Backed by fellow MPs Ian Cawsey, Lembit Opik and Anne Milton, Emily and the Aviators’ performed John Denver’s Leavin’ on a Jet Plane alongside other acts including Razorlight and Reverend and the Makers.
Emily told the audience that she felt “honoured” when she was asked to sponsor the Climate Change Bill by Friends of the Earth in 2005.
Emily used her moment in the spotlight to highlight how the Climate Change Bill shows that politics can make a difference. Confronting those who had earlier criticised politicians, she said:
“The very fact that this Bill is happening is evidence that it is worth getting involved in politics. It’s all very well talking about climate change but this is a real scheme and we’re the first in the world to do it.”
Emily also encouraged the crowd to carry on campaigning for the Bill to be strengthened to include taxes on aviation and international shipping and to raise the carbon reduction target from 60% to 80%. Emily said:
“The Bill is not perfect and there are things which need to be added and the things which need to be added are the hard things like aviation and international shipping. It can be figured out but only if you continue to push us.”
Emily recently signed two amendments to the Climate Change Bill that would lift the Carbon Reduction Target to 80% and would include shipping and aviation as part of the Bill.
