Dear John,

With the news from the United States of a second Donald Trump presidency, millions of people around the world – me included – will be wondering what this means for democracy, environmental justice and for the rights of women, people of colour, refugees and LGBTQI+ communities.

At Friends of the Earth we strongly oppose Mr Trump’s divisive politics of hate, fear and climate denial. But while the result is a clear blow for US action on climate, we can’t let it derail global progress towards averting the worst of climate breakdown.

So please tell the UK’s energy minister Ed Miliband you want him to show ambitious leadership at the UN climate talks next week. More than ever, other countries need to step up. Together we can persuade Mr Miliband to take up the challenge.

The UK promised to slash its greenhouse gas emissions by 68% by 2030 compared to 1990. But it's way off track to keeping this promise to the rest of the world.

Wealthier nations – like the US and the UK – have emitted the most climate-wrecking greenhouse gas emissions for the longest. So they must act in proportion to the damage they've already done.

But with fossil fuels fan Trump re-entering the White House, Ed Miliband must be a leading voice to ramp up the level of climate ambition on the global stage.

Let Ed Miliband know we’ll support him to take the tough decisions needed to write a new climate plan that goes big. A plan that meets our climate promises to the world. And is fair to communities that are affected most by the impacts of climate breakdown, but contribute the least towards it.

Will you write to the minister responsible for how the UK tackles the climate crisis, before he goes to COP29?

We’ll be listening closely to Ed Miliband’s says at the climate talks and make sure he shows the leadership we so desperately need. Whatever he misses, we’ll push for it. And whatever he promises, we’ll hold him to account.

Thanks for taking action with us. You’re a vital part of the climate movement and your action really makes a difference. No matter what happens across the pond.

Danny

Campaigner

Friends of the Earth