February 27, 2008 0:01

Radiohead back climate change initiative

Thom Yorke gets in on The Big Ask campaign

Radiohead’s Thom Yorke has put his support behind The Big Ask Europe, a movement pushing for greater legislation to combat the emissions that cause climate change.

Yorke presented the European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas with a symbol of The Big Ask today (February 27) at the launch of their campaign.

The organisation, along with a number of Friends Of The Earth groups, is asking the governments of 17 European states, including the UK, to commit to legally binding limits of emissions of materials believed to cause climate change.

With reference to the importance of the project, Yorke says: “We will never wake from the nightmare of climate change unless our national governments and the European Union act. They are the only ones who can put the structures in place that will help us tackle climate change.

“That is why we are launching The Big Ask in 17 countries across Europe. By committing to annual cuts in our emissions at a national and European level we can play our part in tackling climate change, and set an example for the rest of world to follow.”

The Big Ask has previously campaigned to get the UK to implement targets for cutting carbon dioxide emissions – this law will now come into force this summer.

However, the organisation is looking for other emissions to be cut as well.

The Shockwaves NME Awards 2008 take place this Thursday (February 28) at a special ceremony in London. Follow all the action here, head to NME.COM/awardsvote for full details.