Mark met with local Christian Aid campaigners on Friday last week and will be sending a message to the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, asking him to deliver a fair climate change deal for the world’s poorest, at the UN summit in Copenhagen this December.

The meeting was part of the global Great Persuasion campaign to lobby parliamentarians across more than 50 countries, to help tackle global poverty and climate change.

Mark didn’t actually need much persuading. He was in Berlin last week in support of the UK Government's push for a new, ambitious agreement at Copenhagen. To learn more about that, click here.

He has been arguing for a popular movement to press for a radical agreement in Copenhagen as you can see by clicking here:

He has also been pointing out that climate change is happening much more quickly than previously thought so that it vital for Governments to act now to prevent irreversible damage to the planet. Click here to see another question he asked in Parliament in the summer.

He said:

‘The Government is committed to a global deal and a binding deal at Copenhagen. I believe that we still have all to play for at the summit in December, and personally speaking I will be pushing for this global, binding deal. Britain is already showing leadership, and is the key country in showing leadership to the EU and beyond.’

The campaigners asked Mark to put pressure on the prime minister and the EU to commit to at least 40 per cent carbon emission reductions by 2020 and ensure that developing countries get all the money and technology they need to cut emissions, adapt to climate change and develop cleanly.

Local campaigner Jenny Martin from North Leith Parish Church said:

‘Having announced that he will lead the UK delegation at the climate change talks in Copenhagen, Gordon Brown must push for a fair deal for the world’s poorest people who are suffering first and worst from the effects of the changing climate.’

Encouraged by Mark's plea for Christian Aid to keep campaigning, Mrs Martin continued:

‘I am very concerned about climate change; concerned for the future of my three grandchildren and of course for all the children of the world in countries like Bangladesh who are in constant danger of flooding.’

Gordon Brown has made it clear that he will be arguing strongly for an ambitious agreement at Copenhagen but public pressure like this will strengthen his hand in negotiations.

Mark has also signed up to the 10:10 campaign to commit himself to cutting household  emissions by 10%.