Not long ago I was writing in The Outlook, considering the question of whether our Government could do more to help fight climate change. Specifically, I was looking into how the buildings each Government department use could be made more energy efficient. I said that I would keep encouraging people in Swindon to save energy – and use Swindon’s good example to shame any government department that doesn’t live up to our example. 

Here I am writing in The Outlook again, to ask for your help in 2008 to take my campaign further. I presented a Private Members Bill to the House of Commons on 5th Dec. My Public Sector Buildings (Energy Performance) Bill aims to fight Climate Change by making government buildings go green. My Bill, which I’m calling Swindon’s ‘Climate Change Bill’ would ensure that all office buildings across the public estate will be in the top quartile of energy performance. In plain English: Government buildings will be green buildings. The aim is to fight Climate Change by kick-starting higher sustainability standards across the UK. 

My Bill is backed by the Sustainable Energy Partnership, a broad coalition of national organisations who have a track record of successfully campaigning on sustainable energy issues including: Help the Aged, RSPB, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, Green Party, Green Liberal Democrats, Tory Green Initiative, National Federation of Women’s Institutes, Shelter, SERA, Tenants and Residents Organisations of England, Unison and WWF-UK. 199 MPs signed an Early Day Motion supporting the introduction of such a bill. 

I am asking for the support of everyone in Swindon who is concerned about Climate Change, to help get my ‘green public buildings’ Bill on to the statute book.   It’s time all public buildings went green. I want Swindon to lead the green drive by backing my Bill.

I have called on schools, businesses, Swindon Borough Council and residents to be ready to demonstrate their commitment to the environment – so we can help make climate change history. I am planning a whole range of activities around my Bill to help get the message across to the Government. We need the kind of campaign that stopped the plans to pave over Coate Water and sell off Lower Shaw Farm.

I am asking you to start today by simply emailing or telephoning my office to register your support. It is always a hard fight to make Private Members Bills into law  – and it doesn’t often happen. But I know it won’t be because of a lack of commitment to the environment from the people of Swindon.