7 April 2005
A draft Climate Change Bill

We draft a Bill which says the Government has to cut the amounts of carbon dioxide being released by us by 3% year on year. This would mean an 80% cut by 2050. 

The Bill is sent to Parliament by a cross party group of MPs.

25 May 2005
The Big Ask campaign is launched

Radiohead front man Thom Yorke teams up with us to launch the campaign. 

A Parliamentary petition is opened calling for a new law requiring "annual cuts in carbon dioxide emissions of 3%".

1st May 2006
The Big Ask Live concert

Radiohead's Thom Yorke headlines "The Big Ask Live" concert in London – one of a series of gigs organised in support of the campaign.

3/4 of the UK public say they support a new law requiring annual cuts in carbon emissions.

15 September 2006
MPs tackled by Big Ask Big Lobby

A month of lobbying by constituents means 620 (out of 646) MPs in the UK have been asked to support the campaign for a strong climate change law.

15 November 2006
New climate law announced

The UK Government announces in the Queen's Speech that it will introduce a new climate change law.

13 March 2007
Draft Climate Change Bill

The Government publishes its draft Climate Change Bill.

Friends of the Earth welcomes the move but calls for the Bill to be strengthened.

4 July 2007
The Big Ask online march launches

We launch The Big Ask online march so people can lobby their MP by video message.

The march is supported by Jude Law, James Blunt and Razorlight's Johnny Borrell.

18 February 2008
Annual milestones agreed

The UK government announces that the Climate Change Bill will set annual milestones for emissions reductions. 

This means the UK will stay on track to meet its long term target.

27 February 2008
The Big Ask goes to Europe

Thom Yorke travels to Brussels to launch the European Big Ask. Friends of the Earth groups in 17 countries across Europe are calling on governments and the European Union to cut carbon dioxide emissions every year.

7 June 2008
On tour with Radiohead

The European Big Ask campaign joins Radiohead on their European tour. We travel to 10 countries and collect more than 30,000 signatures calling for annual cuts in emissions across Europe.

28 October 2008
MPs vote yes

MPs vote in favour of a Climate Change Law that will cut greenhouse gases by 80% by 2050 and includes all UK emissions.

It's a massive victory for every one of you who took part.

26 November 2008
UK climate change law a reality

The campaign for a climate change law in the UK, led by Friends of the Earth, achieves its goal. The law is the first of its kind anywhere in the world.

The campaign continues around Europe.

January 2009
The campaign gathers pace around Europe

Inspired by the victory in the UK, the campaigns for climate change laws in other EU countries are making progress. Similar law proposals have been submitted to parliament in Austria, Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Malta, and Scotland. Other countries are set to follow.

June 24 2009
Scotland's climate bill sets a precedent for Europe

Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) voted for a climate change law with a target to reduce greenhouse gases by 42 per cent by 2020 – the most ambitious statutory target in the world.

December 2009
Thousands flood for climate justice in Copenhagen

Friends of the Earth took an ambitious set of demands for decision-makers to the UN climate conference COP-15, backed by thousands of our activists and supporters who took to the streets of Copenhagen, or participated online, to demand climate justice. The results of the Copenhagen climate talks were highly unsatisfactory, but Friends of the Earth will continue to demand climate justice.
The "Big Ask" campaign is running in 18 countries across Europe, demanding strong and fair climate laws which will introduce binding annual cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.

Find out what's happening with The Big Ask in your country.