EASTLEIGH MP GREETS CUT THE CARBON MARCHERS

12.00.00am GMT Mon 24th Sep 2007

Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne greeted the "Cut the Carbon" marchers in Chandlers' Ford as they entered the last lap of their walk to London for the new parliamentary session.

Mr Huhne said that he fully supported the march organised by Christian Aid, which started from Bangor in northern Ireland in July and has been through Edinburgh, Newcastle, Leeds, Birmingham, Cardiff and Bournemouth.

"I fully support the aim of this march to raise awareness of the threat of climate change to future generations. We are stealing the planet from our children and grandchildren, rather than holding it in trust for them.

"I very much welcome the stress on bigger cuts in carbon than the Government's proposed 60 per cent. Even Gordon Brown recognised this week that this needs to be looked at again given the scientific evidence.

"We are putting forward a plan for a zero carbon Britain by 2050 precisely because we need to live up to our responsibilities to avoid devastating climate chaos: droughts, storms, hurricanes, crop failures, floods.

"As the evidence this summer of the enormous retreat in Arctic sea ice shows, we have very little time left to act".

Mr Huhne joined the marchers along with other local supporters at the Chandler's Ford Methodist Church in Winchester Road. Mr Huhne is the Liberal Democrats' shadow environment food and rural affairs secretary.