Letter to Margaret Beckett (Environment Minister) re: Consultation on the Review of the UK Climate Change Programme, 1 March 2005

The letter argues that UK climate action is ineffective unless integrated into a global framework that includes major emitters like the USA, China, and India. It proposes the 'Contraction and Convergence' principle to fairly distribute emissions quotas based on population. The authors advocate for lifestyle changes to curb road and air travel, increased funding for renewable energy—potentially redirected from military R&D—and the use of WTO rules or international law to pressure non-compliant nations.

• The authors propose the 'Contraction and Convergence' principle as a basis for international negotiations to include rapidly developing economies like China and India. This model involves a global total of emissions within the atmosphere's carrying capacity ('contraction') and a progressive sharing of emission rights based on population size rather than economy size ('convergence'), while allowing for emissions trading.
• To encourage US participation in the UNFCCC, the UK and EU should demonstrate that emissions reductions are compatible with a high quality of life. If the US administration continues to refuse a reasonable framework, the authors suggest that countries could impose economic sanctions via WTO rules, such as tariffs on goods with high embodied energy, or claim damages under international law.
• The authors argue that technological solutions must be accompanied by lifestyle changes, specifically noting that 'unrestrained growth' in air and road transport is incompatible with emission targets. They criticize the government's consultation for failing to address public awareness and point to policy inconsistencies regarding airport expansions and road transport developments.
• The letter suggests increasing funding for renewable energy and energy efficiency by redirecting public funds from military R&D, which is estimated at approximately £2.5 billion per year. This shift would address the shortage of scientific and technical personnel in the UK and improve security by reducing dependence on imported fuels and mitigating drivers of conflict, such as the creation of environmental refugees.

APA

Quick, M., & Parkinson, S. (2005). Letter to Margaret Beckett (Environment Minister) re: Consultation on the Review of the UK Climate Change Programme, 1 March 2005. Scientists for Global Responsibility. https://www.sgr.org.uk/resources/letter-uk-government-climate-change-programme

Chicago

Quick, Martin, and Stuart Parkinson. Letter to Margaret Beckett (Environment Minister) re: Consultation on the Review of the UK Climate Change Programme, 1 March 2005. Scientists for Global Responsibility, 2005. https://www.sgr.org.uk/resources/letter-uk-government-climate-change-programme.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Quick |first1=Martin |last2=Parkinson |first2=Stuart |title=Letter to Margaret Beckett (Environment Minister) re: Consultation on the Review of the UK Climate Change Programme, 1 March 2005 |publisher=Scientists for Global Responsibility |date=1 March 2005 |url=https://www.sgr.org.uk/resources/letter-uk-government-climate-change-programme |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{quick2005letter, author = {Quick, Martin and Parkinson, Stuart}, title = {{Letter to Margaret Beckett (Environment Minister) re: Consultation on the Review of the UK Climate Change Programme, 1 March 2005}}, publisher = {Scientists for Global Responsibility}, year = {2005}, month = mar, url = {https://www.sgr.org.uk/resources/letter-uk-government-climate-change-programme}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }