A LEADING green group is encouraging people to get to grips with the hot issue of climate change.

Members of Wyre Forest Friends of the Earth - FoE - will be outside Kidderminster Town Hall on Saturday to lend their voices to calls for a tougher climate change law.

The event is part of a national day of action - The Big Ask - organised by the FoE to encourage a Government rethink over the Climate Change Bill which will be debated by MPs later this month.

The bill sets out a stringent target to cut the amount of CO2 emissions by 60 per cent by 2050 and outlines new powers to achieve the benchmark.

The green group believes legislation could be much tougher with an 80 per cent cuts target and wants a commitment to emissions reductions of at least three per cent each year.

The FoE does not agree with the Government's decision not to include the UK's share of emissions from international aviation - 6.4 per cent of Britain's domestic total - and shipping in the new bill.

Richard Pannel, district branch coordinator, said: "It is crazy for Gordon Brown to leave out climate changing emissions from planes and ships from the new Climate Change Bill but that is what he is doing.

"Why should our local industry and businesses be held to account for their carbon emissions but not the aviation industry?"

The group has called on district MP Dr Richard Taylor to back a strong climate bill in the House of Commons debate.

Dr Taylor said: "My constituents are worried about climate change and want to see the Government take action.

"I will be supporting a strong climate change law which covers all emissions including the UK's share of emissions for shipping and aviation."

He added "pressure" must be brought to bear on China and the USA to curb CO2 levels or work to drive down pollution levels would be "doomed to failure" in the long run.